List of Ekadashi days in 2018

List of Ekadashi days in the Year 2018

Ekadasi (Sanskrit: एकादशी, Tamil: ஏகாதசி, Bengali: একাদশী Telugu: ఏకాదశి, ekādaśī, "Eleven"), also spelled as Ekadashi, is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) paksha (fortnight) of every lunar month in the Hindu (Vedic) calendar (Panchang). In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered a spiritually beneficial day and is usually observed by a partial fast. Beans and grains are not eaten during Ekadasi, as on this day these two foods are believed to be contaminated by sin. Only fruits, vegetables and milk products are eaten during Ekadasi. This period of abstention runs from sunrise on the day of Ekadasi to sunrise on the day following Ekadasi.
Two Ekadasis occur in one month according to positions of the moon. The progression of the moon from full moon to new moon is divided into fifteen equal arcs. Each arc measures one lunar day, called tithi(About 12 degree distance between Sun and Moon): The time it takes the moon to traverse that distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekadashi refers to the 11 tithi, or lunar day. The eleventh tithi therefore corresponds to a precise phase of the waxing and waning moon: In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will appear roughly 3/4 full on Ekadasi, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4 dark on Ekadasi.
Bhagavata Purana (sk. IX, adhy. 4) notes the observation of Ekadashi by Ambarisha, a devotee of Vishnu. Astrologically Moon's position on Suddha Ekadashi will be 5th house from Sun, House of Knowledge and Purva punya and in Bahula paksha it will be 12th house from Sun, House of Moksha.

How many Ekadashis are there in a Hindu Year?
In a normal Hindu year, there are 24 Ekadashis in total. If it is a leap year (Adhika Masa), there will be 2 more Ekadashis will fall in that year. Every month there will be a Suddha Ekadashi and a Bahula Ekadashi.
What is Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat?
Every Ekadashi has its own significance. Jyesta Suddha Ekadashi is called as Nirjala Ekadashi. This Ekadashi comes in summer season ((May/ June month) every year. Nirjala means, no water. Those who are following this Nirjala Ekadashi vrat, they should not take water on that day. This is one of the most sacred Ekadashi Vrat.