Vijayā Ekādaśī 2159

Sri Krishna told Yudhishthira what Brahma once told Narada. When Sri Rama, with Lakshmana and the vanara army, reached the shore of the ocean on his way to rescue Sita from Ravana, he saw no way to cross the vast waters.

Lakshmana told him of the ancient sage Bakadalbhya, who lived nearby. Rama went to him, and the sage told him to observe the Vijaya Ekadashi of this dark fortnight. On Dashami a pot of gold, silver, copper or clay is filled with water, decorated with leaves and grains and an image of the Lord. On Ekadashi it is worshipped with fasting and night vigil, and on Dvadashi it is taken to water and given to a brahmana.

Rama kept the vow with his army. He crossed the ocean, defeated Ravana and won back Sita. Vijaya means victory: the fast is kept for success in every righteous effort.