Fasting Observances

Fasting (sawm in Arabic, vrat or upavasa in Sanskrit) is a central spiritual practice across both Islamic and Hindu traditions, with each calendar containing multiple obligatory and recommended fasting observances. The Islamic obligatory fast of Ramadan — observed from dawn to sunset for the entire ninth lunar month — is one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of every adult Muslim who is physically able. The Sunni recommended fasts include the Day of Arafah on ninth Dhul Hijjah (which expiates the sins of the previous and coming year), the Day of Ashura on tenth Muharram (paired with the ninth or eleventh), the six days of Shawwal following Eid al-Fitr (which together with Ramadan carry the spiritual reward of fasting the entire year), the white days (the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of every Hijri month), and the Mondays and Thursdays of every week. Shia traditions observe the same fasts with additional recommended observances around the Mahdi's birthday on fifteenth Sha'ban. Hindu fasting practices include the Ekadashi fast on the eleventh day of each lunar fortnight (twenty-four times per year), the Pradosh Vrata fast on the thirteenth, the Sankashti Chaturthi for Ganesha worshippers, the Karva Chauth daylong fast observed by married women for their husbands' longevity, the daily fasts of Navratri (twice yearly across nine days each), the Maha Shivaratri vigil-fast, and the Ramadan-equivalent month-long observances of various sect-specific traditions including the four-month Chaturmasya.