Fasting is such a religious issue in our country, before we started dieting; people in India were fasting for one or the other deity on one or the other day. On going on these fasts many things are supposed to happen, a sort of wish list, for example
1. Getting a good life partner.
So much for the saying that good matches are made in heaven, nope they are bestowed on a person who does maximum fasts, with out most sincerity. I would rather go with fast concept, it explains all the failed or compromise marriages we get to see.
2. Getting Marks.
Some people are content with visiting god "temple/gurudwara/mosque" on the day of results, others on morning of the exam, and then some are hard believers in god, who think god favors those who are regular to worship place rather than the lecture where Professor chats for long hours or spending sometime with books which are matter of fact a way to worship Saraswati-the goddess of Knowledge.
3. Getting an Opportunity.
One big business opportunity/ job opportunity without any efforts into actual proceedings or knowledge is useless, but who cares when "Ram naam japo aur paraya maal apna!" (Chanting name of God Rama can make you owner of property belonging to others) then why waste ones time and effort on actually doing anything.
4. Asking for forgiveness.
This is the most awesome thing about fasting, do wrong, wrong someone and then punish self by not eating and you gain all the sympathy of the world while the victim has to forgive you and forget while situation for him/her does not change. So, one gets forgiven without undoing the wrong, but just showing that you are feeling remorse for your actions.
5. Social Cause.
From Telangana to corruption anything can be solved by this way(that's how image is projected), go on a fast, for the cause of people, gain mileage and if you are lucky enough a seat in next election and a sure win too, for people do fall for this one. And after the mileage is gained, slowly moment is put out of limelight and most people tend to forget the cause and remember the leader.
6. Love.
How come fasting or punishing oneself make him or her fall in love with you? May be 1st point applies here, instead of the best possible match you end up with the one which you want, on most occasions a sub-standard one. Sub-standard, for which person would chose to be with a person who is so unstable when it comes to mind, that s/he is ready to give life up for one other person, only another such unstable person can, I suppose.
7. Married Woman.
For getting same husband again and again! Really! I doubt this reason, i suppose it is for getting a better one next time around. On other hand I think, it is a ritual to boost male ego, that they satisfy her needs so well that she intends to get same partner for all her births in this world, after all she wishes for same husband on 7 births, but if we are really being born again and again the loop of 7 in each of the 7 births easily goes to eternity (This calculation sounds easy to me, I still have some knowledge of computer engineering left in me.:p)
8. Success of someone else.
These selfless people are in true sense fasting for happiness of others, but people do not realize that it in turn makes them happy too! I am not saying that they are not selfless, but it is kind of hobby too! If some one achieves something, which they prayed for, makes them feel connected to god, and gives them a sense of achievement. If you think I am not right just think of the day Sachin Tendulkar scored that double hundred in one day international, did not most fans pray for it, and did they not feel a sense of achievement and also happiness!
9. Inspiration/Workaholic.
Some people just forget to eat while working, these people are workaholics and then some others tend to get there brain to think right in deprived state only, after all Darwins theory of "Survival of Fittest" is not just some conspiracy theory.
Also the religious fast are best among all to perform; you can opt to eat special foods like fruits, dry fruits, special dishes, chips and what not to past the day. Interesting thing is that these all foods tend to be high calorie items on most times.
Well I am stopping my list here, but if you want to add anything, you can live that in comments section.
