What to Eat on a Fast Day

Universal Hindu Fasting Foods — Allowed

These foods are permitted across almost all Hindu, Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta vrats (Ekadashi, Navratri, Maha Shivratri, Janmashtami, Pradosh, and more). Always use sendha namak (rock salt), never regular table salt.

• All fresh fruits — banana, apple, mango, papaya, pomegranate, grapes, pear, chikoo, guava, watermelon, orange, and seasonal
• Milk, curd (dahi), ghee, paneer, and other dairy
• Sabudana (tapioca pearls) — khichdi, kheer, vada
• Makhana (fox nuts) — roasted in ghee
• Kuttu atta (buckwheat flour) — for puri or paratha
• Singhara atta (water chestnut flour)
• Rajgira (amaranth) — ladoo, paratha, puri
• Sama rice / Samvat (barnyard millet) — pulao or kheer
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes — boiled, roasted, or fried in ghee
• Coconut and coconut water
• Almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, pistachios — dry fruits
• Peanuts (groundnuts) — roasted or in chutney
• Rock salt (sendha namak) — never regular table salt
• Lassi, buttermilk (chaas)
• Mishri (rock candy) — for natural sweetness

Foods Avoided on Hindu Vrats

• Grains — wheat, rice, corn, barley, jowar, bajra
• All lentils and legumes — dal, chana, rajma, moong, urad
• Regular table salt — use only sendha namak (rock salt)
• Onion and garlic
• Non-vegetarian food — meat, fish, eggs
• Alcohol and intoxicants
• Spices like mustard, cumin, coriander seeds — use pepper instead
• Processed and packaged foods not labelled vrat-safe

Jain Fasting — Allowed

During Paryushana (8 days for Shvetambara / 10 days for Digambara), Samvatsari, Ayambil, Navpad Oli, and Ekasana, Jain fasting is among the most rigorous in the world. All food must be consumed only between sunrise and sunset.

• Boiled water — consumed only between sunrise and sunset

Jain Year-Round Avoided Foods

These restrictions apply every day for observant Jains, not just on fast days.

• Root vegetables — potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, radishes, beetroot, turnip (anything underground)
• Eggplant (brinjal) and multi-seeded vegetables including green chillies
• Mushrooms and cauliflower
• Meat, fish, eggs
• Honey
• Alcohol and fermented foods — yeast breads, vinegar, pickles
• Eating after sunset — never, on any day
• Cold, iced, or unboiled water — all water must be boiled

Lingayat / Veerashaiva (Karnataka)

• ಜೋಳದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ (Jolada roti) — jowar flatbread
• ರಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ದೆ (Ragi mudde) — finger millet balls
• ರಾಗಿ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ (Ragi roti) — finger millet flatbread
• ಶೇಂಗಾ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ (Shenga roti) — peanut roti
• ಹುಗ್ಗಿ (Huggi) — moong dal & rice porridge with ghee
• ಶೇಂಗಾ ಚಟ್ನಿ (Shenga chutney) — dry peanut chutney
• ಕೋಸಂಬರಿ (Kosambari) — moong dal & cucumber salad
• ಕಾಯಿ ಚಟ್ನಿ (Kayi chutney) — Karnataka coconut chutney
• ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ (Ellu bella) — sesame & jaggery mix
• ಶೇಂಗದ ಲಾಡು (Shengdana ladoo) — peanut & jaggery ladoo
• ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ (Majjige) — buttermilk with curry leaves
• ರಾಗಿ ಅಂಬಲಿ (Ragi ambali) — ragi porridge with buttermilk

Warkari / Varkari (Maharashtra)

