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
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).
Budh Vrat
Budh Dev (Mercury) / Lord Vishnu · Every Wednesday throughout the year. Wednesdays falling during Mercury's transit (Budh Gochar) or during Budh Hora (Mercury hour after sunrise) are especially powerful. Those with a weak or afflicted Mercury in their natal chart are advised to observe this vrat regularly.
Ravi Vrat
Surya Dev (Sun God) · Every Sunday throughout the year. Sundays that coincide with Saptami tithi (7th lunar day) are doubly auspicious
Monthly Fasts
Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · 24 times per year
Pradosh Vrat
Lord Shiva and Parvati · 24 times per year
Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat
Lord Ganesha · 4th of each lunar fortnight
Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrat
Lord Ganesha (Vinayaka) · Shukla Chaturthi (4th of bright fortnight) every month
Navami Vrat
Lord Rama / Goddess Durga · 9th of both Shukla and Krishna Paksha each month
Purnima Vrat
Lord Vishnu / Lord Satyanarayan / Moon · Every full moon day
Amavasya Vrat
Lord Shiva / Ancestors (Pitrs) · Every new moon day
Sakat Chauth Vrat
Lord Ganesha · Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of Magha month
Mangala Chaturthi Vrat
Lord Ganesha · 4th day of Shukla Paksha each month
Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat
Lord Ganesha · Every month on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi (4th day of the waning moon fortnight)
Masik Shivaratri Vrat
Lord Shiva · Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of every lunar month
Ashtami Vrat
Goddess Durga / Devi · Twice every lunar month
Chaturdashi Vrat
Lord Shiva / Lord Hanuman / Bhairav · Twice every month
Dwadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu / Trivikrama · Twice every month
Dwitiya Vrat
Chandra (Moon God) / Yama · Twice every month
Tritiya Vrat
Goddess Gauri (Parvati) · Twice every month
Panchami Vrat
Goddess Saraswati / Skanda (Kartikeya) / Naga Devatas · Twice every month
Saptami Vrat
Surya Dev (Sun God) · Twice every month
Dashami Vrat
Dharmaraja (Yama) / Lord Vishnu · Twice every month
Trayodashi Vrat (Pradosh Vrat)
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati · Twice every month
Rohini Vrat
Rohini Mata (Vasupujya / Rohini Nakshatra Deity) · Rohini Vrat is observed monthly on the day when the moon transits through the Rohini nakshatra (the fourth lunar asterism
Masik Karthigai Vrat
Lord Murugan (Skanda / Karthikeya) · Masik Karthigai is observed monthly on the day when the moon transits through Karthigai (Krittika) nakshatra
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
Karthigai Vrat
Lord Kartikeya (Murugan) · When the moon is in Krittika nakshatra each month; grandest observance on the full moon of Tamil month Karthigai (November/December).
Anant Chaturdashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Ananta) · Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi
Ahoi Ashtami Vrat
Goddess Ahoi Mata (form of Parvati) · Kartik Krishna Ashtami
Mangala Gauri Vrat
Goddess Mangala Gauri (form of Parvati) · Every Tuesday of Shravan month
Solah Somvar Vrat
Lord Shiva · 16 consecutive Mondays starting from any auspicious Monday (Shravan Somvar or Mahashivratri are popular starting points). Complete within 16 continuous weeks without a break.
