fasts and vrats
What is the Ravivar (Sunday) vrat and which deity is propitiated?
The fast and its practice
Ravivar means Sunday, and this vrat is kept on that day for Surya, the Sun god. The basic form is simple: one meal before sunset, and no salt or oil in the food. Some people also avoid grains or eat only simple, plain food. The fast ends after sunset. Many people bathe early and face the rising sun while praying. Red flowers—marigolds or hibiscus—are offered, along with red sandalwood paste. Wheat and jaggery are common offerings. Some people recite the Aditya Hridayam, a prayer to Surya, or the Surya Chalisa, a devotional hymn in forty verses.
Why Surya is worshipped
Surya is one of the oldest deities in Hindu tradition, seen as the source of light, energy, and life itself. The tradition holds that Surya is Arogya, the giver of health and freedom from disease. Old texts like the Surya Purana and Bhavishya Purana say that keeping the Sunday fast brings health, clears eye problems and skin troubles, and brings success in work and life. Surya is also linked to strength, courage, and clarity of mind. The fast is a way to show respect and ask for these blessings.
How people keep it today
The Sunday fast is kept by many Hindu families across India and in diaspora communities. Some follow the full form with no salt or oil, while others keep it more loosely, eating a light meal or fruit. Some fast only on certain Sundays, or for a set number of weeks—often twelve or fifty-two Sundays. In cities and abroad, people may recite prayers at home or at a temple. The practice varies by family, region, and personal choice. Some see it as a spiritual discipline, others as a way to stay close to tradition, and some combine it with the belief in its health benefits.