FESTIVALS & OBSERVANCES
Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Tulsi Vivah 2026
Dev Uthani Ekadashi falls on 20 or 21 November 2026, then Tulsi Vivah. See tithi timings, puja steps, precautions and what it means for wedding dates.
· 3 min read
Date and timing
Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also called Devutthana or Prabodhini Ekadashi, falls on the eleventh lunar day of the bright half of Kartik. By our calculation the Ekadashi tithi begins at about 7:15 am on 20 November 2026 and ends at about 6:30 am on 21 November, India time.
Because the tithi spans two sunrises, calendars differ. Many Smarta families observe the fast on 20 November and many Vaishnava families on 21 November. Tulsi Vivah, held on the Dwadashi that follows, is most commonly listed for 21 November, though some families hold it on the Ekadashi itself. Local custom and your family priest’s panchang come first.
What the day marks
According to tradition, Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Devshayani Ekadashi in the summer and wakes on this day, which ends the four-month period called Chaturmas. During Chaturmas many families avoid weddings and other new ventures. Dev Uthani Ekadashi is therefore seen as the day the calendar opens again.
Tulsi Vivah is the symbolic marriage of the Tulsi plant to Vishnu, in his Shaligram form. Many households decorate the Tulsi, light lamps in the evening, and offer sweets and fruit. Practices vary by region and family, so follow the way your household observes it.
A simple way to observe it
A simple home observance is to clean the space around the Tulsi, decorate it, light a diya at dusk, offer fruit or sweets and read or chant a prayer you know. Many people keep a fast on Ekadashi and break it the next morning within the time given in the panchang.
Traditionally, Tulsi leaves are not plucked on Ekadashi, so collect what you need the day before. You do not need an expensive ceremony. If you want a deeper practice, ask a family elder or a priest you trust.
Precautions
If you plan to fast, speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant, diabetic, elderly or taking regular medication. A fast should never put your health at risk, and a lighter fruit-based fast is common. Take care with lamps near dry leaves, cloth and decorations, and keep children and pets away from open flames.
Be careful about anyone who charges high fees for a special Tulsi Vivah puja or a “guaranteed marriage” ritual. Traditional observance does not require it.
What it means for wedding dates
Dev Uthani Ekadashi opens the main wedding season, but not every day after it is suitable. A priest or panchang picks a muhurat, a specific time window, using the tithi, nakshatra and other factors for your location. We could not confirm a single list of wedding dates for November and December 2026 that every tradition accepts, so ask for a date from your own family’s priest or a panchang for your city.
The season is also short this year. Kharmas begins on 16 December, when many families pause weddings until mid-January. Read about Kharmas in December 2026 before you finalise a date.
If you are matching two charts, our guide to kundli matching and Guna Milan explains the process, and you can check a match for free. Matching is a custom, not a legal requirement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of Dev Uthani Ekadashi in 2026?
The tithi runs from about 7:15 am on 20 November to about 6:30 am on 21 November 2026, India time. Many Smarta families observe on 20 November and many Vaishnava families on 21 November.
When is Tulsi Vivah in 2026?
Most commonly on 21 November 2026, the Dwadashi after Dev Uthani Ekadashi. Some families hold it on the Ekadashi itself, so follow your local custom.
Do weddings start after Dev Uthani Ekadashi?
It is traditionally seen as the end of Chaturmas and the opening of the wedding season. The exact muhurat for a wedding depends on your location, so ask a priest or check a local panchang.
Is it safe to fast on Ekadashi?
For most healthy adults a light fast is safe, but speak to a doctor if you are pregnant, diabetic, elderly or on medication. You can keep a fruit-based fast instead.
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