Vat Savitri Vrat
Savitri, Satyavan, and Yama (God of Death) · Jyeshtha Amavasya
Jivitputrika Vrat (Jitiya)
Jivitavahana (Jimutavahana) and the Sun · Ashwin Krishna Ashtami
Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Lord Kartikeya (Skanda / Murugan) · Tamil month Aippasi / Hindu months Ashwin–Kartik
Rambha Tritiya Vrat
Goddess Gauri (Parvati) · Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya
Varalakshmi Vrat
Goddess Varalakshmi (Eight Forms of Lakshmi) · Varalakshmi Vrat is observed once a year on the Friday immediately preceding the full moon (Purnima) in the month of Shravan (July–August). This is the Shukla Paksha Friday in Shravan. If two Fridays fall before Purnima in the same month
Nag Panchami Vrat
Naga Devatas (Serpent Gods) · Nag Panchami is observed annually on Shravan Shukla Panchami
Teej Vrat
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva · The Teej vrat cycle spans three main dates: Hariyali Teej on Sawan Shukla Tritiya (July–August)
Hariyali Teej Vrat
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva · Hariyali Teej is observed on Sawan Shukla Tritiya
Navratri Fasts
Ekadashi Fasts
Nirjala Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi
Devuthani Ekadashi (Dev Prabodhini)
Lord Vishnu · Kartik Shukla Ekadashi
Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani Ekadashi)
Lord Vishnu · Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi
Shayana Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu (Reclining on Shesha) · Ashadha Shukla or Krishna Ekadashi (varies by regional calendar)
Parivartini Ekadashi (Parsva Ekadashi)
Lord Vishnu (Vamana Avatar) · Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi
Rama Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Kartik Krishna Ekadashi
Bhaimi Ekadashi (Jaya Ekadashi)
Lord Vishnu · Magha Shukla Ekadashi
Amalaki Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu (with Amalaki / Amla tree) · Phalguna Shukla Ekadashi
Tulsi Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu and Tulsi Devi · Kartik Shukla Ekadashi
Papankusha Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Padmanabha) · Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi
Bijaya Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama) · Phalguna Krishna Ekadashi
Indira Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Madhusudana) · Ashwin Krishna Ekadashi
Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu & Ekadashi Devi · Margashirsha Krishna Ekadashi
Safala Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Narayana) · Pausha Krishna Ekadashi
Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Narayana) · Pausha Shukla Ekadashi
Shattila Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Vishwambhar) · Magha Krishna Ekadashi
Jaya Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Magh month (January–February). Falls once per year during the auspicious Magh month when holy dips at Prayagraj are also especially meritorious.
Vijaya Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Phalguna month (February–March). Especially important to observe before starting any new venture
Papmochani Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Chaitra month (March–April). Comes just before the Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi)
Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Vamana Avatar) · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Vaishakha month (April–May). Falls during the holy Vaishakha month when any religious act yields multiplied merit.
Apara Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama) · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Jyeshtha month (May–June). Falls during the hot summer month of Jyeshtha when fasting is particularly meritorious due to the physical difficulty involved.
Trishringa Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama) · Observed on specific Ekadashi dates designated in the Panchang as Trishringa Ekadashi. Consult a local Panchang or priest for the exact date each year
Putrada Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Twice yearly
Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Damodara) · Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi
Kamada Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama) · Chaitra Shukla Ekadashi
Haribodhini Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Kartik Shukla Ekadashi
Gita Jayanti Vrat
Lord Krishna · Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi
Yogini Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Ashadha month (June–July). Occurs once a year.
Devshayani Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Ashadha month (June–July). This is one of the two most important Ekadashis
Kamika Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama form) · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Shravana month (July–August). Occurs once a year during the auspicious Shravan month.
Shravan Putrada Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Shravana month (July–August). Occurs once a year. The other Putrada Ekadashi is in Pausha month (December–January).
Annada Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu · Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Bhadrapada month (August–September). Occurs once a year.
Parsva Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu (Vamana form) · Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Bhadrapada month (August–September). Occurs once a year during Chaturmas.
Aja Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Aja Ekadashi is observed on Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha Ekadashi
Brahma Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Brahma Ekadashi occurs on a rare tithi when the Ekadashi falls in conjunction with a lunar day associated with Lord Brahma. It is observed according to the regional Panchanga and may not occur every year. Devotees should consult a reliable Hindu almanac (Panchang) to identify the date for their region. When it does occur
Padmini Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Padmini Ekadashi occurs only during Adhik Maas (Purushottam Maas)
Parama Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Parama Ekadashi occurs on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Adhik Maas
Mokshada Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Mokshada Ekadashi is observed on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi
Pavitropana Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu · Pavitropana Ekadashi is observed on Shravan Shukla Ekadashi
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.