Jaya Ekadashi 2026 – Worship Lord Vishnu for Worldly Enjoyment and Salvation

The Ekadashi that falls in the Shukla Paksha of the month of Magha is known as Jaya. It is considered an excellent date that destroys all sins. Along with being sacred, Jaya Ekadashi destroys sins and grants worldly enjoyment and salvation to humans. Those who observe the fast of Jaya Ekadashi reside in heaven for a thousand years. According to mythological beliefs, observing the fast of Jaya Ekadashi also frees a person from painful births such as the ghostly realm. This year, Jaya Ekadashi falls on 29 January 2026.

Jaya Ekadashi 2026 Muhurat

The fast of Jaya Ekadashi will begin on 28 January 2026 at 4:35 PM and will end the next day on 29 January at 1:55 PM.

Vishnu Puja Muhurat – Morning 7:11 AM to 8:32 AM. After this, the auspicious worship time is from 11:14 AM to 1:55 PM.
Fast breaking (Paran) time – On 30 January from 7:10 AM to 9:20 AM.

Remedies to Perform on Jaya Ekadashi

Chant the Vishnu Sahasranama on this day and help the needy. Light a 14-faced lamp and meditate on Shri Hari. This remedy brings happiness in married life. If marriage has not taken place, it eases the path toward marriage.

On Jaya Ekadashi, offer sweets made with milk and saffron to Shri Hari on a peepal leaf. Pluck the peepal leaf one day in advance. Belief holds that this remedy removes life’s difficulties and prevents financial hardship.

In the evening of Jaya Ekadashi, offer a lamp near the peepal tree and complete at least four circumambulations of the tree. People consider the peepal tree a form of Lord Vishnu Himself.

What Not to Eat on Jaya Ekadashi

Scriptures prescribe certain dietary rules for Jaya Ekadashi, and households observing the puja and fast should follow them. Those who observe the Ekadashi fast should eat only once during the day. The observer should consume only fruits. One should not consume grains and salt on this day. Rice should also not be eaten at home. On Ekadashi, one should avoid tamasic foods such as brinjal, radish, garlic, onion, and lentils.

Perform Charity on Jaya Ekadashi 2026

Sanatan Dharma considers a fast complete only when one performs charity along with it. People call charity the foundation of righteousness. Charity performed on an auspicious festival like Jaya Ekadashi grants imperishable results.

Goswami Tulsidas Ji expressed the greatness of charity in these words—

Tulsi panchhi ke piye, ghate na sarita neer.
Daan diye dhan na ghate, jo sahay Raghubeer॥

Just as a river’s water does not reduce when birds drink from it, similarly, the wealth of a person who donates with faith in God never decreases; instead, it increases by divine grace. On Jaya Ekadashi, people consider food donation the greatest form of charity. Feeding the hungry and helping the poor and helpless on this day proves extremely virtuous. Scriptures state that a person who donates food never suffers from hunger or deprivation.