Navratri is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. It brings us together, inculcates spirituality, and evokes cultural values in us. Devotees observe strict fasting during Navratri as onion, garlic, non-vegetarian food, and junk food are frowned upon. However, a lot of what people believe and consider as Navratri fasting rules is their interpretation of the tradition. While some consider stocking up on fruits during this period as the norm, some say a Satwic diet is good for the mind and soul. As religious credence is associated with people’s beliefs, we will bust some Navratri fasting myths and look at the associated facts.
Fasting Myths and Facts
Myth 1
You should only drink lemon water or be on a liquid diet while fasting during Navratri.
Fact 1
Navratri festival is a great opportunity to bring balance to our lives through prayers, meditation, good food and service. Staying hungry does no good to the body and disturbs the mind. Also, lemon water or other liquid food in an empty stomach may cause gastric problems. Hence, eating fruits and Sattvic food such as Sabudana Khichdi, halwa, etc. is preferable.
Myth 2
You need to live only on fruits during Navratri.
Fact 2
While fruits can be good in moderation, a diverse range of Satwic food must be taken for adequate nutrition. The fasting/Upavaas implies giving up worldly luxuries and moving closer to self-realization. This festival also signifies the transition of season (from monsoon to winter) where moderation is the key. A simple diet helps us increase our energies and keeps us calm. Sattvic food such as sabudana khichdi, nuts, kuttu pooris, sundal, etc. can make for an enriching diet during this period.
Myth 3
While fasting, it is ok to consume as much Sattvic food as you want.
Fact 3
The fasting ideology during Navaratri is that it raises our consciousness, taking us closer to the higher reality. It is necessary to follow a Sattvic diet and in moderation. Anything in excess including Sattvic food can take away the significance of fasting. Although there are many Navratri recipes that you can offer the Goddess each day during the festival, you need to still keep a balance over your food intake while fasting. And, time spent in prayer, meditation, and self-reflection reaps more benefits than keeping the entire focus on preparing different food items.
Myth 4
You should have only one meal per day while fasting during the Navratri festival.
Fact 4
A good balance is eating two-three meals a day, even when you fast. The only criteria is that you consume sattvic food, and avoid rajasic and tamasic food. Some take to the other extreme, consume very little during fasting and become weak, making it difficult for the fast to sustain during the subsequent days of Navaratri.
Myth 5
Fasting starves you
Fact 5
Well, contrary to the common belief, fasting is an opportunity to retain the body balance by moving onto light food such as fruits, a Satwic diet and a lot of fluids. So, it’s important how you fast. Are you starving yourself or eating too much? Time to embrace moderation!
Join us this Navratri season and celebrate with a host of cultural events to feel the holiday vibrations. Feel the joy and peace within through yoga and meditation.
FAQ on Navratri Fasting?
The fasting trend we see these days is mainly inspired by weight-loss strategies and promoted with cultural appropriation. People do Intermittent fasting that follows a food gap of 14-16 hours. However, Navratri fasting is a traditional practice that connects us to our higher being, increasing our awareness and focus. It favors eating in moderation but the food gap during the fasting isn’t too long.
Not necessarily. Some people consider milk in their diets whereas others do not (they believe they are taking a portion of the calf’s meal). Some people prohibit certain vegetables in their diet such as pumpkin, mushrooms, etc.(as they are offered in sacrifices) whereas some allow them. People have different beliefs, and their traditional influence makes them celebrate the festival differently from others.
* Fasting rekindles the digestive fire. An increase in the digestive fire burns the toxins in the body and loses dullness and lethargy.
* Fasting is an effective therapy to cleanse our bodies.
* Fasting results in a calmer mind helping you plunge deeper into meditations.
* Fasting helps in de-stressing and building immunity.
Yes. The purpose of fasting is body cleansing. But the regular grains (wheat, rice, semolina, gram flour, corn flour, millet flour like ragi) are not as digestible as buckwheat (kuttu), fasting rice (samak chawal), sago (sabudana), water chestnut (singhara) flour, rajgira, etc. Still, some devotees prefer eating regular food once a day in Navratri fast as they feel satisfied with regular grains only.
Yes. You can observe Navratri fast with one meal a day, fruits, fruit juices or steamed vegetables during periods. Depending on the fatigue due to periods, you may reconsider fasting on all 9 days of Navratri. Fasting is good for body cleansing.