• साबुदाण्याची खिचडी (Sabudanyachi khichdi) — tapioca pearl khichdi with peanuts
• दाण्याची आमटी (Danyachi amti) — peanut curry with sendha namak
• दाण्याची चटणी (Danyachi chutney) — dry roasted peanut chutney
• राजगिऱ्याची भाकरी (Rajgiryachi bhakri) — amaranth flatbread
• भगरीची खिचडी (Bhagrichi khichdi) — barnyard millet khichdi with ghee
• बटाट्याची भाजी (Batatyachi bhaji) — potato sabzi with sendha namak & green chili
• साबुदाण्याचे थालीपीठ (Sabudane thalipith) — sago, potato & peanut flatbread
• खजूर-शेंगदाणा लाडू (Khajur-shengdana ladoo) — date & peanut ladoo
• नारळाची वडी (Naralachi vadi) — coconut & jaggery barfi
• काकडीची कोशिंबीर (Kakdichi koshimbir) — cucumber, curd & peanut salad
• पंचामृत (Panchamrit) — milk, curd, ghee, honey & sugar offering to Vitthal
• तुळशीचा प्रसाद (Tulsicha prasad) — tulsi-infused jaggery offering

Sri Vaishnava (Tamil Nadu — Iyengar)

• பால் பாயசம் (Paal payasam) — milk kheer with sago or vermicelli
• பஞ்சாமிர்தம் (Panchamirtham) — banana, jaggery, ghee, honey & dates mix
• சர்க்கரை பொங்கல் (Sakkarai pongal) — sweet rice pongal with jaggery & ghee
• வென்பொங்கல் (Ven pongal) — savoury rice-moong pongal with ghee & pepper
• தயிர் சாதம் (Thayir sadam) — curd rice with ginger & curry leaves
• அக்காரவடிசல் (Akkaravadisal) — rice, milk & jaggery sweet pongal
• கதம்பம் (Kadambam) — mixed vegetable rice, fully satvik
• மோர் குழம்பு (Mor kuzhambu) — yogurt-coconut curry with vegetables
• கீரை மசியல் (Keerai masiyal) — mashed greens with sendha namak
• தேங்காய் சட்னி (Thengai chutney) — Tamil coconut chutney
• மோர் (Mor) — buttermilk with curry leaves & ginger
• பால் & நெய் (Paal & Nei) — fresh milk & pure cow's ghee for Perumal

Shaiva Siddhanta (Tamil Nadu)

• கல்கண்டு சாதம் (Kalkandu sadam) — rock-candy rice, Aarudra Darshan signature
• வெண்ணெய் (Vennai) — fresh white butter offering to Nataraja
• திருக்கண்ணமுது (Thirukannamudhu) — temple prasad of rice, jaggery & ghee
• பொரி உருண்டை (Pori urundai) — puffed rice & jaggery balls (Karthigai)
• அதிரசம் (Adhirasam) — jaggery & rice flour sweet (Karthigai)
• நெய்யப்பம் (Neyyappam) — rice flour & jaggery fritters fried in ghee
• அப்பம் (Appam) — sweet rice flour cake (Karthigai Deepam)
• சர்க்கரை பொங்கல் (Sakkarai pongal) — sweet rice pongal with jaggery & ghee
• கல்கண்டு பாகு (Kalkandu paagu) — rock candy syrup, Shivaratri prasad
• பழம் & பால் (Pazham & paal) — banana with milk for Shivaratri night
• கேசரி (Kesari) — semolina, ghee & saffron sweet
• தேனும் பாலும் (Thenum paalum) — honey & milk for Shiva abhishekam

Shakta (Bengali — Devi Puja)

• খিচুড়ি (Khichuri) — Durga Puja bhog: moong dal & rice khichdi with ghee
• লাবড়া (Labra) — mixed vegetable curry, Durga Puja bhog
• ছোলার ডাল (Cholar dal) — sweet bengal gram dal with coconut & ghee
• পায়েস (Payesh) — Bengali rice kheer with nolen gur (date-palm jaggery)
• সুজির পায়েস (Sujir payesh) — semolina kheer with ghee & raisins
• লুচি (Luchi) — Bengali puffed puri served with cholar dal
• সন্দেশ (Sandesh) — chenna & jaggery sweet, offered to Devi
• মিষ্টি দই (Mishti doi) — sweetened set yogurt
• নাড়ু (Naru) — coconut & jaggery balls (Lakshmi Puja signature)
• মুড়ি ও বাতাসা (Muri & Batasha) — puffed rice & sugar-puff prasad
• পঞ্চামৃত (Panchamrit) — milk, curd, ghee, honey & sugar offering
• ফলহার (Phalahar) — fresh fruit & nut platter for Navaratri fasting

