India mainly experience six types of seasons or ritu’s, and cultures and festivals were made according to these seasonal changes only.
What do you think when I say the word festivals? Some of you may be excited and happy thinking about all the sweet, oily and tasty food you are going to have now, but for some it may be a stressfull thinking how to avoid to be healthy. Also, many people think that their diet or nutritional cycle of the family should not be affected in any case.
But, Do you know that our Indian cultures and traditions are based purely on the health and nutritive benefits of people. In earlier days their were people who don’t give that much time towards their health especially women’s. So these festivals and rituals were made to bring a health awareness among people and to provide essential nutrition required for the changing season. Many festivals comes mainly during ritu sandhi (i.e the period between the previous and upcoming season). During this time, vata dosha of body is mainly aggravated and it’s imbalance can lead to many diseases. So to avoid them, through festivals we can make changes in our food habits which are suitable for the upcoming season, also to bring everyone together and increase the harmony, peace among the communties. Food in india is not made merely for palate satiate, rather they were all designed according to seasonal changes and requirement of our body in that particular season.
In India, beginning of year is from Chaitra maas (March-April)/ Vasant ritu. During this time, digestive fire(agni) of body is low and also vata is dominant, so during this time we have to consume food that are easily digested and provide energy.
During this time we celebrate festivals like gudipadwa in which we mainly consume jaggery (gud) along with neem and jaggery which helps to improve the digestive fire as it is ushna veerya and neem has anti – bacterial effects to fight any infection in body.
Chaitra Navrati: During this time people fast for 9 days in which they consume very light food which helps in purification and improving the gut health also simultaneously rejuvenate the body. Holi one of the most popular festival of india, during this time due to weather change, body is more prone to diseases like measles, chicken pox and viral fever, hence use of natural colours made from palash flowers, saffron, indigo, henna is used which have anti-bacterial properties and also prevent body from unnecessary heat. Also the Thandai consumed contains lots of dry fruits and milk which provides body with strength and nutrients.
Similarly during Shishir Ritu ie January we celebrate Makarsankranti, Onam, Lohri etc. named differently in different states, but on this day people mainly consume seasame seeds (til) along with jaggery in different forms. According to Ayurveda, during shishir ritu (Winter) rukshata (dryness) in body increases so til is the richest source of antioxidants, vitamin E and also it provides heat to body which is best during winters. Also it balances the vata dosha in body which is the root cause for many painful conditions like arthritis and sciatica. Jaggery (guda) is madhura rasa, ushna virya regulates the digestion and boosts immunity and good source of potassium.
Another festival which is widely celebrated in India is Ganesh Chaturthi. It is celebrated during Bhadrapada masa (august-september) which comes in varsha ritu. So during varsha ritu our digestive fire is mainly low and doshas are mostly vitiated during this season. During Ganesha pooja we eat modaks mainly made from coconut, jaggery powder and nuts. These modaks helps in keeping our gut healthy and provides much needed nutrients.
Janmashtmi: another widely celebrated festival, falls in Bhadrapad masa (August) varsha ritu. On this occasion, people consume mixture made from coriander powder along with rock sugar because during this period pitta is aggravated, so to balance it sheeta veerya dravya (cold potency substances) are used.
Diwali: most celebrated occasion, occurs during Kartik masa (October-November), sharad ritu. During this period digestive fire is highly aggravated so to balance it we consume sweet, oily and heavy foods. Also during this time body require heat and metabolic rate is also high hence the delicacies like gujiya, barfi etc are consumed.
As we live in diverse India. so is our food and taste, vastly diverse but what unites us is our Ayurveda that in every way is for the well being of mankind, be it for nutritional, cultural, moral or ethical values.
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