Vrat and fasting

A vrat is a devotional vow, often combining worship, a katha, fasting or another discipline. The form and duration belong to the particular observance and household tradition.

A festival is a shared celebration; a vrat is a vow that a devotee observes. They can coincide, but recurring vrats such as Ekadashi also follow their own lunar rhythm.

Check the current local panchang and the rule followed by your sampradaya. Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar tithi, but its Gregorian date and fasting-day decision are not fixed throughout the year.

No. Fasting forms differ by observance, lineage, health and capacity. Do not assume nirjala is required simply because a vow includes fasting.

Parana is the breaking or completion of a fast at the prescribed time. The relevant tithi and local time should be checked for the particular vrat, not borrowed from another observance.

Udyapan is the closing observance for a vow when that tradition calls for it. Ask your family priest about the rite, offerings and timing appropriate to the vow you have undertaken.