In Jain Dharma, “ratri bhojan” means a meal taken at night. The general practice across many Jain communities is to avoid eating after sunset or to limit meals to daytime only. The connection between day and night in this context is about discipline, mindfulness, and reducing harm.

Key ideas:

• Discipline and clarity: Daytime meals are seen as aligning with more wakeful, mindful living. Eating during the night is discouraged to maintain focus on non-violence (ahimsa) and spiritual progress.
• Limiting harm to subtle life: Nighttime is when many tiny creatures (insects, microorganisms) are active or more vulnerable to being harmed during food preparation and digestion. Eating only in daylight helps reduce unintentional harm.
• Monastic rule vs. household practice: Monks and nuns typically follow stricter rules about meals, often restricting eating to specific daytime hours. Householders may observe more flexible schedules but many still prefer daytime meals, with fasting or reduced eating at night as a personal vow.

Differences between Digambar and Shwetambar:

• Both traditions emphasize ahimsa and disciplined eating, but there can be variations in exact timing and how strictly night eating is avoided. If you want, I can outline the precise differences as understood in each tradition.

If you’d like, tell me which Jain sect or tradition you’re asking about (Digambar or Shwetambar) and whether you want a scriptural reference or a concise practical checklist for lay practitioners versus renunciants.