Answer

Yes, you can do your office work during upvas, if your health and strength allow it.

In Jain Dharma, upvas mainly means giving up food and spending the day with more awareness, self-control, prayer, swadhyay, and spiritual reflection. Doing necessary worldly duties like office work is not forbidden by itself.

Explanation

However, during upvas, you should try to keep the day as spiritually focused as possible:

• Do your work with calmness and honesty.
• Avoid anger, stress, gossip, harsh speech, and unnecessary arguments.
• Keep your mind in remembrance of Arihant, Siddha, Guru, and Dharma whenever possible.
• If possible, reduce unnecessary workload, entertainment, and distractions.
• Do not overstrain your body if you feel weak.

If your office work involves himsa, unethical activity, lying, manipulation, or causing harm, then it should be avoided as much as possible, whether you are fasting or not.

Spiritual Understanding

The deeper purpose of upvas is not only to avoid food, but to come closer to the soul by reducing attachment, passions, and carelessness. If office work is done with awareness and restraint, it can still be compatible with upvas.

Takeaway

You may do office work in upvas, but try to keep the day peaceful, disciplined, and dharmic. Upvas should become a day of inner purity, not just physical fasting.