Chaitra Navratri 2025: Chaitra Navratri, the favorite festival of the devotees of the mother, is starting from March 30. The nine days of Navratri are divided into different categories according to the three basic qualities Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. This is the reason why people observe fast and worship with full rituals for 9 days to get the blessings of the mother. It is very important to follow the rules in the worship of Maa Durga, otherwise the worship goes in vain.
People who observe fast during Navratri consume only fruits or grains eaten during the fast, but those who do not observe fast also stay away from meat, alcohol and onion-garlic etc. during these days. Know why garlic and onion are not eaten during Navratri.
What kind of food should be eaten during Navratri?
According to the scriptures, the mind and brain of a person starts working according to the food he eats. Food is divided into three categories, first Satvik, then Rajasik and then Tamasik.
Satvik- qualities like restraint, peace of mind and purity
Rajasik- qualities like passion and happiness
Tamasik- qualities like ego, anger and destruction
Why should garlic and onion not be eaten during Navratri?
Garlic and onion are of Tamasik nature. Tamasik food creates a feeling of inertia, confusion, distraction, anger, lust and ego in life. If garlic and onion are consumed, then a person is unable to control his senses during the 9 days of Navratri and is unable to worship the mother with a pure mind, his worship does not bear fruit. This is the reason why eating food containing garlic and onion is prohibited during Navratri.
Demonic qualities in garlic and onion
When Swarbhanu drank the nectar by deceit during the Samudra Manthan, Shri Hari beheaded him. Onion and garlic were produced from the blood that fell on the ground from the demon’s mouth as soon as the head was cut. As soon as Swarbhanu’s head was cut off, it became Rahu-Ketu. It is said that eating garlic and onion strengthens Rahu-Ketu and the person does not feel like doing spiritual work.
What to eat in Navratri
During Navratri fast, you can eat sago, buckwheat flour, water chestnut flour, Sama rice. Banana, grapes, orange, papaya, melon, all kinds of fruits can be consumed during the fast. Keep in mind that if you are fasting, then eat these things only once.