The holy festival of Sharadiya Navratri has started, and people keep fast for nine days while worshipping Goddess Durga. Nowadays, many options for a fruit diet while fasting exist, and many recipes are readily available online. But do you know what the right fasting rule is? Premanand Maharaj, in a discourse with his devotees, told the proper people the r regulations for eating during the fast and guided them to the people.
What during fasting? The advice of Premanand Maharaj
Everyone knows to eat a fruit diet while fasting, but what is the best way to do it? According to Premanand Maharaj, eating dishes like puri, pakoras, or kheer during fasting is incorrect. Maharaj said that consuming expensive food items like buckwheat, water chestnut, and samak rice in a fruit diet is inappropriate. The purpose of fasting is restraint and sacrifice; in such a situation, using expensive food negates the real meaning of fasting. Apart from this, Maharaj has also forbidden consuming many types of fruits.
Proper rules of eating during fasting
Eating pure and satvik food is necessary during fasting, but paying attention to the quantity of food consumed is also important. According to Premanand Maharaj, the true meaning of fasting is to fast throughout the day and not eat anything until noon. After this, one should drink water and eat fruit at 4 pm. If necessary, consume some sweets and milk at night. The next day, offer Prasad to God and eat it. This is Premanand Maharaj’s suggestion for a one-day fast.
What should and should not be included in the fruit diet?
Recommended foods Prohibited foods
The dishes include Kuttu atta, Singhara atta Puri, pakora, and kheer.
Samak rice: expensive dishes and sweets
Sabudana Extremely oily and spicy food
Curd and milk are heavy foods.
Sweet potato Add more fruits, like bananas and papayas.
Understand the real purpose of fasting.
Fasting does not mean abstaining from eating but keeping the mind and body pure. The purpose of fasting is to promote restraint and devotion. During the fast, one should eat moderate and satvik food so that the body feels pure and light. Eating expensive and heavy dishes defeats the purpose of fasting, reducing it to mere eating and drinking.
Conclusion
The Sharadiya Navratri fast is a holy deed that must be followed correctly. Premanand Maharaj advises eating moderate and satvik food during the fast. This benefits the body and promotes spiritual peace and a feeling of devotion.