From a Jain perspective, many practitioners avoid eating after sunset because it supports self-control, simplicity, and non-violence (ahimsa) in daily life. Here are the common reasons:

• Non-violence and karma: night-time eating is believed to invite more careless eating and accidental harm (e.g., small insects or organisms on food), which creates karmic bondage. Eating only during daylight helps reduce such inadvertent harm.
• Digestion and mental focus: digestion is considered more favorable in daylight. Eating late can disturb sleep, increasing restlessness and making spiritual practices harder.
• Discipline and detachment: avoiding food after sunset reinforces discipline, modesty, and detachment from sensory pleasures, which are key aims on the path to liberation.

Notes on differences:

• There are variations between Digambar and Shwetambar communities. Some follow stricter rules about meal times for lay practitioners, while others are more lenient, especially depending on regional or family tradition.
• Ascetics (monks and nuns) typically have strict schedules that often limit eating to daylight hours, while household followers might adapt the rule with allowances during illness, travel, or certain fasting days.

If you’d like, I can share a simple everyday guideline or quote from Jain scriptures that articulates this practice more precisely according to Digambar or Shwetambar traditions.