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- Date:
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
- Tithi:
Shukla Paksha Dwadashi of the Shravana month
- Preceded by:
Putrada Ekadashi (observed on 4 August 2025)
- Parana (breaking the fast):
Performed on Dwadashi after Vishnu puja
Significance
- Damodara
is one of the many names of Lord Vishnu/Krishna, meaning “the One
whose belly was bound with a rope” (from dama = rope, udara
= belly), referring to the divine leela where Yashoda tied Krishna
to a mortar.
- Observing Damodara Dwadashi Vrat
is believed to:
- Grant liberation (moksha) and
divine blessings
- Cleanse sins and fulfill spiritual
desires
- Bring prosperity and happiness
to the devotee’s household
Legends
- As per the Bhagavata Purana,
young Krishna was tied by his mother Yashoda for his mischief. This
act of binding the infinite Lord with love symbolizes the power of
devotion over divinity.
- The festival celebrates this Damodara
Leela, emphasizing bhakti (devotion) and surrender.
Rituals
Puja Vidhi
- Wake up early, bathe, and wear clean
clothes
- Set up an altar with an image or idol
of Lord Damodara (Krishna/Vishnu)
- Offer:
- Tulsi leaves,
fruits, flowers, incense, and ghee lamps
- Panchamrit abhishekam
(milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar)
- Recite:
- Vishnu Sahasranama
- Damodarashtakam
- Bhagavatam verses
related to Krishna’s childhood
- Charity:
Donate rice, fruits, clothes, and dakshina to Brahmins
Fasting
- Many devotees observe a partial or
full fast, especially those who observed Putrada Ekadashi the
previous day
- Fast is broken after offering Naivedyam to Lord Vishnu and consuming prasadam