For millions of Hindus across India, Guruvayur Ekadashi represents one of the most spiritually significant days in the religious calendar. This sacred observance, particularly prominent in South India, combines deep devotion with elaborate rituals centered around Lord Krishna worship.
Guruvayur Ekadashi 2025: Date and Timings
This year, the auspicious festival of Guruvayur Ekadashi will be celebrated on December 1, 2025. The precise astronomical timings for the observance are crucial for devotees planning their rituals and fasts.
The Ekadashi Tithi begins on November 30, 2025, at 09:29 PM and concludes on December 1, 2025, at 07:01 PM. For those observing the fast, the Parana time (breaking the fast) is scheduled for December 2, 2025, from 06:57 AM to 09:03 AM. The Dwadashi period ends on December 2, 2025, at 03:57 PM.
Spiritual Significance and Historical Context
Guruvayur Ekadashi holds immense religious importance in Hindu tradition. While South India celebrates it as Guruvayur Ekadashi, devotees in North India recognize the same day as Mokshada Ekadashi.
The primary center of celebrations is the renowned Shri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur, Kerala, where thousands of devotees gather to offer prayers. This day commemorates two significant events in Hindu mythology. Most importantly, it marks the occasion when Lord Krishna imparted the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, making it celebrated as Geetopadesham Day and Geeta Jayanti.
Another unique aspect of Guruvayur Ekadashi involves the memorial of Gajarajan Guruvayoor Kesavan, a legendary temple elephant believed to have attained salvation on this auspicious Ekadashi day. In a moving tribute, elephants gather around Kesavan's statue at Pannathur Kotta within the Guruvayur Temple complex, where the elephant commander places a garland in honor of the revered pachyderm.
Puja Rituals and Observances
Devotees follow specific rituals with utmost devotion during Guruvayur Ekadashi. The primary observance involves keeping a strict fast on Ekadashi and breaking it only on Dwadashi, the following day. During the fast, consumption of cereals, rice, and salt is strictly prohibited.
Essential rituals include visiting Lord Krishna temples for worship and blessings. At the Guruvayur Temple, offering Chandan (sandalwood paste) and Tulsi Patra (holy basil leaves) to the deity is mandatory. Devotees also present bananas or white food offerings like Pal Pyasam to Lord Krishna.
Spiritual practices include reciting the sacred mantra 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaye' 108 times. Many devotees consider it highly meritorious to recite the Bhagavad Gita on this day. Additional pious activities include serving and feeding cows, planting tulsi plants, watering them, and lighting lamps near them.
Several powerful mantras are chanted during the celebrations, including 'Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva,' the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, and 'Achyutam Keshvam Krishna Damodaram Ram Narayanam Janki Vallabham.'
The festival reaches its visual spectacular with a magnificent elephant procession that winds through temple premises, creating a breathtaking display of devotion and tradition that draws pilgrims from across the country.
