Chaitra Navratri 2024: Here's why Hindus don't eat onion and garlic during the nine-day festival
Chaitra Navratri 2024
Chaitra Navratri will begin on April 9 this year and continue for nine days. These days are significant for Hindus in India, as it also marks the beginning of a new year in the Hindu calendar.
People worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga during these nine days. According to the Hindu scriptures, Goddess Durga comes to Earth for these nine days and fulfils all the wishes of her devotees. Chaitra Navratri will end with Ram Navami on April 17 this year.
Why do Hindus avoid onion and garlic during Chaitra Navratri?
Hindus follow a sattvic diet during the nine-day festival and avoid eatingrajasicandtamasicfoods like onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food.
Sattvic foods means vegetarian dishes prepared using only wholesome, organic, plant-based and dairy products. It strictly prohibits all animal meat and comprises fruits, nuts, vegetable seeds, milk, and legumes.
Apart from sattvic, there are two other types of foods according to Ayurveda: rajasic and tamasic. Sattavic food is pure, clean, natural, vital and conscious. Onion and garlic are considered tamasic in nature and are believed to increase sexual energy in the body.
Hindus also consider garlic as rajogini, a substance believed to make one lose grip over instincts. Moreover, they believe that onions produce heat in the body.
During the Chaitra Navratri celebrations, devotees denounce worldly pleasures and adopt a pure and simple life. They don't eat rajasic and tamasic foods to focus more on worship. Thus, most households avoid onion and garlic during these days. Many peoplebelieve that onion and garlic reduce spiritual awareness.
People avoid buying items like electronics, weapons, and iron during these nine days. Many families also stop buying and eating rice because several people fast for nine days and consumption of grains is forbidden during fasting.
(With inputs from agencies)