Fasts and festivals form the core of Indian tradition and culture. Indian calendar, particularly Hindu Panchanga, predicts one or other fast or festival occurring every month, week or say every day. Celebrating fasts and festivals is important for keeping the Hindu traditions and rituals alive. When human being is today passing through a mechanical way of life, the coming of festivals marks a good gesture to remind even the busiest persons to spare few moments for respite and relief.

The festivities in everyday life of a Hindu virtually reflect the spiritual depth permeated in every activity of the country as India stands out for its spiritual culture all over the world. Spirituality is, in fact, not a phenomenon confined to some particular place or nation, it rather pervades the whole cosmic process.

Fasts designed for observance around the week days is a miraculous scheme of our sages of ancient India who were Master-minds and who thought of the welfare of all the people. The important thing about observing a fast is that it should be observed with pure mind and pious conscience. It should serve the purpose of cleansing one's mind, purify the intellect and the heart. In fact, every fast and festival in India is a reminder to awaken the human being from the slumber of ignorance, instill in him the love for the Divine and endeavor for self-realization.

The Vrata of Monday is observed to please Lord Shiva and seek His favour for running a smooth life on this earth and even after this mundane world, i.e., in the realm of the God, the Shivaloka. This fast is also observed to please Chandra, the Moon God so that ill- effects of planets may be averted.

The publishers of this Vrata-katha, Mr Shaswat Butala in particular, deserve thanks for doing a pious cause like this in the interest of the Hindu brethren residing in the USA, UK etc. Many more such books have already been brought out by Butala Emporium (Indo-US Books) and several of them are in the process of writing and printing.