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Maha Shivratri is an auspicious festival of India, celebrated in the month of Phalguna right before the new moon day. It is often celebrated through the day and night and holds great significance for overall well-being and spiritual upliftment.
Whether you’re observing a fast or not, there are certain foods you should abstain from eating on Maha Shivratri. To help you with a list of the best foods to add to your plate and the ingredients to avoid, Slurrp interviewed Akshi Khandelwal, an Ayurveda expert, health and wellness entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of Butterfly Ayurveda. Read on to plan a Satvik diet for Maha Shivratri.
Falahar Diet For Maha Shivratri
If one is not observing a fast, then eating light, natural and unprocessed foods throughout the day is recommended to make it easier for the body to connect with the heightened energy levels through the night and benefit from them. Usually, people follow a “Falahar Diet”, which includes eating a particular set of fruits such as apples or bananas, grapes, oranges, etc. As for other satvik ingredients, you can add a bowl of curd, millet-based roti or poori, along with lightly spiced plain potato curry. For something sweet, kheer made with makhana, milk, and dry fruits is recommended, as it is filled with nutrition and helps pacify the Tridosha.
Foods To Offer Lord Shiva
Bhang
Among the many offerings, bhang is the most popular one. It is like a thandai that is made with edible leaves of cannabis plant, blended with milk, saffron or nuts. Bhang is offered since it carries healing properties and has psychoactive elements that can help one experience more profound levels of consciousness. However, it is strictly for practitioners who have enabled their bodies to take on such experiences. It is also recommended that you drink bhang thandai or eat bhang pakoras in a minimal amount.
Panchamrit
Additionally, ‘Panchamrit’, which is made of five different ingredients such as milk, curd, sugar, honey, and ghee, signifies the ‘Panchamahabhoot’, the unison of five elements that have an effect of nectar (amrit) and carries medicinal properties.
Ber And Datura
As for fruits, ber is offered to Shiva as a sign of surrender of calm and purity, whereas Datura is provided to surrender one’s negative qualities or energy to Lord Shiva.
What To Avoid Eating On Maha Shivratri
Foods that are not recommended to be consumed on Maha Shivratri include wheat, rice, pulses, vegetables, salt, spices, garlic, onions and some others due to their rajasic and tamasic nature, which could stimulate the body and mind. However, if one is not observing a fast, then one could consume such foods prepared plainly with lesser spices and rock salt in limited quantities as per the body’s need.
Best Foods To Have While Fasting On Maha Shivratri
Satvik foods are preferred to be consumed on Shivratri since they do not disturb or aggravate the energy of elements found in other foods, which may hinder the natural flow of energy through the body. For example, water or other liquids are associated with the planet moon, wheat is associated with the Sun, and so on.
Fruits And Vegetables
To make the most of a Satvik diet, you can have seasonal fruits and veggies like apples, bananas, pomegranates, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. You can toss the chopped ingredients into a salad or enjoy a fruit chaat.
Milk And Milk Products
Milk products such as curd, paneer and ghee can be consumed. However, they should not be in excess quantities since they may aggravate Kapha dosha.
Millets
Millets or millet flours such as kuttu and ragi, along with water chestnut flour (Singhara atta), can be consumed in balanced quantities. These ingredients support and boost our energy levels without altering the satvik quality of food, keeping your bodies and minds calm and natural.
