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The festival of Navratri is celebrated with pomp and vigour across the country. The nine-day auspicious festival is marked four times in a year. But Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navratri hold the most significance. Chaitra Navratri begins on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar. During this nine-day-long festival, Hindu devotees worship Maa Durga and her nine incarnations. This year, Chaitra Navratri will begin on April 9, 2024.
During the nine-day festival, Hindus observe a fast to please Goddess Durga with their devotion. While some observe fast for nine days, some observe them in jodas – the first two or the last two days of Navratri. Many devotees choose not to fast all day but adhere to a Sattvik diet and avoid Tamasik and Rajasik foods. They restrict themselves from consuming alcohol, onion, garlic, and meat. Besides, the conventional table salt is replaced with Sendha Namak or rock salt.
Also known as Himalayan crystal salt, rock salt or sendha namak is a type of salt that is typically found in the Himalayan mountains of the Indian subcontinent. It is considered to be the purest salt and doesn’t include any chemicals or toxins. It is pure and organic. Sendha Namak is used in cooking for religious purposes and is regarded as a vegetarian salt. It is pinkish hue in colour.
Sendha Namak restores the body’s electrolytes and maintains pH balance as devotees follow a highly restricted diet during Navratri. It helps in eliminating harmful minerals and refined salt deposits from the body by regulating blood circulation and mineral equilibrium.
There are several advantages of consuming Sendha Namak during Chaitra Navratri. Take a look at some of them.
- Rich Mineral Content
One of the primary reasons for including Sendha Namak in the diet during fasts in Chaitra Navratri is its rich mineral content. Table salt undergoes multiple refining process that removes the natural minerals. Rock salt or Sendha namak retains essential minerals such as iron, zinc, nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt according to the journal ‘Analysis of rock and sea salt for various essentials and inorganic elements,’ by J.Sc & Tech Univeristy, Peshawar dated 2013. These minerals are vital for bodily functions including bone health, muscle functions, and electrolyte balance.
- Balancing Electrolyte
Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining hydration, nerve function, and muscle contractions. Sendha namak contains a balanced combination of electrolytes that makes it an excellent choice for replenishing lost minerals due to strict fasting during Navratri. The inclusion of rock salt supports electrolyte balance in the body and enhances the overall hydration levels.
- Supports Digestive Health
According to the Indian Journal Of Ancient Medicine and Yoga in its article ‘Lavana (salt): An Ayurvedic outlook on Saindhava (Rock salt),’ dated June 2012, Sendha Namak can be used as a home remedy for several digestive ailments such as bloating, gas, acidity, etc. It stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, helping with the breakdown of food and promoting smooth digestion.
- Regulates Blood Pressure
Table salt is high in sodium chloride which may lead to hypertension. However, rock salt contains a lower level of sodium. This makes it suitable for people who are looking to reduce sodium intake and manage blood pressure levels. Besides, the presence of potassium in rock salt helps to counterbalance the effects of sodium, thus promoting cardiovascular health and lowering the risk of heart diseases.
- Detoxifies The Body
Sendha Namak or rock salt contains natural detoxifying properties that help eliminate toxins and impurities from the body. Thus, it is preferred to use Sendha Namak during Navratri as it is considered the purest. It acts as a gentle diuretic that promotes kidney function and enhances the elimination of waste products through urine.
- Alkaline Properties
To possess good overall health and well-being, it is crucial to maintain a slightly alkaline pH level in the body. As most dietary sources tend to be acidic, Sendha Namak has alkaline properties that help maintain the pH balance in the body. It can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and promote a more alkaline state within the body.
