Choviar (Chauvīhār) means “no food or drink after sunset” until the next day’s sunrise.

• Standard rule (most followed): Choviar begins at your local sunset time.
• Stricter observance (followed in some traditions/families): stop food and water 48 minutes before local sunset.
• Many people also keep a small safety margin (10–30 minutes) before sunset to avoid any doubt.

How to know today’s time: check your local sunset time (from a Jain panchāng, temple notice, or a reliable weather app). For example, if sunset is 7:42 pm, then:

• Standard choviar starts at 7:42 pm.
• Stricter 48‑minute rule starts at 6:54 pm.

Choose the practice your family/sect follows, and keep it consistently.