In Jain tapasya, Atthai means fasting for 8 continuous days.

If you eat on one day in between, then it is not called Atthai.

It may be considered a break in the Atthai, and the tapasya would be counted according to the actual fasting done before and after the eating day.

For example:

• If you fasted 3 days, ate on the 4th day, and then fasted again, it would not be one Atthai.
• The fasting days would be counted separately.

A proper Atthai is completed only when the 8 days of fasting are continuous, according to Jain tradition.