In pictures: Haribodhani Ekadashi celebrated with devotional fasts

Kathmandu, November 12 — Today is Haribodhani Ekadashi (a festival that celebrates the day when Lord Bishnu wakes up from his sleep). Devotees of the Hindu religion observe a fast and perform worship of Lord Bishnu on this day.

On this occasion, it is also customary to celebrate the wedding of the Tulsi plant, which is planted in homes, and to worship the Banyan and Peepal trees, which are considered sacred representations of deities.

In a similar tradition, devotees in the capital city, Kathmandu, have hung decorative arches (toran) across the Bagmati River in the Pashupatinath area on this auspicious day of Ekadashi. The tradition of hanging these arches is believed to ensure a peaceful afterlife in Baikuntha (the abode of Lord Bishnu) and to bring prosperity to one's family.

In the evening, it is also customary for families to gather and sing devotional songs (bhajans) and stay awake in the tradition of "jagarana." According to classical beliefs, Lord Bishnu, who is said to lie in the Ksheerasagara (the Ocean of Milk) during the Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi, awakens on this day.

Among the 16 important dates mentioned in the Vedic calendar, Ekadashi is considered one of the most significant. Haribodhani Ekadashi is also known as the Thulo Ekadashi.