Every year lakhs of warkaris make the trip to Vitthal’s town, and every year the same questions come up: which day is the main Ekadashi, will there be extra buses, and how long is the darshan queue? For Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026, some answers are already known and some are not. This guide marks clearly which is which, so you can plan your yatra without relying on a forwarded message.
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Key Takeaways
- Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026 is reported for Saturday, 21 November, with the yatra period from 10 to 28 November, according to the Pandharpur sub-divisional officer’s planning meeting as reported by My Maha Rashtra.
- The Ekadashi tithi spans two days (7.15 am on 20 November to 6.31 am on 21 November), so some almanacs list 20 November for home fasting.
- About 8 to 10 lakh devotees are expected, the sub-divisional officer said in the planning meeting.
- Extra ST buses and special trains had not been announced in the reports we found, which were dated up to 23 October 2026.
- The temple’s regular daily darshan hours are published, but special yatra timings have not been announced in the sources we checked.
- Water supply is a concern this year, and officials asked departments to plan drinking water carefully for the crowd.
What Is Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi?
Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi is the autumn yatra to the Shri Vitthal Rukmini temple on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, when warkaris believe Lord Vishnu wakes from his four-month sleep. It is also called Prabodhini Ekadashi, and it marks the end of Chaturmas. Along with Ashadhi Ekadashi in summer, it is one of the two big yatras of the year at Pandharpur.
For example, many warkari groups walk for days from villages across Maharashtra, carry tulsi plants, and bathe in the Chandrabhaga river on the morning of Ekadashi before joining the darshan queue.
When Is Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026?
Kartiki Ekadashi 2026 at Pandharpur is reported for Saturday, 21 November 2026. Pandharpur’s sub-divisional officer, Sachin Ithape, gave the yatra period as Tuesday 10 November to Saturday 28 November at a planning meeting, as reported by My Maha Rashtra (My Maha Rashtra, 23 October 2026). Pandhari Nagari, a Pandharpur daily, reported the same planning meeting (Pandhari Nagari, 20 October 2026).
The tithi itself runs across two days. The same report quotes Drik Panchang: the Ekadashi tithi begins at 7.15 am on Friday, 20 November, and ends at 6.31 am on Saturday, 21 November. That is why you may see 20 November on a calendar. If you fast at home, follow your family’s tradition. If you are going to Pandharpur, plan around the temple committee’s announcements.
| Item | Date or time reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Yatra period | 10 to 28 November 2026 | Sub-divisional officer, via My Maha Rashtra |
| Kartiki Ekadashi at Pandharpur | Saturday, 21 November 2026 | Same |
| Ekadashi tithi | 7.15 am, 20 Nov to 6.31 am, 21 Nov | Drik Panchang, as quoted |
| Tripurari Purnima | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | My Maha Rashtra |
What Are the Vitthal Temple Darshan Timings for Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026?
The Vitthal Rukmini temple’s regular daily darshan runs from 6 am to 11 am and from 11.15 am to 4.30 pm, then from 5 pm to 11.15 pm, according to the temple committee’s daily schedule page. Kakad Aarti and the daily puja take place from 4 am to 5.30 am. These are ordinary-day timings, not yatra timings.
The regular daily schedule
- 4 am to 5.30 am: Kakad Aarti and Nitya Pooja
- 6 am to 11 am: darshan (closed 10.45 am to 11 am for Maha Naivedya)
- 11.15 am to 4.30 pm: darshan (closed 4.40 pm to 5 pm for Poshakh)
- 5 pm to 11.15 pm: darshan, with Dhoop Arati from 6.45 pm to 7 pm
- 12 am to 1 am: Shej Arati
All of this is from the temple committee’s page (Shri Vitthal Rukmini Mandir Samiti). The same page lists the temple office phone number as (02186) 224466.
What about the yatra days?
In 2025, Marathi media reported that the temple kept darshan open for 24 hours around Kartiki Ekadashi (NDTV Marathi, 2025). For 2026, the My Maha Rashtra report of 23 October says darshan timings for the yatra were still to be announced. Check the temple committee’s page and local news in the week of 15 November.
Are Extra ST Buses Running for Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026?