ISKCON / Gaudiya Vaishnava (Regional Bhog)

• [Mayapur] খিচুড়ি (Khichuri) — Mayapur-style moong dal & rice khichdi in ghee
• [Mayapur] শুক্তো (Sukto) — bittergourd & mixed vegetable curry, Bengali Vaishnav style
• [Mayapur] পায়েস (Payesh) — Gaura Purnima rice kheer with nolen gur
• [Mayapur] সন্দেশ (Sandesh) — chenna & sugar sweet offered to Sri Chaitanya
• [Mayapur] মিষ্টি দই (Mishti doi) — sweetened set yogurt prasad
• [Vrindavan] माखन-मिश्री (Makhan-mishri) — fresh white butter & rock candy, Krishna's favourite
• [Vrindavan] पेड़ा (Mathura peda) — milk-khoya peda, signature Braj sweet
• [Vrindavan] रबड़ी (Rabri) — slow-thickened sweetened milk with kesar
• [Vrindavan] मालपुआ (Malpua) — Janmashtami fritters in sugar syrup
• [Vrindavan] अन्नकूट (Annakut bhog) — Govardhan Puja mountain of 56 vegetarian dishes
• [South India] சர்க்கரை பொங்கல் (Sakkarai pongal) — sweet rice pongal with jaggery & ghee
• [South India] அக்காரவடிசல் (Akkaravadisal) — rice, milk & jaggery sweet pongal
• [South India] பால் பாயசம் (Paal payasam) — Tirupati-style milk kheer offering

Pushti Marg / Vallabh Sampradaya (Gujarati Haveli Seva)

• ઠાકોરજી નો થાળ (Thakorji no thal) — full satvik thali offered to Shrinathji
• મઠ્ઠો (Mattho) — Pushti Marg classic: thick sweet yogurt with kesar, elaichi & dry fruits
• શ્રીખંડ (Shrikhand) — strained sweetened yogurt with kesar & elaichi
• બાસૂંદી (Basundi) — slow-thickened sweetened milk
• મોહનથાળ (Mohanthal) — gram flour & ghee fudge, Krishna's favourite
• સૂખડી / ગોળ-પાપડી (Sukhdi) — wheat flour, jaggery & ghee fudge
• લાપસી (Lapsi) — broken-wheat porridge with jaggery & ghee
• ચૂરમા લાડુ (Churma ladoo) — wheat, ghee & jaggery festival ladoo
• પેંડા (Penda) — Gujarati khoya pedas
• પુરણપોળી (Puranpoli) — sweet stuffed flatbread (Janmashtami bhog)
• દૂધ-ઘર (Doodh-ghar) — saffron milk with mishri, daily morning seva
• ધાણી-પતાશા પ્રસાદ (Dhani-patasha prasad) — puffed rice & sugar-puff prasad
• પંચામૃત (Panchamrit) — milk, curd, ghee, honey & sugar abhishek offering
• ચપ્પન ભોગ (Chappan bhog) — Annakut day's grand 56-item offering to Shrinathji

Sikh (Gurpurabs and Sangrand)

Sikhism does not prescribe food restrictions on religious days. Sangrand, Gurpurabs, and other Sikh occasions are observed with ardas, kirtan, and langar — the community meal is open to everyone regardless of what they have eaten. Langar is strictly vegetarian and typically includes dal, roti, sabzi, rice, and kheer.