Sawan 2025: 8 Foods You Must Avoid During The Holy Month For Better Health And Spiritual Cleansing | Culture News
The month of Sawan (Shravan) holds great religious and spiritual significance for Hindus. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this sacred period is marked by fasting, devotion, and a sattvic lifestyle. Many devotees choose to abstain from certain foods to cleanse the body and soul, and to align their diet with Ayurvedic and spiritual practices.
Here’s a detailed look at 8 foods you should avoid during Sawan for a healthier, purer experience:-
1. Non-Vegetarian Food
Why Avoid:
Meat, fish, and eggs are considered tamasic (increasing lethargy and aggression) and are avoided to maintain spiritual purity and mental calmness. Consuming non-veg is also discouraged as many devotees observe a sattvic diet.
2. Onion and Garlic
Why Avoid:
Onion and garlic are believed to increase heat in the body and are considered rajasic and tamasic. These ingredients can distract the mind from meditation and spiritual practices.
3. Salt (Regular Table Salt)
Why Avoid:
During Sawan fasts, many devotees avoid regular salt and switch to sendha namak (rock salt), which is considered pure and easy to digest. Rock salt is also used in vrat-friendly meals.
4. Wheat Flour
Why Avoid:
In many fasting traditions, whole wheat flour is replaced with alternatives like kuttu (buckwheat), singhara (water chestnut), or rajgira (amaranth) flour as they are considered fasting-friendly and lighter on digestion.
5. Caffeinated Beverages (Tea, Coffee)
Why Avoid:
Caffeine can dehydrate the body and disturb natural sleep and digestion patterns. Replacing it with herbal teas, milk, or fruit juices is advised for better health and spiritual balance.
6. Processed and Junk Food
Why Avoid:
Chips, carbonated drinks, packaged snacks, and fried fast food are unhealthy and interfere with the detoxifying effect of the Sawan diet. They also go against the principles of simplicity and purity during this month.
7. Rice
Why Avoid:
Many people avoid rice during Sawan, especially on Mondays and fasting days. According to Ayurvedic belief, rice increases kapha and water retention, which is not ideal during monsoon and fasting.
8. Fermented Foods
Why Avoid:
Idli, dosa, bread, and other fermented products are avoided as they generate heat and gas in the stomach. Sawan is a time to consume fresh, light, and naturally cooling foods.
Suggested Sattvic Foods to Include:
Fresh fruits and milk
Sabudana, makhana, and vrat-friendly flours
Rock salt and light spices
Coconut water and herbal teas
Sawan is not just about rituals—it’s an opportunity to cleanse the body, discipline the mind, and connect with the divine. Avoiding the above foods can help you stay spiritually focused, physically healthy, and emotionally balanced during this holy month.
(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
