Ekādaśī Guidelines
A practical guide to what to eat and avoid on Ekādaśī - with notes on Cāturmāsya-vrata restrictions.
"The essence of observing Ekādaśī is to eat simply, once or twice, so that one can spend more time for hearing, chanting and remembering the Lord."
✓ Allowed on Ekādaśī
- Fruits (all varieties)
- Nuts and nut butters
- Non-corn oils
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Pumpkin, cucumber, radish, squash
- Lemon, avocado, olives, coconut
- Buckwheat flour
- Jaggery / brown sugar
- Black pepper
- Rock salt
- Fresh turmeric
✕ Prohibited on Ekādaśī
Vegetables
Tomatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli, peppers, peas, chickpeas, all beans (including tofu and tempeh)
Leafy Items & Herbs
Spinach, salads, cabbage, parsley, curry leaves
Grains & Starches
Wheat, rice, corn, barley, millet, dahl, flour, pasta
Spices
Sesame seeds, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, tamarind, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg
Prohibited at All Times (not just Ekādaśī)
Onions, garlic, meat, fish, eggs, white sugar, red carrots
Cāturmāsya-vrata Restrictions
During the four-month period of Cāturmāsya (roughly July–November), additional monthly restrictions apply on top of regular Ekādaśī observance.
Looking for meal ideas that follow these guidelines?
View Ekādaśī Recipes