Why do we fast?

Most of the Indians fast regularly or on special occasions. On such day they do not eat at all, eat once or make do with fruits or a special diet of simple food. Some undertake strict fasts that is they do not even drink water the whole day! Fasting is done for many reasons - to please the lord, to discipline oneself and even to protest. Gandhiji fasted to protest against the British rule.
Fasting in sanskrit is called upavaasa. Upa means"near" vaasa means"to say". Upavaasa therefore means staying to lord. Then what has upavaasa to do with food?
A lot of our time and energy is spent in procuring food items , cooking, eating and digesting food. Certain food types make our minds dull and agitated. Every system needs a break and an overhaul to work at its best. Rest and a change of diet during fasting is very good for the digestive system and the entire body.
Fasting helps us to cultivate control over our senses, modify our desires and guide our minds to be at peace.
The Bhagavad Geeta urges us to eat appropriately- neither too less nor too much- to eat simple, pure and healthy food even when not fasting.