Ekadashi Monthly Vrat Tithi 2020-2021
Gyaras – Agyaras Vrat Katha Puja Samvat 2076-2077

Monthly Eleventh Day Fast in Shukla & Krishna Paksha (Bright & Dark fortnight)
एकादशीव्रत तिथी : मासिक शुक्लपक्ष, कृष्णपक्ष (स्मार्त, वैष्णव​)
ग्यारस – अग्यारस व्रत तिथी कथा पूजा संवत् २०७६–२०७७

What is Ekadash ‘Ekadashi एकादशी’, ‘Ekadashi Vrat’?
It’s 11^th day fast.
The eleventh tithi
(i.e. 11^th lunar day –
11^th phase of the moon)
of each Paksha (fortnight);
vrat (fast) is kept by Hindus.
(i.e. twice a month in both bright & dark half).

‘एका-दश Ekā-dash (^Ekādasá)’ Eka is one. Dasha is ten.
“एकादश Ekadash means Eleventh, consisting of eleventh”.
The Fast of Ekadashi is devoted to Lord Vishnu and His incarnations.
Ekadashi vrat is a tithi vrat on the eleventh tithi (11^th lunar day).
And, thus, it is called eleventh day Vrat (Ekadashi).

Ekadashi एकादशी ‘Ekā-das-hi’ is a Sanskrit word. It means,
“-शी” “The eleventh day of every fortnight of a lunar month, sacred to Vishnu;
(when fasting is enjoined and is considered to be productive of great religious merit)”.
@“The eleventh day of a fortnight (on which fasting is considered
an indispensable observance and very efficacious)”.
11^th tithi of Shukla and Krishna paksha is for vratam.

What is उपवास​ Upavasa significance?
Upavasa (Upa-vāsa) उपवास​ is a Sanskrit word. It means,
“a fast, fasting (as a religious act comprising abstinence from all sensual gratification)”.
“To abide in a state of abstinence, abstain from food, to fast.”
Upa-vasati, Upa-vāsayati, Upa-vasa-yitum: “to cause to fast.”

When ‘Ekadashi Vrat’ tithi occurs?

1. There are two ekadashis in each masa (month).
   This vrat is ‘twice in a month’ in a Hindu Lunar Calendar.

2. This fast occurs on ‘eleventh lunar day’ in Hindu Calendar
   There are two paksha (fortnights) in a month.
   One in a Shukla Paksha i.e. (Bright Fortnight) and
   another one in a Krishna Paksha i.e. Dark Fortnight).

Do we perform prayers of Tulsi Vivah Vrat Pooja Katha Viddhi-vidhan (Tulsi Vrinda Shaligram Wedding Traditional rituals) in Bharat and Hong Kong?
Which month (when) one performs Tulsi Shaligram Vivaha Puja, how and what is its significance?

Tulsi Shaligram Vivah
Tulsi weds Shaligram

‘Tulsi Vivah’ is devoted to Shri Vrinda – Vranda (or Tulsi-Tulasi) & Sri Vishnu Narayan Sri Hari (Shaligram).
Their wedding prayer rituals are being conducted annually. It has its ‘observing rites, rituals, traditions’.
It is being performed in the ‘Kartik’ (Karttika Masa), on ‘eleventh tithi’ till the ‘Kartik Purnima tithi’.
It occurs yearly during bright half of October or November. From ‘Ekadashi tithi’ 11^th lunar day .
Its prayer lasts for the 5 five lunar days (tithis) as per the Panchangam (The Hindu Calendar).
Except this, it has the ‘other traditional rules’ also to follow regarding the Tulsi Vivah puja.
Its puja viddhi-viddhan (the prayer ritual procedures observance) has its due importance.
Yes, Tulsi Vivah puja is being observed in the Bharat, Hong Kong and in other countries.
Tulsi Vivah puja: First time in 1996 in Hong Kong performed by Ishwar Maharaj Pandit.
Tulsi Puja performed firstly in the sweet home of Shri and Smt. Mohini Lachhu Tourani.
Prayers and its divinity in the presence of Swamiji in Tourani family with near dears.
Lateron, same year, Ishwar Maharaj performed its prayers at Hindu Temple, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
Now, this time at temple, his brother Shri Lal Tourani family with attending devotees, did Tulsi puja.
Ishwar Maharaj conducted auspicious wedding ceremony. Devi & Devatas blessed to cople and all!

Jai Tulsi Mata!
Jai Vranda Ma!
Tulsi Shaligram Ki Jai!

एकादशी व्रत २०२०–२०२१ में कब कब है?
Which are the ‘Ekadashi – Gyaras Vrat dates’ in 2020-2021 Samvat 2076-2077 Saake 1941-42?

Those who observes Ekadashi vrat (fast) and prayers on both the fortnights, the following are the Ekadashi vrat tithi dates in Vikram Sambat 2076-2077 during (January 2020 to 2021 March) in Bharat, Hong Kong & in other countries:-

SP:Shukla Paksha; KP: Krishna Paksha. #Bhagwat वैष्णव निम्बार्क​ (Paapamochini 11 tithi – Nimbark Vaishnav Ekad.).

Other questions asked: When and why two Ekadashis (Gyaras) tithi? Is there two Ekadashis vrat observance? Which are their names? Devotion is the upmost feel of the fast. There are two Ekadashi following system are prevailing, namely Smaart (Smaarta or for Smartas) and Vaishnav Ekadashi for Vaishnavas (Bhagwat, Nimbarka, Gauna). Both system observance of Ekadashi tithi vritam dates are provided.
Ekadashi means eleventh tithi vrat, it is called Gyaras among Sindhis and Agyaras in Gujarati, and generally Hindu community calls it ‘Ekadashi’ vrat (vratam).
There are different names of Ekadashi vritam which are provided above. Also there is Mukkoti (Mukti) Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

Acknowledgement and thanks to the various sources:
Shri Vratrajaha – Shri Vishwanath Sharmana Khemraj Shri Krishnadas Samvat 2010 Sake 1875 and Samvat 2046 year 1990 1076 to 1105. And Nirnaya-Sindhu, Tithi Nirnaya.
Sanskrit Dictionary of Shri Apteji P.314 (iii)
^Rig Ved x, 85, 45.
@Maha-Bharat (Mahabharat), Kathas. Page no. 230. Dic. MW.
Sindhi Dictionary by Shri Anandram T. Shahani.
The Educational Publishing Co., January 1936 Page Nos. 282, 431.
Sindhi Dictionary by Shri Parmanand Mewaram. Page no. 477.
Festivals book by John Murdoch, LL.D. page no. 13, 27 and 59.
For My Puja Room by Kiran Agarwal page no. 48 and 49.

Om Shri Vishnavey Namaha!
Om Shri Ramaya Namaha!
Om Shri Krishnaya Namaha!
Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya!

‘ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय’ 

एकादशीव्रत तिथी : मासिक शुक्लपक्ष, कृष्णपक्ष (स्मार्त, वैष्णव​)
ग्यारस – अग्यारस व्रत तिथी कथा पूजा संवत् २०७६–२०७७

SP:Shukla Paksha; KP: Krishna Paksha. #Bhagwat वैष्णव निम्बार्क​ (Paapamochini 11 tithi – Nimbark Vaishnav Ekad.).