Haribodhini Ekadashi

Haribodhini Ekadashi is one of the biggest Ekadashi (events) of Nepal which falls on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of kachalathwa. Here, kachalathwa means the very beginning month of the Nepal Sambat which generally befalls in October/November.

It is believed that this Haribodhini Ekadashi is that period when Lord Vishnu awakes from his four-month-long cosmic sleep. As per the available Puranas and holy scriptures, Lord Vishnu sleeps on the shesh-naag, a bed of serpents that is in sheersagar.

Mangal religious acts as wedding, sacred thread ceremonies, hair cutting ceremony, the wedding of ficus religiosa trees (pipal), initiation as the construction of a new house are not done as it is believed that the god himself is asleep and couldn’t give his blessings.

People from all across Nepal do celebrate this festival. Some take fast and some people tried to reach out to the possible temples of Lord Vishnu. Likewise, in the Kathmandu Valley, there are four famous Narayan temples scattered in all four directions. The temples called Changu Narayan lies on the east, likewise Ichangu Narayan on the west, Bishankhu Narayan on the north, and the Shesh Narayan on the south.

Lord Vishnu is also called Narayan, that’s why his temples are called Narayansthan.

The very next day of the Haribodhini Ekadashi is called the day of Tulasi Vivaha, which means the marriage of a plant named Tulasi. Tulasi is assumed and prayed as the goddess Laxmi who is also the consort of Lord Vishnu. That day, the Tulasi is married to Damodar, another image of the same Lord Vishnu.