Friday Fast - Rituals, Method, and Benefits

This article explains everything about Friday fasting benefits, the story behind the ritual of Friday fasts, and the proper Vidhi to observe a fast on Fridays. 

India is a culturally rich country with deep-rooted traditions. Indians immensely believe in the supreme power of gods and goddesses. Hence, they observe fasts and perform various rituals to appease the divine. One such fast is the Friday fast (Shukravar Vrat), which many Hindu women keep to please Goddess Lakshmi and Santoshi to seek their blessings for a content, happy, and prosperous life. 

If you wish, you can also keep the fast as, according to Hindu Puranas, it brings wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Additionally, it has several other benefits that we discuss in this article, along with the story behind the Friday fast and its Vidhi (rituals and methods). However, let us begin with the Friday Vrat Katha (story) that highlights the significance of fasting on Fridays. 

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Shukravar Vrat Katha 

Ages ago, an elderly lady lived with her seven sons. Six out of the seven sons had a job. The old lady fed her six sons (those who had a job) delicious food, and the seventh son only got the leftovers. However, this unemployed son was extremely pure at heart and never held grudges against others. One day, this son noticed that his mother served his brothers a variety of tasty dishes and ensured they were always comfortable in the house. 

After they had finished eating, the woman used to make a laddoo (sweet) using the leftovers from each plate and told the seventh son, “Now you also eat the food.” His wife, Gita, observed this and was deeply disappointed with her behavior. She told her husband about this and requested him to get a job and bring home some money to earn his mother’s respect. The son felt sorry for his wife and himself. He left the house to find employment and attract good fortune. He entered a merchant’s shop and requested a job. 

He worked from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. When the merchant observed his dedication, he rewarded him with half of the profits. Soon, the boy gained prominence as a merchant. Though he became extremely wealthy, he never visited his wife and forgot about her. Gita (his wife) had a miserable life, with her in-laws frequently mistreating her. After learning about the benefits of the 16 Shukravar Vrat, she resolved to keep the fast. 

With great dedication, she completed her Friday fast ritual. Happy with her commitment, Mata Santoshi appeared in Gita’s husband’s dreams to inform her about the hardships and suffering his wife is going through. Then, the husband realized his mistake, went back to his native place, and began living a wealthy and prosperous life with his wife. 

Soon, people in the village and the neighboring areas learned the full story of Friday Vrat and the benefits of fasting on Fridays. These people also started fasting devotedly to get the blessings of Mata Santoshi. 

To make the Friday fast significance clearer, let us take a look at its benefits. 

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Friday Fast Benefits 

Observing a fast or Vrat on Friday bestows upon you the blessings of Maa Lakshmi and Maa Santoshi so you can live a fulfilling life free from financial crisis. Below is what makes this fast significant. 

• Fasting on Friday and chanting “Jai Maa Santoshi” 108 times brings happiness and tranquility. 

• It helps you find a fulfilling life partner. 

• Observing a fast for 16 consecutive Fridays removes all forms of suffering, grief, and challenges from your life. 

• It blesses you with healthy offspring. 

• Friday fast banishes the harmful effects of Venus from your life. 

• It solves all types of marriage-related issues. 

• Students who observe the Friday fast succeed in all their exams. 

• It helps you win legal battles. 

However, the fast will be useful for you only if you observe it following the complete Friday fast Vidhi (methods and rituals) as shared below. 

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Friday Fast/Shukravar Vrat Vidhi

Morning practices 

• Wake up early (preferably in the Brahma Muhurta (before sunrise))
• Take a bath and adorn yourself with clean white/red clothes 
• Wash your home and then sprinkle Ganga Jal or water around the temple

Resolve to fast on Friday

• Sit keeping an idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi/Santoshi in front of you
• Light a ghee lamp (Diya) and an incense stick
• Offer the goddess a bowl of raw jaggery (Gud) and roasted chickpeas (black chana)
• Top the bowl with a coconut and keep a water-filled Kalash
• Resolve to observe the fast wholeheartedly and seek goddess blessings 