Extra ST buses for Kartiki Ekadashi 2026 had not been announced in the reports we found, which ran up to 23 October 2026. In 2025, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) announced 1,150 additional buses for the Kartiki yatra on 27 October of that year (Sakal, 27 October 2025).
That is last year’s number, not this year’s. Do not plan on it. A similar announcement may come in the first half of November, but nobody can promise that yet.
How to find the schedule when it is out
- Watch your nearest ST bus stand or MSRTC depot notice board.
- Look for the MSRTC announcement in Marathi news around the second week of November.
- Ask the Pandharpur bus stand control room once you are in town.
If you are travelling from Kolhapur, see our guide to the Kolhapur to Solapur train, because Solapur is a common stop on the way to Pandharpur.
How Big Will the Crowd Be at Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026?
The crowd at Pandharpur for the Kartiki yatra is expected to be about 8 to 10 lakh devotees, the sub-divisional officer said at the planning meeting. Statistic: 8 to 10 lakh devotees are expected at the Kartiki yatra – Source: Pandhari Nagari, 2026.
With Ekadashi on a Saturday and the Parana fast-breaking day on Sunday, many people expect the weekend to be especially full. That is a reasonable inference from the calendar, not an official forecast.
The planning meeting listed preparations: clean drinking water and barricading from the municipal council, extra security guards and toilets along the darshan queue from the temple committee, cleaning and lighting at the Chandrabhaga riverbed, and arrangements at the 65-acre ground and the Wakhari cattle market. Officials also asked for careful water planning because of drought-like conditions.
How Should You Plan for Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026?
You should plan for Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026 by travelling early, booking a stay well ahead, and keeping a flexible schedule for darshan. These steps work in most years.
- Reach Pandharpur a day or two early. The closer you arrive to Ekadashi, the harder it is to find a room.
- Carry water and a light snack. Queues can be long, and water is a stated concern this year.
- Travel light. Big bags slow you in the crowd.
- Bathe in the Chandrabhaga only at spots the administration marks as safe, as the planning report advises.
- Do not jump the queue. Security guards are being added to stop it.
- Keep ID and a phone number for your group written on paper, in case phones die.
Plan some time for the Kolhapur side of the season too. Our Mahalakshmi Temple festivals and rituals guide covers what happens at Ambabai’s temple in the same month.
What Should You Do Next?
Next, mark 21 November, but confirm it with the temple committee closer to the date. Keep an eye out for the MSRTC bus announcement, the railway special trains list and the yatra darshan hours. We will update this page when they come out.
Conclusion
Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026 is reported for Saturday, 21 November, within a yatra running from 10 to 28 November, and a crowd of 8 to 10 lakh is expected. Bus, train and special darshan details are still to come. Go early, stay patient, and treat every unconfirmed schedule as just that.
FAQs on Pandharpur Kartiki Ekadashi 2026
What is the date of Kartiki Ekadashi 2026 at Pandharpur?
It is reported for Saturday, 21 November 2026, per the Pandharpur sub-divisional officer. The Ekadashi tithi starts on 20 November, so some calendars list that day for home fasting.
When does the Pandharpur Kartiki yatra start?
The yatra period was given as 10 November to 28 November 2026.
What are the Vitthal temple darshan timings?
Regular daily darshan is 6 am to 11 am, 11.15 am to 4.30 pm and 5 pm to 11.15 pm. Yatra-day timings had not been announced in the reports we found.
Will extra ST buses run for Kartiki Ekadashi 2026?
No announcement had been reported by 23 October 2026. In 2025, MSRTC announced 1,150 extra buses on 27 October.
How many devotees are expected?
About 8 to 10 lakh, according to the sub-divisional officer at the planning meeting.
Is there a water problem this year?
Officials asked for careful water planning because of drought-like conditions, as reported by My Maha Rashtra and Pandhari Nagari.
Who performs the Kartiki mahapuja?
We did not find an announcement in the reports we checked. In 2025 it was performed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with his wife, according to the My Maha Rashtra report.
By: LocalReports Editorial Team | Reviewed By Local Reports Editorial Team
Disclosure: This article was drafted with AI assistance from reports dated 20 to 23 October 2026 and the temple committee’s website, and was reviewed by the Local Reports Editorial Team. Dates and schedules can change. Please confirm with the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir Samiti and MSRTC before you travel.
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