For all the posts in this Holidays & Observances series, go here.
For prologue on Ekadasi, go to the very first post here.
Prologue: I have been meaning to write a series about Holidays and Observances that we (my family and friends) follow in both India (my birth country) and USA (my adopted country). This series is dedicated to those. On a side note, perhaps I might witness some of the celebrations from other countries as well that may get their way into this series. 🙂
The first Ekadasi for the month of September is Aja Ekadasi which was on Sept 10th this year (2023). Two days after Krishna Janmashtami, Aja Ekadasi falls and is also known as Kamika Ekadasi and Anand Ekadasi. Lord Vishnu in the form of Rishikesh is worshipped on this day.
It is believed that if one follows this fast, they get the same benefits as performing an Ashwamegha Yagya. As I mentioned in the very first Ekadasi post, if you put the religion aside, allowing your body to fast twice a month is an excellent way of cleansing and detoxifying to aid in repair and rejuvenation.
Galavant Reflections 