In Hinduism, every day of the week is sacred, as each one is dedicated to at least one God. Hindus perform special rituals and prayers and undertake vratas and fasts in order to appease these deities... Fasting is an important aspect of Hindu culture... Ancient rishis (sages) used these ritualistic fasts in order to inculcate a discipline in their followers and help them channel their minds more sharply towards their ishta-devata (favourite God)... Vrata is a Sanskrit word, which means, "vow", "devotion" and "resolve"... It commonly refers to the ritualistic observances that devotees undertake... each of these vratas also features a story, explaining how and why the vrata came to be...