Vrat and Fasting GuideTypes of fast
The main kinds of fast kept in Hindu tradition: fully dry (nirjala), water only, fruit and milk (phalahar), one meal a day and the fast with special vrat foods, and which suit whom.
- Nirjala: no food and no water, the strictest, kept by a few on days such as Nirjala Ekadashi. It is hard on the body and is not advised for the elderly, the sick, pregnant women or children.
- Water or liquid only: water, lemon water, tea or milk.
- Phalahar: fruit, milk, nuts and sometimes potatoes, with no grains.
- Vrat food, once or twice a day: special grain substitutes such as sabudana, buckwheat (kuttu), water chestnut flour (singhara) and amaranth (rajgira), with rock salt (sendha namak), and no onion or garlic. This is the most common form. See vrat food ideas.
- One meal a day (ekabhukta): a single meal, usually at midday or in the evening.
- Silence or restraint: some vrats stress restraint of speech or anger more than food.
You may adapt a vrat to your health; the tradition itself says that illness and age are valid reasons to reduce a fast.
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This page describes common practice. Families differ, and the tradition itself says that illness and age are good reasons to reduce a fast. It is not medical advice: please talk to a doctor if you have a health condition. Times for fasts depend on the panchang for your city.