Vaikunta Ekadasi, one of the most sacred and widely celebrated festivals dedicated to Lord Vishnu, holds deep spiritual and astronomical significance. Every year, millions of devotees across India, especially in South Indian temples like Tirupati and Srirangam, eagerly await this day when the celestial “Vaikuntha Dwaram” — the Gate to Heaven — is opened for devotees to enter and seek divine blessings.
However, if you’ve noticed that in 2025, Vaikunta Ekadasi falls on January 10 and December 30th, you might wonder why it differs from previous years, sometimes appearing in December, and occasionally even skipping a year altogether. Let’s understand the reasons behind this fascinating variation.
What is Vaikunta Ekadasi?
Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated during the Dhanur month (when the Sun is in Sagittarius) — a period that roughly falls between mid-December and mid-January in the Gregorian calendar. It occurs on the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi, which is the 11th lunar day of the waxing moon phase during this solar month.
This day is believed to be highly auspicious, as the gates of Lord Vishnu’s divine abode, Vaikuntha, are opened. Devotees believe that by observing a fast and offering prayers on this day, they can attain liberation (moksha) and wash away their past karmas.
Understanding Ekadasi and the Lunar Calendar
To understand why the date of Vaikunta Ekadasi varies each year, we must first understand how Ekadasi is calculated.
In the Hindu lunar calendar, an Ekadasi refers to the 11th day (tithi) of each fortnight of the Moon’s cycle. Since every lunar month has two fortnights — one waxing (Shukla Paksha) and one waning (Krishna Paksha), there are two Ekadasis every lunar month.
However, the lunar and solar calendars don’t perfectly align. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, whereas the solar month is about 30.4 days. This difference creates a slight shift in tithis (lunar days) from year to year. Each tithi is based on the angular distance between the Sun and the Moon, and a new tithi begins when the Moon gains another 12 degrees in its separation from the Sun.
Here’s where it gets complex:
- A tithi can begin or end at any time of the day.
- The day’s tithi at sunrise determines the festival date.
- Sometimes, an Ekadasi tithi may start after sunrise and end before the next sunrise, meaning it never touches a sunrise. This is called a ksaya (skipped) tithi.
- Other times, a tithi may span two sunrises, which is known as a vrddhi (extended) tithi.
These irregularities cause the exact date of Ekadasi to vary every month and every year.
The Link Between Vaikunta Ekadasi and the Solar Month
Unlike other Ekadasis that are purely lunar-based, Vaikunta Ekadasi is defined by both lunar and solar positions. It must occur during the Dhanur solar month, when the Sun is in the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.
This solar month overlaps two possible lunar months: Margashirsha (Agrahayana) and Pausha. Therefore, Vaikunta Ekadasi can fall in either of these lunar months, depending on how the lunar and solar calendars align each year.
- If the Shukla Ekadasi of Margashirsha occurs during Dhanur month, that is considered Vaikunta Ekadasi.
- If it doesn’t align, then the next Shukla Ekadasi, during Pausha. becomes the Vaikunta Ekadasi.
Because the solar and lunar months drift in relation to each other, the festival can occur in late December or early January, depending on the alignment.
Why 2025 Vaikunta Ekadasi Falls on January 10
In 2025, Vaikunta Ekadasi falls on Friday, January 10, and December 30, a date that seems later than usual. The reason lies in a combination of astronomical timing and calendar overlap.
No Vaikunta Ekadasi in 2024:
In 2024, due to the specific alignment of the Sun and Moon, the Shukla Ekadasi tithi never occurred during the Dhanur solar month. In Panchangam terms, this was a kṣaya (skipped) situation. As a result, no Vaikunta Ekadasi took place in the 2024 Dhanur period.
Shifted to Early January 2025:
Because of the 2024 skip, the next occurrence of Shukla Ekadasi during the Dhanur month happened only in January 2025. The tithi began on January 9, 2025, at 12:22 PM and ended on January 10, 2025, at 10:19 AM.
Since the tithi was active during the sunrise of January 10, the fast and celebrations are observed on this day.
A Rare “Double Vaikunta Ekadasi” Year:
Interestingly, because of the earlier skip, 2025 will also have two Vaikunta Ekadasis, one on January 10, 2025, and another on December 30, 2025, both occurring while the Sun is in Sagittarius. Such occurrences are rare but possible under the Panchangam rules.
Does Vaikunta Ekadasi Change Every Year?
Yes. The date of Vaikunta Ekadasi is not fixed and changes every year. It depends on:
- The position of the Sun (solar month) in Sagittarius (Dhanur).
- The position of the Moon (lunar tithi) during the waxing phase.
- The local sunrise time, which determines when the Ekadasi tithi is active.
Due to these astronomical variations, some years witness Vaikunta Ekadasi in late December, others in early January, and occasionally, the alignment skips a year altogether or produces two occurrences within the same Gregorian year.
The Spiritual Essence Remains Unchanged
While the calendar may shift, the spiritual power of Vaikunta Ekadasi remains constant. The festival’s essence is rooted in devotion, discipline, and liberation. On this day, the Vaikuntha Dwaram (Gate to Heaven) is ceremonially opened in Vishnu temples like Tirupati Balaji, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, and ISKCON centers worldwide.
Devotees observe a strict fast, avoiding grains and dedicating the day to chanting Vishnu’s names, reading scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, and participating in temple rituals. Passing through the Vaikuntha Dwaram symbolizes crossing the cycle of birth and death and attaining divine grace.
