Vaikunta Ekadasi is of high religious significance and celebrated in pomp manner in all the Vishnu temples across the country. The twenty - one days’ festival during the tamil month of Margazhi during November – December every year is a sacred festival for the devotees worshipping Lord Vishnu. The first ten days of this festival is called as Pagal Pathu and the second half of the ten days is called as “Raa Pathu”. The Vaikunta Ekadesi is the eleventh day of this celebrations, an important event in all Vsihnu temples.

Normally the eleventh day of every lunar month is considered to be very auspicious in Hinduism. People fast for the entire day chanting and praying to God. Though it is considered as a religious ritual, scientifically, when we skip food once in a month, all our internal organs are cleansed and get ready for a better performance. In this way, the eleventh day called Ekadasi is very special in both aspects. During the Pagal Pathu and Ra Pathu, the destined community of priests called Arayars, enact certain verses from the 6th century Vaishnavite canon called “Naalayira Dhivya Prabhandham”. The eleventh day of this festival is called as Vaikunta Ekadasi. Lord Vishnu, gorgeously decorated is carried out in a beautiful palanquin and comes out of the “Door To Heaven”. Witnessing this event is considered to be highly sanctimonious by all the Vaishnavites.

Though this Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated in all Vishnu temples, Srirangam deserves a special mention here. Being the FIRST out of the 108 Divyadesams according to the Vaishnavism principles, Srirangam witnesses lakhs of devotees during the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. Devotees and tourist from across the country and the globe arrive at Srirangam to be a part of this grandest festival. It is believed that worshipping Lord Vishnu while he comes out of the “door to Heaven” will relieve the people from the cyclic births and deaths and attains salvation. Come and be a part of this grand festival Vaikunta Ekadasi and get the blessings of Lord Vishnu!