Upvaas โ also spelled Upwas, and used interchangeably with vrat in everyday speech โ is the word most Hindu households use for religious fasting. The term comes from Sanskrit, where 'upa' means near and 'vaas' means to dwell or reside, so Upvaas literally translates to 'dwelling near' โ traditionally understood as drawing closer to God by setting aside ordinary bodily needs for a period of time. For pilgrims, understanding Upvaas helps make sense of why so many travellers arrive at a temple having eaten little or nothing that day, and why some plan an entire Yatra itinerary around specific fasting dates.
What Does Upvaas Actually Mean?
While Upvaas is most often translated simply as 'fasting', its literal Sanskrit meaning is closer to 'staying near' or 'dwelling with' the divine. Food abstinence is the visible, outward part of the practice, but the underlying idea is to quiet the body's demands so attention can rest more fully on prayer, reflection, or a specific deity. This is why the strictness of an Upvaas varies so widely โ some observe a complete fast without water, others eat only fruit or a single meal, and some simply avoid grains, salt, or specific ingredients โ the common thread is intention rather than a fixed rulebook.
Upvaas, Vrat, and Fasting โ How the Terms Relate
In practice, Upvaas and vrat are used almost interchangeably across most of India, and both are commonly translated into English simply as 'fasting'. If there's a distinction, it's one of emphasis: vrat leans toward the vow or resolve being kept (of which food restriction is one part), while Upvaas leans specifically toward the act of abstaining itself, in the spirit of dwelling closer to the divine during that time. Pilgrims will hear both words used by pandits, family elders, and fellow travellers, often within the same conversation, so recognising them as closely related rather than strictly separate concepts is more useful than memorising a hard rule.
Common Occasions for Observing Upvaas
Upvaas is most widely observed on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of each lunar fortnight, and during Navratri, when many devotees fast partially or fully for all nine days. It's also commonly kept on Mondays in devotion to Shiva, on Tuesdays or Saturdays for Hanuman, and on other days tied to a family's personal deity or a specific vow made during a difficult time. Many pilgrims additionally observe Upvaas in the days immediately before a Yatra, treating it as preparation that puts them in the right frame of mind before seeking darshan at a major temple.
Tips for Pilgrims Observing Upvaas on a Yatra
Pilgrims planning to keep an Upvaas during travel should factor it into their itinerary in advance โ long walks, high-altitude routes, and early-morning queues are more demanding on an empty stomach, so it helps to know in advance whether a fast allows water, fruit, or milk. Most pilgrimage towns are well accustomed to this and offer fruit stalls, sabudana khichdi, and other fasting-friendly food near major temples. Travellers new to the practice are usually advised to start with a lighter form of Upvaas rather than a complete fast, and to check with a pandit or experienced family member if a specific occasion calls for particular rules.
