how many hours does a fast last?
In Jainism, the duration of a fast can vary a lot:
- Short fasts: a few hours or a half-day.
- One-day fasts (upvas): usually from sunrise to sunset (roughly one day).
- Longer or more intense fasts: several days or more, often as part of special vows guided by a guru or spiritual instructor.
So, there isn’t a single fixed length—fasts can be brief or extend across multiple days depending on the vow and practice one follows.