The following is something that I have written on fasting. Baha'is over the age of fifteen abstain from food and drink each day from sunrise to sunset. Fasting as a religious practice Fasting has been practised from the beginning of history and in virtually every culture. It is frequently associated with other austerities, such as abstention from sexual relations and the abandonment of all sorts of luxury.
Fasts are often part of the rituals associated with birth, marriage and death.
The ancient Jews fasted in times of danger or disaster, both as a sign of repentance and in order to avert God's wrath. Modern Jews fast for twenty-four hours as a penitence on Yom Kippur. Priests, holy men and sorcerers of various societies fast in preparation for particular rituals. In most mystical and monastic traditions fasting is practised as a means of purification, especially for novices. Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from meat on days associated with the passion of Christ.