Sunrise to sunrise
“On a fast day no food is to be eaten from sunrise until sunrise of the next day. Drinking water is also forbidden on fast days.”
Caryácarya Part 3, “Procedure for Fasting”
Fasting Calendar
Practitioners fast on ekádashii, the eleventh day after the full moon and after the new moon: twice a month. Monks and nuns fast on the full and new moon as well: four times a month. The fast runs from sunrise to sunrise, without food or water.
Next fast · in 3 days
Wednesday 4 November
Ekádashii
For monks and nuns, next
Monday 9 November
New moon · in 8 days
2026
- Ekádashii: everyone
- Full and new moon: monks and nuns
January
- 3Full moon
- 14Ekádashii
- 18New moon
- 29Ekádashii
February
- 1Full moon
- 13Ekádashii
- 17New moon
- 27Ekádashii
March
- 3Full moon
- 14Ekádashii
- 18New moon
- 28Ekádashii
April
- 1Full moon
- 13Ekádashii
- 17New moon
- 27Ekádashii
May
- 1Full moon
- 13Ekádashii
- 16New moon
- 26Ekádashii
- 30Full moon
June
- 11Ekádashii
- 14New moon
- 25Ekádashii
- 29Full moon
July
- 10Ekádashii
- 14New moon
- 24Ekádashii
- 29Full moon
August
- 9Ekádashii
- 14New moon
- 23Ekádashii
- 27Full moon
September
- 7Ekádashii
- 10New moon
- 22Ekádashii
- 26Full moon
October
- 6Ekádashii
- 10New moon
- 22Ekádashii
- 25Full moon
November
- 4Ekádashii
- 9New moon
- 20Ekádashii
- 24Full moon
December
- 4Ekádashii
- 8New moon
- 20Ekádashii
- 23Full moon
Dates are given for India. Where the local date differs by a day, your ácárya will tell you. Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, India: Fasting Calendar 2026.
How to fast
If you cannot that day
“If, due to unavoidable circumstances, a person is unable to fast on the prescribed day, then he or she must fast on either the preceding or the following day.” In sickness, fasting is not required.
Caryácarya Part 3, “Procedure for Fasting”
Give the food away
“When you fast for mental purification, you should give your food to a needy passerby, and use the drinking water to water the plants.”
Caryácarya Part 2, “Sádhaná”
Breaking the fast
After sunrise, first drink a glass of lemon water with a little salt; it cleanses and wakes the digestive system. Then eat something light, such as a ripe banana or yogurt.
“The energy that is not expended in digesting food can be utilized for other purposes. Therefore, a fast day is an excellent time for sádhaná.”