When is Shattila Ekadashi?
| Date | Note |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, 2 February 2027 | — |
| Saturday, 22 January 2028 | — |
Dates for New Delhi (tithi at sunrise). Smarta and Vaishnava calendars may differ by a day; check your local Panchang for the fast and parana times. All Ekadashi dates →
About Shattila Ekadashi
Shattila Ekadashi in the dark half of Magha is named for the six uses of sesame (shat-tila): bathing with sesame, applying a sesame paste, offering it in the fire, offering sesame water, eating it and giving it in charity.
Sesame is used in six ways, and sesame, warm clothes and food are given to the poor in the cold of Magha.
The story of Shattila Ekadashi
A pious Brahmin woman kept many vrats and gave much in charity, but never gave food. Vishnu came to her as a beggar and she gave him only a lump of clay.
When she reached heaven she found her house empty. Vishnu told her to keep Shattila Ekadashi and give sesame and food in charity; she did so, and her house was filled with plenty.
As told in the Ekadashi Mahatmya of the Padma and Bhavishyottara Purana tradition, where Krishna narrates each Ekadashi's glory to Yudhishthira. Versions differ in detail between editions.
How to keep the Shattila Ekadashi vrat
- Dashami, the day before. Eat a light sattvic meal before sunset and avoid grains that night.
- Morning. Bathe early, take a sankalp for the vrat, and worship Vishnu or Krishna with tulsi leaves, flowers, a diya and incense.
- Through the day. Keep the fast as your tradition and health allow — nirjala, phalahar (fruit and milk) or one light meal without grains. Chant "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", hear the story of Shattila Ekadashi, and avoid anger and idle talk.
- Night. Many keep jagaran — staying awake with bhajans and kirtan.
- Dwadashi. Break the fast (parana) after sunrise within the Dwadashi tithi, after offering food to Vishnu and to someone in need.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with medical conditions should keep a lighter fast.
Mantra for Shattila Ekadashi
Dvadashakshari mantra of Vishnu
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya ||
Om, salutations to Bhagavan Vasudeva, who dwells in all beings. Chant it 108 times on a tulsi mala through the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is Shattila Ekadashi 2027?
Shattila Ekadashi falls on Tuesday, 2 February 2027 (New Delhi, tithi at sunrise). Check your local Panchang for the fast and the parana (breaking) time.
What are the six uses of sesame?
Bathing with sesame water, applying sesame paste, offering sesame in the fire, offering sesame water, eating sesame and giving sesame in charity.
What is eaten on the Shattila Ekadashi fast?
Grains and beans — rice, wheat and dal — are avoided. Fruit, milk, nuts, potatoes, sabudana, singhara and kuttu flour and rock salt are commonly eaten. Some keep a nirjala fast; follow your family tradition and your health.
When is the Ekadashi fast broken?
On Dwadashi, the next day, after sunrise and within the Dwadashi tithi — not during Hari Vasara, the first quarter of Dwadashi. This is called parana; check the time in your local Panchang.