Ekadashi October 2026: Fasting Dates & Parana Guide

Fasting and fast-breaking dates

Parana means breaking the fast in the prescribed window on Dvadashi. The dates above are not permission to break the fast at any time that day. Verify the exact window for Hyderabad, or your own city, using a local Vaishnava calendar. Tithi end time and parana time are different pieces of information.

Indira and Papankusha: two different observances

Indira Ekadashi falls in the waning fortnight. Its traditional account describes King Indrasena and his concern for his father. Read the vrat katha as devotional instruction, with attention to remembrance of Krishna and service; the fasting date is a practical reminder to make time for that remembrance.

Pashankusha Ekadashi falls in the waxing fortnight. You may find the same name written Papankusha or Papankusa in calendars. These spelling differences do not by themselves indicate a different fast. Check the year, location and tradition rather than choosing a date from the spelling alone.

For a household observing both fasts, plan meals on the preceding evening, keep the following morning free for parana, and use the day for hearing, chanting and reading. The two October stories are linked in the table below so that preparation can include the meaning of the observance as well as its date.

Prepare for the fast

Choose an observance suited to your circumstances and your teacher’s guidance. In the Vaishnava practice described on this site, grains, beans and lentils are avoided; meal preparation also needs attention to ingredients and cross-contamination. A fasting recipe title alone does not guarantee that every packaged ingredient is suitable.

Use our Ekadashi food guide and fasting recipes to plan food, and set aside time for chanting and scripture. If you are unsure about the degree of fasting, ask your spiritual guide rather than assuming that a waterless fast is required of everyone.

Is the October Ekadashi date the same everywhere?

These dates follow the 2026 Vaishnava calendar used by this community. Lunar tithis, sunrise and the rules of your tradition determine the observance; overseas devotees should verify with a local Vaishnava calendar. Hyderabad fast-breaking times must not be reused as worldwide timings.

Calendar sources and scope

Dates follow the 2026 Vaishnava calendar published by ISKCON Jaipur. For a city-specific cross-check and the distinction between general and Vaishnava observance, consult Drik Panchang’s Hyderabad Ekadashi calendar. KC Zenithians is an independent community in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.