By Leicester Mercury | Posted: 11 October, 2015
Teenage cousins Reanna and Vyom Mehta survived on a diet of nothing but boiled water on a nine-day fast as part of their Jain religious festivities.
They have donated the £1,500 "blessings" money given by family, friends and supporters to LOROS to thank the charity for its care of a relative who died earlier this year.
The idea for the fast came from 13-year-old Reanna, quickly followed by Vyom, 15, who said he would like to take part as well.
Dipesh, Reanna's proud father, said: "I have fasted for three days, no more, when I was a kid but Reanna said some time back that she wanted to do the full nine days."
He said that most Jains, when they fasted at this particular time of year, would restrict it to eating only one meal between sunset and sunrise but the youngsters were clear about their intention to go the whole distance.
"Right from the beginning Reanna said she was feeling strong. I told her to stop if she felt hungry and my wife was worried about her because she is so young.
"On the third day she said she would go all the way - she had been blessed by God."
Both teenagers were told to take the fast carefully, one day at a time, but Reanna was back at school on the sixth day for a school trip.
Dipesh said: "At the end of the fast I hired Judgemeadow Community College, with 300 guests, family and friends.
"It is traditional to give children 'blessings' money and I have never seen so many people give so much cash."
Both children underwent health checks afterwards and experienced no problems.
