fasts and vrats
What is the Brihaspati vrat (Thursday fast) and which deity is worshipped?
The fast and its meaning
Thursday is called Brihaspativar, the day of Brihaspati, who is seen as the planet Jupiter and also as a teacher and guide. The vrat, or fast, is observed on this day. In some households and regions, people worship Brihaspati directly. In others, they worship Vishnu, the preserver god, on this day. In modern times, many people also observe Thursday as a day to honor Sai Baba, a spiritual figure widely loved across Hindu and other communities. The fast is kept for different reasons depending on the tradition and the person. Some observe it for wealth and prosperity. Others keep it for wisdom and knowledge. In some families, women fast for the long life and health of their husbands and children.
How the fast is kept
The color of Thursday is yellow. People often wear yellow clothes, and the fast is kept with yellow foods. Chana dal, a yellow lentil, is common. Bananas, which are yellow, are eaten. Some people eat only fruit or light food. Others avoid salt and spices. The practice varies by family and region. Many people read or listen to the Brihaspati Vrat Katha, a story that tells the meaning and benefit of the fast. Some families gather to do this together. The fast is usually broken in the evening or the next morning, depending on the custom.
Today
In modern practice, Thursday fasts are very common, especially in cities and among the diaspora. Many people observe them alongside their daily work and routine. The Sai Baba Thursday fast has become widespread and crosses many communities. Some people keep a full fast, eating nothing. Others eat only fruit or one meal. Some wear yellow, light a lamp, or say a prayer. The practice is flexible and fits into how people live now. In families far from home, the Thursday fast often becomes a way to stay connected to tradition and to a sense of calm in the week.