Vrat
A Hindu vow, usually of fasting, kept on a chosen day.
Also: upvas, fast, vrata
A vrat is a vow taken by a Hindu to fast, to pray or to perform a rite on a fixed day, for a god, a blessing or a wish. Many keep one weekly: Monday for Shiva, Thursday for Vishnu, Saturday for Hanuman. Others fast on Ekadashi, Navratri, Karva Chauth or Shivaratri. Rules differ by family and region. Some people drink only water, others eat fruit, milk, nuts and special flours, and the fast is broken at a set time after prayer. Elderly people, children and the sick are excused.
Region: South Asia