Nirjala Ekadashi is the most austere of all Ekadashis — it is observed without water (nirjala = waterless) throughout the entire day and night. The legend involves Bhima (of the Pandavas) who could not observe any Ekadashi fast due to his enormous appetite. Sage Vyasa told him that observing just this one Nirjala Ekadashi with complete abstinence from water earns the merit of all 24 Ekadashis. It falls in the hottest month of summer, making the waterless fast an extreme test of devotion.

Shukla Ekadashi of Jyeshtha (May/June)

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Vat Purnima

वट पूर्णिमा

Vat Purnima is the Maharashtra-Gujarat version of the pan-Indian Vat Savitri vrat (which North India observes on Jyeshtha Amavasya). Savitri's husband Satyavan died, and Yama came to take his soul. Savitri followed Yama for three days, refusing to leave her husband. Her devotion and arguments for dharma ultimately moved Yama, who returned Satyavan's life. Married women fast and tie threads around the banyan tree (vata vriksha), praying for their husband's longevity. The Purnima version is observed in western India while the Amavasya version is pan-Indian.

Jyeshtha Purnima (May/June) — or Jyeshtha Amavasya in some regions

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