TIPS FOR RIGHT WAY OF EKADASI FASTING!

Nirjala fast, i.e., Total fast even without water is not compulsory on all ekadasi days. You can observe Parital Fast itself that will also be good. 

If you are properly observing Partial fasts for all ekadasis, you need not observe Nirjala Ekadasi in June every year.  In such cases, you can observe partial fasting even on Nirjala Ekadasi.

Take then following on ekadasi days after offering to Krishna: Milk, milk products, fruits, boiled ground nut, vegetables, etc, without grains. 

Avoid Grains, Onion, Garlic, Meat, Nuts (except groundnut), mustard seeds, etc. 

You can use salt, sugar and Sun flower oil (Not other Oils) in small quantities.

Avoid any Grain though it is Krishna Prasadam. Offer only grainless food to Krishna on ekadasis.

Anyone who is aged above 75, who is bed ridden, who has acidic and ulcer, who has Blood pressure, Heart issues, tumour, diabetes, kidney issues, etc., who have been advised by doctor not to fast may avoid fasting.

Worship Krishna, Tulasi devi, Gurus and Acharyas on ekadasi day.

Visit nearby Krishna/ Vishnu temples on Ekadasi.

Chant extra rounds on Ekadasi days that is very important

The patients can take the prescribed tablets on ekadasi. It does not mean breaking of ekadasi fasting.  Medicines are not prohibited though you observe partial fast on ekadasi as we do not take tablets for taste. You can take tablets prescribed by the doctor for you.

Start fasting just before the sun rise on Ekadasi, ie, from around 5 AM.  It should be observed till the sunrise of  Dvadasi (next day of ekadasi). 

The ekadasi stories must be read just as a knowledge because they speak about some material benefits also for observing ekadasi.

Those stories may help those who are suffering from diseases, childlessness, poverty, loans, etc, to start fasting because they need such material benefits also. 

Observing ekadasi fast is A PENANCE FOR KRISHNA. So, we have to observe ekadasi fast only with this mindset, ie, as a penance for the Lord. However, the suffering devotees may observe ekadasi fasts for the purpose of getting relief. It is not wrong.

However, to avoid such confusion, it is better to to follow the practice of the sampradhaya that we follow. 

Check with their local ISKCON centres or any Vaishnava community you belong to, to know on which day Ekadasi is observed in their zone. 

FASTING means DOING SOME SACRIFICE. Even in partial fasting, some devotees avoid grains, but load the stomach with full load of other foods without grains. This too should be avoided. So, if u observe partial fast, fill your stomach just to the half volume of your stomach and take only vegetables, fruits, milk, Boiled Groundnut and water.

So, it is advisable to take only the Fruits, Milk, water, Boiled groundnut, etc., on ekadasi.

Observe Ekadasi fasting properly. Get the mercy of Krishna.