Ashadhi Ekadashi... A day to worship Lord Vishnu

 Ashadhi Ekadashi, also known as Devshayani Ekadashi, is one of the most important festival that is celebrated in Maharashtra. This festival is dedicated to Lord Vithoba (Avatar of Lord Vishnu). On this day, Lord Vishnu goes to sleep and wake up after four months on Prabodhini Ekadashi. It is the 11th lunar day of Hindu month of Ashadh which falls in June or July. This festival is generally celebrated in Pandharpur city in Maharashtra where a huge number of devotees gather to celebrate this ceremony. 

Lord Vithoba temple in Pandharpur

Mythology: 

It is believed that Lord Vishnu goes to sleep (Yognidra) in Ksheersagar (cosmic ocean of milk) on Shesh Naga and wakes up after four months on Prabodhini ekadashi that falls during Hindu Kartik month (October-November). This four months period is called as Chaturmaas. Chaturmaas is considered as a holy period of four months in Hindu calendar that starts from this day. Thus, Devshayani ekadashi is the beginning of the Chaturmaas.

Link for the story of Shri. Vitthal-Rakhumai

Shri Vithoba-Rakhumai 

Rituals: 

On this day, devotees keep fast for whole day to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu. Moreover, they spend entire night in singing devotional songs (Bhajans) and prayers. People draws beautiful Rangoli at the house entrance. 

During this day, devotees go walking in huge processions (Vari or dindi) to Pandharpur. People who join this procession is named as Vaarkari. Men are dressed in traditional attire like dhoti and kurta during the yatra. This yatra starts from Alandi (a small town in Maharashtra) and ends in Pandharpur. People from all over the state join this yatra and sing spiritual songs to pay tribute to Lord Vitthala. 

Vaarkari