Kamada Ekadasi

Kamada Ekadasi is the first Ekadashi in a Hindu year and considered to be the most auspicious among all the Ekadashi rituals.It comes after Chaitra Navratri and sri rama navami.

Kamada Ekadashi is dedicated to God Vishnu. People wake up early in the morning take bath and observe fast. Parana (breaking fast) is performed after sunrise on next day.  As the meaning of the word “Kamada” suggests, by observing this vrat one can fulfill all his desires.

Story :

The story of Kamada Ekadashi dates back to a couple named Lalit and Lalitha. While Lalit was a Gandharva, Lalitha was an apsara. Exceptionally good dancers and singers, the couple performed in the court of King Pundarika in Ratnapur. On one occasion, Lalit was asked to deliver a solo performance but he loved his wife so much that this separation could just not be tolerated. Hence, Lalit made numerous mistakes in his performance. The king was informed about this, thanks to one of the courtiers. Irritated, the king cursed Lalit for being overwhelmed by his wife’s love. Lalit was turned into an ugly looking demon.

The king thought that Lalitha would dump his demon husband. Instead, Lalitha immediately came to the king and informed that she would never forsake her husband come what may. The couple set out to find a solution to this curse. One day, they passed by an ashram of Sage Sringi. The entire tale was retold to the sage who then asked the couple to observe the Kamada Ekadashi vrat on this day. As directed, the couple observed the fast and thus, Lalit was relieved from the curse and returned to his normal self. Hence, all religious Hindu devotees observe this vrat on the pretext of getting their desires and wished fulfilled while getting their sins washed away.

2017 Date : 7^th April,Friday.