Mahashivratri Fasting Tips: Vrat means resolve or determination and upvaas means sitting in front of God or Ishta Dev. Vrat and uaas have so much importance in Indian culture that every day there is some fast or vrat. Not only Sanatan Dharma but every religion has mentioned the need for fasting. That is why every person observes fast according to his religious tradition. Fasting is related to our physical and mental purification. This keeps our body healthy.

Health benefits of fasting: Vrat or upvaas keeps the body healthy. Staying without food taking food once or only eating fruits gives relief to the digestive system. This ends many diseases like constipation, gas, acidity, lack of appetite, headache, fever, and obesity. Spiritual power increases. Knowledge, thoughts, purity, and intelligence develop. This is the reason why updates has been included in the worship system.

Rules of fasting: Mahashivratri fast should be observed with great purity. In this, special attention has to be paid to rules related to food. On the day of fasting or vrat, these rules should be followed –
The person observing the fast should not sleep during the day. Even if you are hungry or thirsty, do not drink water etc. repeatedly during the day. One should not lie, slander, deceive, and speak ill of anyone and gossip. On the day of fasting, a person should not sleep on the bed but should sleep on the ground at night. Under no circumstances should a person have sex on the day of fasting. Sanyasis, children, sick, pregnant women, and old people should not fast.

What should be eaten during fasting: During the fast, all types of fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, milk, dry fruit kheer, sabudana khichdi, makhana etc. can be eaten. Apart from this, you can eat potatoes with curd, fresh fruits, salad, curd, cucumber, potatoes made in less ghee, sama rice kheer, puri or paratha made from buckwheat flour, gourd vegetable etc. During the fast, use lemon etc. in water. Along with this, you can drink coconut water or juice. To keep the body hydrated, you can use milk, buttermilk and fresh juice. The use of salt in any food item is completely prohibited. Instead of this, you can use rock salt.