Vedic Upavas — Sacred Fasting
Hindu Vrat Guide
Detailed guides for Hindu vrats — fasting rules, procedure, deity, best time, and spiritual benefits of weekly, monthly, and annual fasts.
Weekly Fasts
Somvaar (Monday) Vrat
Lord Shiva · Every Monday. Shravan month Mondays (Shravan Somvaar) are most auspicious.
Mangalvar (Tuesday) Vrat
Lord Hanuman / Lord Ganesha · Every Tuesday. More intense observance during Hanuman Jayanti or when facing Mangal Dosha period.
Shanivar (Saturday) Vrat
Lord Shani (Saturn) · Every Saturday. During Saturn's Sade Sati, Dhaiya, or Mahadasha. Shani Jayanti is most auspicious.
Guruvar (Thursday) Vrat
Lord Vishnu / Lord Brihaspati · Every Thursday. Guru Purnima is the most auspicious Thursday. During Guru Mahadasha.
Shukravar (Friday) Vrat
Goddess Lakshmi / Santoshi Mata · Every Friday. Especially auspicious on Fridays during Navratri or when Venus is in a benefic transit.
Santoshi Mata Vrat
Santoshi Mata · Every Friday for 16 consecutive Fridays (Solah Shukravar vrat).
Monthly Fasts
Annual Fasts
Karva Chauth
Lord Shiva, Parvati, Moon · Kartik Krishna Chaturthi
Mahashivratri Vrat
Lord Shiva · Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi
Hartalika Teej
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva · Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya
Shravan Somvaar Vrat
Lord Shiva · Every Monday of Shravan month
Janmashtami Vrat
Lord Krishna · Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami
Ram Navami Vrat
Lord Rama · Chaitra Shukla Navami
Ekadashi Fasts
FAQ
Q.What is a vrat?
A vrat is a sacred Hindu fast performed as a form of devotion and austerity to propitiate deities, fulfill desires, remove negative karma, and earn spiritual merit.
Q.What foods are allowed during a vrat?
Fruits, milk, curd, nuts, sabudana, kuttu flour, and singhara flour are generally permitted. Grains, salt, onion, and garlic are avoided. Nirjala vrats allow no food or water.
Q.Can I break a vrat in an emergency?
If health requires it, most traditions allow breaking a vrat with a brief prayer of apology to the deity, followed by completing the vrat at a later date. Health always comes first.