Fasting

I actually was thinking about writing this concept long back but missed it. And since this entire week I thought I would engage my blog with topics related to food and this topic will also stay as a related one. 

Fasting is considered to be a sacred act, a control and also can be said as a way of communication with God. There are many ways that people follow like a whole day staying without drinking even a small drop of water, days that we avoid eating onions and garlic added food, months where some avoid non-vegetarian and many more. If we take the shivaratri, devotees mostly stay away from eating rice and mostly go with nuts and milk products. 

This can be taken in two ways. One as self control from the external factors and another a way of communicating to God. 

First, as a way of self control, fasting shows how conscious, steady and controlled we be in our life. This self-control and awareness around us is very important for us as that helps us focus in our life. If you notice, while  fasting we will somehow be very cautious on what we eat and which should not be taken. That is a way of alertness that not only on fasting days we should follow but also in all the days and in things which we do in our daily lives. Fasting in one way that helps our body to take up the stored nutrients like starch and fats, utilise them so that we can refill them with the required dishes in the following days. Fasting will actually enhance the hunger level which can make us eat more than earlier and through that we gain more nutrients. Its like through fasting we clean the plate and refill it with new dishes. 

On the other hand, it is a way of praying and communicating to God. We should thank him for providing us food without much difficulty which to some people is a life struggling concept. He made sure that we have a healthy meal and fasting is one way of thanking him and telling him that, this I utilise, stay entirely at your feet by following this which will always remind me that wasting food is a greater sin and also know the value of the gift that God has provided us. God never asks us to do things but we still take up practices which will always remind us about him and stay under his guidance. To our strengths and possibilities we can choose in which way we fast. It's our decision because God will communicate to us on how we understand and to us directly therefore no particular rules are necessary for such an act. Even a small step like in the morning ,sit to eat only after we take a bath and pray to God. This is also a way of discipline. It is not like this fasting should only be done or else our prayers won't be heard. No! it's not like that, God will not expect anything from us in return like how Browning says in his poem "Rabbi Ben Ezra". This is for our way of prayers and connection with him and fasting is not the only way. Even a small meditative prayer will make us stay close to the almighty. 

( Now I think after reading this I will have a text from my friend 😉😂)