The Fasts
Women fast on the first (Sankranti), the eleventh (Ekadashi)
and the fifteenth day of the full moon (Poornima).
Among the higher castes fasting by women is taken to guarantee prolonged
prosperity and physical well-being among the family members. Giving up
a fast after a fixed period, is known as 'Mokh'.
On the day of a fast the women clean the house and paint
ritual 'Lekhnu' on the floor and then collect all the required articles
for the particular fast and offer puja to the deity. Unmarried girls are
also supposed to fast on the full moon day. On the 'Sankranti' day the
Brahmin priests visit their clients who give them alms according to their
means.
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