Pausha Putrada Ekadashi
Pausha Putrada Ekadashi falls on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Pausha (usually December–January). Kept by couples praying for children.
At a glance
| Lunar day | Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Pausha |
| Usual season | December–January |
| Presiding deity | Vishnu |
| Observed for | Kept by couples praying for children. |
The story of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi
The Pausha Putrada katha describes King Suketuman and his queen, long childless, who observed this Ekadashi on the advice of forest sages and were blessed with a virtuous son. It falls in the winter month of Pausha.
Significance
Like its Shravana counterpart, Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is kept chiefly by couples desiring children and the welfare of their family. As one of the twenty-four Ekadashi of the year, it is a day of the 11th lunar tithi (Ekadashi tithi) dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and it recurs each year in the Shukla paksha of Pausha.
Both partners often fast, worship Vishnu, hear the katha and give in charity.
How the Ekadashi vrat is kept
Across the twenty-four Ekadashi, the core observance is broadly the same. The fast begins after a light, grain-free meal on Dashami (the tenth day) and continues through Ekadashi. Devotees rise early, bathe, and take a sankalpa (vow), then worship Lord Vishnu with tulsi leaves, a lamp, incense and offerings, and spend the day in prayer, japa, reading the Vishnu Sahasranama or the day's katha, and charity. Many keep a night vigil (jagran). The fast is broken — the paran — the next morning on Dwadashi, within the prescribed window and after offering food to Vishnu.
Traditionally grains, rice, lentils and beans are avoided on Ekadashi. Observers choose the intensity that suits them: a full nirjala fast without water; a phalahar fast of fruit, milk and permitted foods; or simply a single grain-free meal. The elderly, the unwell, pregnant women, and children are advised to keep a gentler fast. The spirit of the day — restraint, devotion and giving — matters more than severity.
This page describes the traditional significance and observance of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi; it is not a substitute for a pandit's guidance. Confirm the exact date and the fast/paran window with your local panchang.
Common questions
When is Pausha Putrada Ekadashi?
Pausha Putrada Ekadashi falls on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi (11th lunar day) of the month of Pausha, usually in December–January. The Gregorian date shifts each year with the lunar calendar — see the upcoming Ekadashi dates or your local panchang for this year's date.
What is the significance of Pausha Putrada Ekadashi?
Like its Shravana counterpart, Pausha Putrada Ekadashi is kept chiefly by couples desiring children and the welfare of their family.
What is the story behind Pausha Putrada Ekadashi?
The Pausha Putrada katha describes King Suketuman and his queen, long childless, who observed this Ekadashi on the advice of forest sages and were blessed with a virtuous son. It falls in the winter month of Pausha..
What can I eat on Ekadashi?
Grains, rice, lentils and beans are traditionally avoided. Many keep a phalahar fast of fruit, milk, nuts and permitted foods; the strictest keep nirjala (without water). Choose the intensity that suits your health.
Who should not keep a strict Ekadashi fast?
The elderly, the unwell, pregnant women and children are traditionally advised to keep a gentler phalahar fast rather than a waterless one. Devotion and restraint matter more than severity.
When is the paran (breaking the fast)?
The fast is broken on the next morning, Dwadashi, within the prescribed paran window and after offering food to Vishnu. Exact paran timings vary by place — confirm with your local panchang.