Indira Ekadashi

Falls on the dark eleventh of Ashwin. According to the Puranas, observing this vrata frees the souls of one's departed ancestors from the torments of hell and grants them Vishnuloka. 'Indira' means Lakshmi — on this Ekadashi the worship of Lakshmi-Narayana (Vishnu with Lakshmi) is prescribed, and shraddha rites in memory of the ancestors are also customary.