Vijaya Ekadashi 2026
Vijaya Ekadashi 2026 falls on Sunday, Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Exact date, puja muhurat & city-wise timings for Vijaya Ekadashi 2026
Key Information
Festival Date
Sunday, March 15, 2026
2026 Calendar Context
Weekday
Sunday
Vikram Samvat
2083
Shaka Samvat
1948
This year Vijaya Ekadashi falls on a Sunday, 10 days earlier than 2025 (2025-03-25) — typical lunar-calendar drift.
Falling on a Sunday gives the day a Surya emphasis — Sun-ruled rites and copper offerings carry extra weight.
The 2025 observance fell on Tuesday, 2025-03-25 — this year arrives 10 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar, the familiar 11-day shift of the unmodified lunar year.
Looking ahead to 2027, Vijaya Ekadashi will fall on Friday, 2027-04-02 (18 days later than this year). So planning ritual schedules across years means anchoring to the tithi rather than the Gregorian date.
Astronomical context for Vijaya Ekadashi 2026
On Sunday, March 15, 2026, sunrise in Delhi (the reference city for this page) falls at 06:31 IST and sunset at 18:29 IST — a daylight span of 11h 58m. Across the six pan-Indian cities tabulated below, sunrise on this date varies from 05:45 (Kolkata) at the eastern edge to 06:47 (Mumbai) in the west — a 62-minute difference that drives the city-by-city muhurat shift you see in the table.
For Vijaya Ekadashi 2026, the central rite of udaya tithi (sunrise) depends on the festival tithi being present during that window on 2026-03-15 — confirmed across 6 reference cities in this year's computation pass. Cities further east (Kolkata, Chennai) see the window open ~15-25 minutes before Delhi; cities west of Delhi (Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore) see it start later by a similar margin.
City-Wise Timings for Vijaya Ekadashi 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 6:31 AM | 6:29 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:47 AM | 6:48 PM |
| Bangalore | 6:27 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Chennai | 6:16 AM | 6:19 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:45 AM | 5:45 PM |
| Pune | 6:43 AM | 6:44 PM |
Why This Date?
Vijaya Ekadashi follows the Udaya Tithi rule – the festival is observed on the day when the required tithi prevails at sunrise. This is the default Dharmasindhu convention for festivals without a special time-window requirement.
Deity
Lord Vishnu (Rama form)
Legend & History
When Lord Rama prepared to cross the ocean to Lanka, the army camped on the shore and could not see how to proceed. Rama asked sage Bakadalbhya, who advised him to observe Phalguna Krishna Ekadashi wi… Read full legend →Show less ↑
When Lord Rama prepared to cross the ocean to Lanka, the army camped on the shore and could not see how to proceed. Rama asked sage Bakadalbhya, who advised him to observe Phalguna Krishna Ekadashi with full austerity. Rama did so, the ocean god Varuna appeared, and the path to build the bridge was revealed. The army crossed and victory over Ravana followed. The Skanda Purana preserves this Rama-vrata account.
How to Observe
Observe Ekadashi fast with sincere intent for victory over a specific challenge. Worship Vishnu (especially Rama form) with red flowers. Recite the Sundarakanda of the Ramayana or the Rama Raksha Stotra. Especially observed before major undertakings — examinations, court cases, military campaigns historically — to invoke divine support. Combine with charity of essentials needed for the undertaking.
Significance
Vijaya = "victory" — invoked before any major undertaking where divine assistance is sought. The Rama precedent connects the vrata to dharmic action specifically (not merely material victory) — Rama crossed the ocean for righteous purpose. Observed widely in Vaishnava traditions before any new venture. Falls in Phalguna near Holi — the timing of "spring beginnings" reinforces the "new undertaking" theme.
Fasting
Ekadashi fast – no grains or beans. Best observed with a specific sankalpa (intention) for victory over a real challenge. Break fast on Dwadashi morning.
Looking for Vijaya Ekadashi 2027?
Vijaya Ekadashi 2027 Date & Muhurat