Significance of Fasting in Hinduism

According to the scriptures, fasting helps to create a blissful bonding between the individual spirit and God, the supreme spirit. The aim of observing fast is to purify the body and mind to acquire divine grace. For the last thousand years, most Hindus celebrate fasting to develop closeness to God, to purify the mind and body, to celebrate rituals or religious festivals, to boost stamina and to nourish physical health for long life, to train the mind and to strengthen the body and to endure and to face difficulties and not to give up.