Invitations on Ekadasi days

[Guest guest]

Irequest learned members to throw light on it. ForEkadasi I observe fast in the

sense that I take anapple or two bananas with milk in the morning and thesame is

repeated in the night. As I have a tightschedule in the office during working

days, I take onesweet and fruits or badaam, which I know is not theright way of

observing fasting, but I have learnedfrom authoritative persons is okay. But

the problemcomes when I have to attend a marriage or reception atKolkata, where

I reside. Once or twice I took somesweets to honour the invitations. Other

times, Iexcuse myself from attending such gatherings. Only once I had to break

this vow as I had to attend amarriage reception of a leading industrialist’s

sonwedding reception and took dosas and side dishes alongwith some sweets. For

this unpardonable act, I soughtthe apology of Lord Sri Renganaatha as invitation

wasfrom such

a high profile person, who is known to mevery personally. But my doubt lies

elsewhere. Somemarriages or upanayanams are fixed on Ekadasi day? Why not

people, at least Vaishanavites avoid themuhurtams on this particular day. It

is difficult forme even to convince relatives about the undesirabilityof

conducting auspicious functions on fasting days,there is no question of

advising others? In Kolkata, especially amongst Bengalis, in any suchfunction

good number of sweets are available. But inSouth Indian functions except

Thirukkannamadhu and oneodd sweet, it is a problem. During my school days

inSrirangam, I had seen some elderly people eatingUppumas etc at such

functions, if they fall on Ekadasidays. After I started observing Ekadasi

fasting, I amunable to accept the logic behind this practice. InKolkata I

manage to escape with some sweets. But whatam I supposed to do under

these circumstances, when Iget such invitations during my trip to south

onEkadasi days, especially when I am forced to bepresent there if some marriage

takes places on Ekadasidays in relatives’ houses.The doubt I have raised may be

a silly one. All thesame I request you to express your opinion. Adiyen

Ramaanuja DaasanMuralidharan