Jagdish R Sharma
It is noteworthy that our religious festivals and rituals are becoming increasingly relevant today, drawing on logic and scientific principles that support their origins. They are deeply rooted in our culture and contribute positively to humanity, enhancing our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. This interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual growth is essential for a fulfilling and joyful life, potentially serving as the foundational basis for our rituals and festivals.
These festivals are fundamentally meant to nourish the mind and body in a positive way to lead life to its full.
Both mental and physical nourishment are essential for sharpening the mind. Just as the body requires proper nutrients to function optimally, the mind also needs proper nourishment.
Devotees follow certain principles during Navratri and abstain from unethical acts and food other than Divine, namely Sattvic food.
Proper nourishment is essential for both the mind and body, and it must include a balanced, nutritious diet. Divine food keeps you happy and healthy. Home-made food, with all its nutritional value prepared by your loved ones, may be called divine food from God’s Kitchen. Typically, we consume food that is approximately 30 to 40 days old. Processed food, fast food, canned food, and junk food may be termed the devil’s kitchen’s food, as such food is unhealthy and harms anyone who consumes it. Thus, these types of food are prohibited.
There is a widely held view that food choices can impact thinking and overall mental health. ‘As you eat, so you think’ is a common saying in the Indian context. Traditional Indian systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda, and modern scientific research have also supported the connection between food and the mind.
Traditional Indian viewpoints, such as Ayurveda and Yogic Philosophy, classify food into three kinds. Pure and light food is known as Sattvic Food. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts that facilitate clarity, tranquillity, and spiritual development. They are also believed to promote positive thinking and mental well-being.
The modern scientific viewpoint also classifies food based on Brain Chemistry and Nutrients.Therefore, it is mandatory in Navratri to have Sattvic food, which mainly consists of a plant-based diet to stay active and healthy to seek Mother’s Divine blessings.
Longevity advocates have promoted plant-based dietary habits. Ancient Indian traditions emphasise avoiding food after sunset, a practice observed during this festival. Similarly, modern health-conscious individuals tend to skip late-night eating. Taking it a step further, one person has set his deadline for the last meal of the day at 11 a.m., which might surprise us. For instance, consider Bryan Johnson, a 45-year-old IT CEO, who has his last meal at 11 a.m. as part of a £2 million-a-year effort to revert his biological age to 18. His strict routine includes nutrition, exercise, and comprehensive health monitoring. This suggests a likely correlation between eating habits and health status.
The saying “Jaisa annvaisamann” means that what you eat shapes your thoughts. Your diet is reflected in your personality and actions. Divine food has a beneficial effect on your body, whereas devilish food has a detrimental impact.
To stay connected with nature, devotees sleep on the ground, fostering a bond with the earth. This aligns with the philosophy of zero volts as healing (sleeping on the ground), time as healing (eating before sunset), and food as healing.
On the flip side, Hindu festivals are deeply rooted in various astronomical events and seasonal changes, and Navratri exemplifies this connection. Most are familiar with the two Navratri festivals celebrated annually by Hindus worldwide; however, there are four Navratri festivals in the Hindu calendar each year. The other two, referred to as Gupt or Secret Navratri, are connected to astronomical events known as Equinoxes and Solstices. Equinoxes, which occur twice a year, are times when day and night have equal lengths – specifically on March 21 and September 22 – marking the celebrations of Vasant and Sharada Navratri, respectively. Solstices also occur twice a year, with longer days and shorter nights on June 21 (the longest day of the year) and December 21 (the shortest night of the year). Vasant (Chaitra) Navratri takes place in March or April, coinciding with the Vernal Equinox on March 21. This year, it is observed from March 30th to 6th April 2025. In contrast, Sharadiya Navratri is celebrated during the Autumnal Equinox on September 22.
Both householders and spiritual seekers celebrate the two Gupt Navratri observed during the solstices. These festivals primarily attract individuals involved in Tantrik Vidya or those seeking psychic abilities, as well as devotees of the Goddess Adi Shakti, the Mother Divine Power. Ashadha Navratri, which occurs in June and July, coinciding with the summer solstice on June 21, marks the onset of the monsoon season. In contrast, Pausha and Magha Navratri occur in December and January, marking yet another seasonal shift. Of the four Navratri, Sharadiya Navratri is celebrated with exceptional enthusiasm and religious fervour, earning it the distinction of Maha Navratri.
