Like any Hindu festivals, fasting keeps unique importance in the celebrations of Ram Navami too. The fasting is also the mean of gaining happiness. It has considered that when a devotee observes fast on the day of Rama Navami, with honesty and massive devotion, he or she has blessed with health, wealth and prosperity for the year ahead.
Thus, it has been a custom since a long time to view fast on the festival. It has also considered that lord Rama fulfills desires of all those who fasts and pray to him on this day. The fast has broken on midnight, usually with fruits and fruit extracts. On this wonderful occasion of Rama Navami, the devotees keep a full-day fast, as a part of the celebrations.
Ram Navami Vrat
Vrat is the custom of the day and the common belief is that it is an offense not to fast this day. The supporters of lord Rama would maintain a full-day vrat on the celebration of Ram Navami. In Ancient times, Rama Navami has considered as the five of the most important fasts in the ancient times.
Although it is not compulsory to keep a waterless vrat (nirahar vrat), many people observe an inflexible vrat, when they would not sip a drop of water until midnight, when they break the vrat. On the other hand, those who desire to follow a particular diet for the Ram Navami vrat, are suggested to eat certain foodstuffs including potatoes made in any form without haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. There is also used sendha namak (rock salt) for the preparation of food for Rama Navami vrat. While on the day of vrat, the person can also eat curd, milk, tea, coffee, fruits and root vegetables.