The Bhagavad Gita delineates three categories of food: Sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. A sattvic diet, characterised by moderation, promotes health and tranquillity, avoiding extremes of flavour. (Illustration: CR Sasikumar)
The nine divine days of Navratri have just ended when Hindus celebrate the nine forms of the goddess Durga. Hinduism reveres the feminine aspect of divinity, an attribute echoed even in the actions of Lord Rama, who worshipped the goddess under a bilva tree, and chanted the Devi Suktam and other Vedic hymns before his battle with Ravana. Millions of Hindus observe a fast during these nine days, abstaining from tamasic food such as non-vegetarian items, onion, garlic, and specific pulses. To honour the sentiments of those who fast, certain BJP state governments imposed restrictions on the sale of raw meat and non-vegetarian food in areas near temples, while some communities and organisations carried out such measures voluntarily. Notably, cooked non-vegetarian food remains available in restaurants during such periods. But, these days, being sensitive to the traditions of the Hindu population evokes arguments about individual choice and curbing freedom.
Strangely, such arguments are not made on dry days, when the sale of alcohol is banned on Gandhi Jayanti, Republic Day, Independence Day and voting days. In Europe, non-Christians face mandatory holidays during Christmas and Easter, yet arguments of choice are seldom raised. These activists for choice and individual liberty don’t comment on the ban against opening any kind of eating place during Ramzan in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Egypt and Pakistan. Even in the UAE, where Bollywood stars celebrate many film awards and our cricket stars play their IPL matches, eating in public during those mega-events is not allowed during Ramzan fasting hours, and will get you fined if spotted. My Sikh friends are allowed to carry a certain size of kirpan on flights, in keeping with their religious practices.
India, rich in festivals and cultural traditions, has been the cradle of vibrant, diverse practices. Yet, in the last decade, we see a constant effort to marginalise Hindu festivals and customs, making Hindus feel compelled to apologise for their traditions. Holi, once celebrated as a vibrant festival of colours, is now criticised for perceived water wastage. The fireworks of Diwali are labelled as pollutants, while the same fireworks on Christmas and after sports victories go unchallenged. Processions during Ram Navami, Ganpativisarjanand Hanuman Jayanti have to take detours to avoid “sensitive areas”, an administrative euphemism for Muslim-dominated areas, and in states like West Bengal, many times it needs a court directive even to properly celebrate a Hindu festival. Festivals like Karva Chauth and Raksha Bandhan, which were once cherished, are now seen by some as regressive.
I still fondly remember my neighbours, a family from Kerala, from when I was growing up in Uttar Pradesh. Mrs Nair and her family stopped cooking fish for months together on noticing the slightest discomfort my mother had with the strong smell of the dried fish. Her son and I taped the gaps in their kitchen window to enable them to cook what they liked. Footballer Sunil Chhetri always recounts the inspiring story of how his whole family started eating the same salads and boiled food recommended by his dietician to avoid any temptation for him for spicier, tastier food. Bharat is a land of sacrifices. These examples of sacrifices that you make for your loved ones, your friends and fellow countrymen constitute the very fabric of Bharat.
For crores of Hindus, food transcends mere nutrition. The Bhagavad Gita delineates three categories of food: Sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. A sattvic diet, characterised by moderation, promotes health and tranquillity, avoiding extremes of flavour. In contrast, rajasic foods, which are rich and stimulating, can lead to hyperactivity and irritability when consumed in excess. All foods produced by harming living beings such as meat and fish are rajasic or tamasic in nature, and are thus discouraged. Further, even sattvic food, if prepared in a toxic environment, becomes tamasic and should be avoided. Notably, eight holy cities in India — Rishikesh, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Pushkar, Mount Abu, Gandhinagar and Palitana — have established year-round bans on non-vegetarian food, reflecting deep-rooted cultural sentiments around food in Hindu communities.
I strongly feel that if those who eat non-vegetarian food respect the feelings of their Hindu brothers and sisters during the nine days of Navratri, it will only enhance our camaraderie as citizens of this great nation. Let the responsibility of carrying forward the legacy of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb fall equally on everybody’s shoulder.
The writer is the biographer of UP CM, Yogi Adityanath
