Nirjala Ekadashi 2025: Vrat katha, date, timings, significance—all you need to know
Nirjala Ekadashi is considered the most important Ekadashi among all the 24 Ekadashis in the year. Nirjala Vrat translates into fasting without water, and this Nirjala Ekadashi fast is observed without food and water and is considered the most difficult of the Ekadashi fasts.
For those devotees unable to observe all 24 Ekadashis throughout the year, it is recommended to fast solely on Nirjala Ekadashi, as fasting on this day is believed to confer the benefits of all the other Ekadashis.
Nirjala Ekadashi fast falls in the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, and according to the Gregorian/English calendar, it falls in May or June.
It falls on the next day of Ganga Dussehra, and this year, the Nirjala Ekadashi date starts on Friday, June 6, at 2:15 am and ends on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 4:47 am.
Those observing the fast on June 7 can break it (Parana) between 1:44 PM and 4:31 PM, after the end of Hari Vasara, which concludes at 11:25 AM.
For Vaishnav Ekadashi, which falls on 8th June 2025, the Parana time is from 5:23 AM to 7:17 AM, with the Dwadashi Tithi ending at 7:17 AM.
It is important to wait until Hari Vasara ends before performing Parana, as breaking the fast earlier is not considered auspicious.
Devotees should ensure they break their fast within these specified times to observe the rituals correctly and receive the full spiritual benefits.
The mythological story associated with Nirjala Ekadashi, also known as Pandava Ekadashi, Bhimaseni Ekadashi, or Bhim Ekadashi, is about Bhimasena, the Pandavas' second brother, who was very fond of eating and drinking and was unable to control his hunger, so he could not observe the Ekadashi fast.
Aside from Bhima, the other Pandava brothers and Draupadi devotedly observed all of the Ekadashi fasts throughout the year. Bhimasena was worried by his helplessness and vulnerability. Bhimasena believed that by not observing the Ekadashi fast, he was disrespecting Lord Vishnu.
To resolve this dilemma, Bhimasena went to Maharishi Vyas, who recommended him to observe the Nirjala Ekadashi fast once a year, claiming that Nirjala Ekadashi is comparable to twenty-four Ekadashis of the year. Following this legendary narrative, Nirjala Ekadashi became known as Bhimseni Ekadashi and Pandava Ekadashi.
To read the full vrat katha of Nirjala Ekadashi fast in Hindi, one can follow the link to Jansatta.
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