These four periods of Navratri serve as pivotal moments for significant life transitions. They signify the end of what is old, exhausted, and harmful, heralding the birth of something new. These periods can be seen as times of introspection, rejuvenation, and rebirth on all three levels: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual. It is a time to restore balance in everything. Achieving balance in life is essential for human existence.
Physical Rejuvenation
Equinoxes and solstices mark the transition between the two seasons. During this period, bacteria thrive, and viral infections are at their peak. The body needs time to adjust to changes in climate and environment. Excessive and poor eating habits, irregular sleep patterns, and seasonal changes are the primary factors that contribute to a weakened immune system. These factors also create an imbalance in the body by disturbing the three bio-elements- Vata (Gas), Pitta (Bile), and Kapha (Phlegm). Certainly, Navratri is the ideal time to detoxify and revitalize the body by balancing the three cardinal humours.
Maintaining the right balance in the body is crucial, and fasting plays a vital role, making it an essential part of Navratri celebrations. According to the age and health parameters of devotees, some people have only one meal a day or would avoid certain foodstuffs. People mostly avoid and abstain from certain high-energyfoodstuffs, such as meat, grains, alcohol, onions, garlic, and processed foods. Devotees mostly prefer gluten-free grain alternatives, fresh fruits, yoghurt, etc., as these can be easily digested.
Divine Energy symbolized by the Adi Shakti (Primal Energy) is invoked to help control and cleanse the nine openings (nou dwar) of the physical body. Two Eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one Mouth, one Anus and one urinary opening.
It is said whatever you eat, it is reflected in your thoughts and mind. In Ayurveda, foods are categorised into three groups based on their nature and the response they elicit in the body after consumption. Raajasic Foods, Taamasic Foods, and Saatvik Foods: During fasting, people typically eat Saatvik foods. Apart from the religious aspect, there is a scientific reason behind it. For instance, Shardiya Navratri falls in October and November, which is the transition period from autumn to winter. Due to seasonal changes, our immunity tends to decline. Consuming saatvik foods during this season provides your digestive system with rest and helps cleanse your body of impurities.
The word Saatvik is derived from the word sattva, which means something pure, natural, vital, clean, energetic, and conscious. Saatvik foods include fresh fruits, curd, rock salt, seasonal vegetables and subtle spices like coriander and black pepper. Garlic and onion are not allowed, as they are known as Rajogini. This substance can cause one to lose control over their instincts and fail to differentiate between desires and priorities.
Raajasic and Taamasic foods are referred to things that are unripe, weak, resentful, and destructive. During Navratri, people are supposed to denounce worldly pleasure and adopt a pure and simple life for nine days. Therefore, these foods are avoided during this time, as they tend to distract your focus.
Mental Rejuvenation
Navratri is also the period of cleansing the mind of the nine evil forces – These are lust, anger, greed, delusion, ego, jealousy, doubt, attachment, and hatred. These evil forces are responsible for downgrade and abasement. Devotees who fast during Navratri also strive to gain control over these forces to prevent decline in their lives. Denouncing these forces helps maintain communal harmony, brotherhood, and empathy for all living beings.
Fasting also has psychological benefits including strengthening one’s willpower and removing emotional blocks. It also helps devotees build self-confidence to face life’s challenges and live in harmony with others. This is the time when one reflects inwards. Self-control and discipline help purify the mind of its impurities and cultivate noble values. This aspect has gained more importance in modern times as many people suffer from depression. Mental Rejuvenation is more relevant today, as mind and body should be both healthy.
Spiritual Rejuvenation: Mental control combined with control over physical desires and urges helps the devotees to elevate their spiritual status. People engage in spiritual practices such as meditation, pranayama, and reciting holy scriptures. All the forms of Adi Shakti (Primal Energy) are worshipped to help us destroy our basic, gross carnal tendencies and invoke the Divine Power within ourselves. This is the time when devotees recharge their dormant energies and activate their progress to the divine world.
Physical, Mental and Spiritual rejuvenation changes the life of devotees to such an extent, that they lead a blissful life. Energy is essential for all living things. Thus, there is a cardinal rule to recharge and rejuvenate during Navratri to live a delighted, blissful, and prosperous life.
( The author is formerly Principal J K Education Department)
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