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It’s the festive season in India and people are enjoying it every bit. While Navratri, Durga Puja, and Dussehra just got over, households are already preparing for Diwali. But before that, there is Karwa Chauth - a festival celebrated by Hindu women mostly in the northern and western parts of the country. On this day, married women observe the nirjala fast (without food and water) from sunrise to moonrise. Dressed in beautiful traditional attire, women apply mehendi on their hands and pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for their husband’s long life and good health.
They start the day by getting up early and consuming a pre-dawn meal, known as ‘sargi’, after which, they eat or drink again only after sighting of the moon in the evening. Sargi is actually a traditional meal - a collection of various foods that women get from their mother-in-law. It consists of dry fruits, fruits, sweets, and light meals that the women consume to get through the day. In the evening, all the neighbourhood women come together to read the story narrating the significance of the festival, after which they wait for the moon to rise.
As per the Hindu lunisolar calendar, Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon in the holy month of Kartik. This year, the festival will be celebrated on October 13, 2022. Since the day-long fast is quite strenuous for some, pregnant, sick, and elderly women are advised not to observe it.
After the day-long fast, it’s natural to feel very hungry in the evening. But you should be careful about what you eat after the long gap, as it may affect your digestive health. Your body may not react very well with the abrupt change. According to experts, there are certain healthy ways in which you can break your fast and foods that you should have after the vrat. Here are a few tips.
1. Have a balanced meal
After a full day of fasting, our body needs essential nutrients. Thus, it is advisable not to exclude essential micro and micro nutrients from your meal. Make sure your meal after the vrat is balanced and full of proteins, carbohydrates, and even some amount of good fats. These are necessary for energy restoration.
2. Avoid fried foods
Since your digestive system will be at rest for over 12 hours of the day, loading it with heavy foods suddenly can make it feel burdened, and can lead to an upset stomach. To avoid that, it is best to eat foods that are light on your tummy to break your fast.
3. Say no to caffeinated drinks
Drinking tea or coffee immediately after you break your fast may result in acidity in the stomach. On the other hand, consuming healthier and lighter foods after breaking the fast can help to balance everything.
4. Drink enough water
The body needs water at this time more than anything else, especially to avoid dehydration. So, keep a bottle ready, if you’ve had a lot of plain water already, try detox water, juices, and more, but not caffeinated beverages.
