Indira Ekadashi

Indira Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of the dark fortnight in Ashwin month (September-October). It is particularly significant for performing Shraddha (ancestor worship) rituals, as it is believed to help liberate departed ancestors from the cycle of rebirth. The story involves King Indradyumna and his son.

The Padma Purana narrates the story of King Indradyumna, who lost his beloved son to an untimely death. Grief-stricken, the king wandered the forests until he met the sage Shatananda, who told him about Indira Ekadashi. The king observed this fast with profound devotion and performed Shraddha rituals for his departed son. Pleased by his sincerity, Lord Vishnu granted the king's son a celestial rebirth, and the boy appeared before his father in divine radiance. This story illustrates the extraordinary power of Indira Ekadashi to liberate even those trapped in the darkest realms of existence.

In Odisha, Indira Ekadashi is observed with special Shraddha ceremonies for departed ancestors. Devotees take a ritual bath, offer pinda (rice balls) to their forefathers, and pray for their liberation. The fast is kept without grains, and the devotee breaks it on Dwadashi after offering food to Brahmins and performing the prescribed rituals. It is believed that the merit of this fast reaches directly to the ancestors, freeing them from their karmic bonds.