Utthana Ekadashi fasting is observed on the 11th day during the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Kartik month. Utthana Ekadashi 2014 date is November 3. It is also popularly known as Prabodhini Ekadasi. The greatness of this Ekadasi is mentioned in the Skanda Purana during a conversation between Sage Narada and Lord Brahma.
Observing Utthana Ekadashi will help in redemption of sins and also it will help in attaining Moksha.
The Tulsi Vivah festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the Tulsi Plant begins on the day. The Chatur Mas period ends with Utthana Ekadashi. The famous Kartik Month Pandarpur Yatra to the
Lord Vithal Temple in Maharashtra is observed on the day.
All the normal rules associated with Ekadasi fasting are observed on the day.
In some regions, Utthana Ekadashi is observed with certain strict rules and is referred as Nirjala Ekadasi and people don’t even drink water while fasting on the day (mostly such strict rules are observed by some Hindu communities in Gujarat). They also keep vigil at night.