Prabodhini Ekadashi

Prabodhini Ekadashi प्रबोधिनी एकादशी
Vishnu sleeps on the Shesha Shaiya - bed of Shesha
Also called	Devutthi ekadashi, Deothan, Kartik Shukla ekadashi
Observed by	Hindus, especially Vaishnavas
Type	Hindu
Significance	end of the chaturmas
Observances	Prayers and religious rituals, including puja to Vishnu
Date	Decided by the lunar calendar
2016 date	11 November
2017 date	31 October
Frequency	annual
Related to	Shayani Ekadashi

Prabodhini Ekadashi also known as Devotthan Ekadashi, is the 11th lunar day (ekadashi) in the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month of Kartik. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas, when god Vishnu is believed to sleep. It is believed that Vishnu sleeps on Shayani Ekadashi and wakes on Prabodhini Ekadashi, thus giving this day the name "Prabodhini Ekadashi" ("awakening eleventh"), Vishnu-prabodhini ("awakening of Vishnu") and Dev-Prabodhini Ekadashi, Deothan, Dev uthav ekadashi or Dev Oothi ekadashi ("god's awakening"). The end of Chaturmas, when marriages are prohibited, signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season. It is also known as Kartiki Ekadashi, Kartik Shukla ekadashi and Kartiki. Prabodhini Ekadashi is followed by Kartik Poornima, which day is celebrated as Dev Diwali or Diwali of gods.

It is also believed that Lord Vishnu married to goddess Tulsi on this Day.

A fast is observed on Prabodhini Ekadashi and the ritual marriage of the Tulsi plant is performed with god Vishnu, in the form of the holy black colored Shaligram stone, which is regarded as the husband of Tulsi, in its twenty four permutations. During evening time people prepare floor designs by geru paste( red soil) and rice paste which is a very well known tradition. Images of Lakshmi and Vishnu are also prepared from it. Lakshmi pujan and Vishnu pujan is observed at evening time with sugarcane, rice, dried red chillies, etc. And, is then given to pandits. This ritual marriage is known as Tulsi Vivah and may be conducted on the next day of Prabodhini Ekadashi instead of Prabodhini Ekadashi itself.

In Maharashtra, Prabodhini Ekadashi is linked with the god Vithoba - a form of Vishnu. Varkari pilgrims throng the Pandharpur temple of Vithoba on this day. The celebrations in Pandharpur continue for five days, till the full moon day (Kartik Poornima). On Prabodhini Ekadashi, the chief minister or a minister of Maharashtra state performs ritual components of worship on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra. This form of worship is known as sarkari-mahapuja.