It’s Vaikuntha Ekadashi today, and the devotees across the nation observe the day with much enthusiasm and zeal. Popular at the Southern states, this festival is also known as ‘Mukkoti Ekadashi’ and is celebrated on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) in the month of ‘Pausha’ in the Hindu calendar. This date might vary within December to January in the Gregorian calendar. In 2018, individuals will celebrate Vaikhunta Ekadashi on December 18 and Vaikunta Dwadasi on December 19. As the holy period has arrived, Twitter is filled with devotional Vaikuntha Ekadashi wishes with Lord Vishnu's images. Politicians And Top Bureaucrats Including Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan Visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple. 

Special prayers, yagnas, discourses and speeches are arranged at the Vishnu temples across on this auspicious day. In the southern part of India, the Vaishnava (worship of Vishnu) sect believes that ‘Vaikuntha Dwaram’ or the gate to the Lord’s Inner Sanctum is opened during this time of the year. It is said that the devotees who observe fast in Vaikuntha Ekadashi to attain Moksha (salvation) and go to heaven.

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Vaikuntha Ekadashi is an essential festival in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam. Till late night, devotees stay awake and spend time listening to stories and singing bhajans in praise of Lord Vishnu. This period is very auspicious to the devotees. They perform Ekadashi fast to be liberated from their sins and attain salvation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 18, 2018 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).