Perform prayers 

• Offer Haldi, flowers, Kumkum, and Chunri (a red-colored piece of cloth), bananas, and coconut to the deity
• Remember Lord Ganesha in your prayers
• Chant various names of Santoshi Maa and read the Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha (shared in this article)
• Perform the aarti (shared in the later section of this article) and offer flowers to the Goddess’s lotus feet 
• After the puja and prayers, distribute the prasad of Gud and Chana to your family members 

After observing the Friday fast for 16 consecutive Fridays, offer Puri, Kheer, Chickpeas, and Jaggery to the Goddess. And, after performing the Friday Vrat puja, distribute this prasad among eight children along with some cash as Dakshina. 

In addition to the above Friday fasting ritual, you must keep in mind a few things when fasting on Friday. Let us look at these do’s and don’ts of the fast. 

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Do’s and Don’ts of Friday Fast (Shukravar Vrat)

You must remember these guidelines when fasting on Fridays. 

Do’s of Friday Fast 

• Wear white or red clothing and present Lakshmi Maa with cosmetics.
• Hold five red flowers in your hand while paying tribute to the goddess and always keep these flowers in your locker 
• Store 1.5 Kg of rice (ensure the rice grains are not broken) in a red cloth for Friday. Create a bundle of this rice, hold it in your hands, recite “Mahalakshmi Namah” five times, and store this bundle where you keep cash to attract wealth. 

Don’ts of Friday Fast

• You and your family should abstain from eating or coming into contact with any sour item.
• Avoid consuming onions, meat, and garlic.
• Refrain from taking out a loan or borrowing money on Fridays.
• Avoid lending money to anyone on this day.
• Remember not to offend any girl, woman, or other female 
• Do not overindulge in rich food.
• Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid giving sugar to anyone on Fridays.
• Refrain from talking loudly or negatively to anyone.
• Do not spend the night in your kitchen with unwashed and unclean utensils. 

Along with the above guidelines, you should remember the following vrat aarti. 

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Friday Vrat Santoshi Mata Aarti 

Jai Santoshi Mata, Maiya Jai Santoshi Mata।

Apane Sewak Jana Ko, Sukha Sampatti Data॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Sundar Cheer Sunahari Maa Dharan Kinho।

Heera Panna Damake, Tana Shringara Kinho॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Geru Laala Chhata Chhavi, Badana Kamal Sohe।

Manda Hansata Karunamayi, Tribhuvana Man Mohe॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Swarna Sinhasana Baithi, Chanvar Dhure Pyare।

Dhoop Deep Madhumeva, Bhoga Dhare Nyare॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Gud Aru Chana Paramapriya, Tame Santosh Kiyo।

Santoshi Kahalai, Bhaktana Vaibhav Diyo॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Shukrawar Priya Manat, Aaja Diwas Sohi

Bhakta Mandali Chhai, Katha Sunat Mohi॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Mandir Jagamaga Jyoti, Mangal Dhwani Chhai।

Vinaya Kare Hama Balaka, Charanan Sira Nai॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Bhakti Bhavamaya Puja, Angikrita Kijai।

Jo Man Basai Hamare, Ichchha Phala Dijai॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Dukhi Daridri, Roga, Sankat Mukta Kiye।

Bahu Dhana-Dhanya Bhare Ghara, Sukha Saubhagya Diye॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Dhyana Dharyo Jisa Jana Ne, Manavanchhita Phala Payo।

Puja Katha Shrawan Kar, Ghara Ananda Ayo॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Sharan Gahe Ki Lajja, Rakhiyo Jagadambe।

Sankat Tu Hi Niware, Dayamayi Ambe॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Santoshi Maa Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Jana Gave

Riddhi-Siddhi, Sukha-Sampatti, Ji Bharakara Pave॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

End Note

Shukravar Vrat holds immense significance in Hinduism because it helps you communicate with the divine energy and seek Maa Santoshi’s blessings for a wealthy, joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. Moreover, it protects you from all harm. Hence, you can follow the Friday fast Vidhi in this article to observe this fast with the utmost dedication. You can contact our astrologers for expert guidance if you have any concerns or questions.