Vaikunta Ekadashi

Vaikunta ekadashi is an auspicious day dedicated to lord Vishnu. Aani Shukla Ekadashi(the 11th day of Aani month - according to the Tamil calender) is the day when Lord Ranganathan enters enters into a state of shayana(rest) for four months.

Two months after Shukla Ekadashi, the Lord is expected to invert his position to the other side of his snake-bed(Sesha Shayanam). This happens in the month of Aavani(11th day). This is known as Parivarthana Ekadashi.
The Lord is expected to wake up on the11th day(Ekadashi) of the karthigai month. This is called as Utthana Ekadashi.
The tamil month Margazhi is considered to be a very auspicious month and very significant to the Vaishanava traditions. The Ekadashi day of Margazhi is called as Vaikunta Ekadashi. It is a common tradition in all Vishu temples to open the Swarga vasal on this auspicious day. Devotees will stand in huge queues early in the morning to see the opening of swarga vasal and it is a belief that if we see and enter the swarga vasal on this auspicious day, the gates to the heaven will open for us after our life.
Most of the Vishnu devotees will be in full fasting on the whole day or they take Aval, Roti as the dinner.
Next day is the Dhuvadasi, everyone will get up early in the morning and prepare
Gooseberry (nellikaai)Pachidi,
Agathi keerai(one type of spinach) curry ,
Vathakuzhambu with sundakaai,
payasam
and eat the food early. These food which we are eating on this duvadashi day is called as Paranai.
This year the Vaikunta Ekadashi falls on 1st Jan 2015 and we will all pray to Lord Vishnu for a happy and prosperous new year ahead.