It’s a NO-NO!

Posted on by Parul Thakur
Durga Pandal - where lots of non-veg food stalls are put up.
Durga Pandal – where lots of non-veg food stalls are put up.

Disclaimer: The thoughts expressed in this post may hurt your religious sentiments and more so if you are a Hindu. Please note that India is a free country and these are my views and I have shared my views on my blog. Please do not spread hatred. Live and let live.

A couple of days back, just before leaving from work a sudden hunger pang hit me. Hunting in my bag’s side pocket, I realized I had a mini-snicker. Happy at having found it, yet wanting to get a calorie count I flipped it over to check. Sad there was no count but it said contains eggs, milk and usual chocolate contents. That’s when I realized that Navratras are on. But without any guilt or remorse, I went ahead and happily popped the mini piece.

Over the last 9 days, I have been thinking about this one BIG “no-no” about eating eggs and non-veg during 9 days of Navratras.  Not just this, I overheard a conversation where a mother asked her 30 something son to go get his hair cut and his beard shaved as Navratras would start from the next day and then he won’t be able to do all this. I was a little shocked at discovering this new “no-no”. A day later, I called my Mum and told her about what I had heard and she mentioned that even sex and alcohol is not allowed. I asked her why and she said, “Dunno. They say so!” She said this is a soul cleansing mechanism but this can also be very well achieved by purifying thoughts and not the food we take.

So – I have been wondering why we put so many restraints on ourselves. Why do we preach things and not know why are we preaching? Why some communities eat non-veg during these days and never fret about it? In some parts of eastern India, fish is considered an auspicious food and I come from such a family. We eat fish on Dusherra day to start the year with God’s blessing. What I do not understand is why do we have to associate days of not eating non-veg with God? Some say, it’s Tuesday, no non-veg. Some say it’s Saturday, no non-veg and some say it’s Thursday, no non-veg. I was in US for a trip once and thinking it was Tuesday, I said no to chicken rolls when somebody hinted saying it was Tuesday yesterday in India. And I thought but I had non-veg yesterday thinking it was Monday. So should I follow Indian Standard Time when I am abroad or the time zone of that country? I get all confused with this.

Then I remind myself of these lines by Nida Fazli, “Saaton din bhagwan ke, kyaa mangal kyaa peer” (All 7 days are God’s and there is no difference between a Tuesday and Thursday). I eat non-veg all days whatever be the day or occasion. I don’t think it is at all appropriate to crave for food and then not eat in the name of God. I feel it’s like bluffing God which is wrong.

Did you know Shiv ji used to eat all sorts of meat? Then why can’t his devotees eat non-veg on Maha Shivratri or Nagpanchami? When did God say that don’t eat this or that? When did God say come to temple only after having a bath? When did God say that if you are in your menstrual cycle do not enter the temple? When did God say that prasad needs to be had from the right hand only? When did He say that first have a bath then worship and then only take your first tea? When did He say that if you are wearing shorts or capris, you are not allowed in the temple? When did God say that personal hygiene is not important during Navratras?

God will not check all these things. What God would want to assess is your ability to be true to yourself, doing your duty righteously and never harming another living being.

You may be thinking I am an atheist but you are totally wrong. I am a God fearing person. I bow my head before Him all the time. I know that He has made me who I am and He will show me the path and be my guide. But I fear to face God not when I eat non-veg on a Tuesday but the day I fail to do my duty and that is my worship.

27 thoughts on “It’s a NO-NO!”

  2. Navaratri fasting or food restriction was practiced because of the seasonal change and its influence. I remember somebody telling me during this time, also during vasanta navaratri, climatic change and solar influence made body more susceptible to stomach problem, hence people followed food restrictions to avoid health issues. Since these climate changes are more pronounced in north India hence the practice is more common there.
    As far as periods goes, earlier girls did not had the luxury of today’s sanitary napkins and hence they were confined to a room for hygiene and cleanliness. They were not permitted inside the kitchen too.

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    1. May be these were the reasons and no one knows about them now. Someone posted on my wall this morning which I would love to quote, we follow rituals more than following God!
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts Prachi and stopping by.

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  3. Thought provoking post. Sad how so much exaggerated stuffs us made out of religion how we stop thinking as human beings. Agree with the points. Guess, common sense is list in translation. I’ve seen the nonsensical norms..in the name of god.

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  5. Well said.I loved the Tuesday episode in US. Haha, seriously come to think of it! Sounds insane. A tradition that we blindly follow without question and then judge other cultures based on that which then leads to stereotypes.

    But then on the other end of spectrum they say it is about discipline for the lesser mortals whom only God fear can keep in line. So atleast one day you practice control.

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    1. Ha ha! That was super confusing to me. My heart kept going back to India and my brain said I am here in US. Gosh!

      Thanks for stopping by and following my blog Rashmi 🙂 I hope you enjoy reading 🙂

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  7. Very well written thoughts Parul. And I totally agree that even though some of these concepts were probably logical some centuries back… They hardly hold true in todays scenario; lifestyle and city life…. But it is also the long built FEAR of the almighty that we fail to apply logic.. Or do the unconventional and prefer to do things rhe way tutored or how everyone else is doing.

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  8. Tussi correct ho ji.., ye world hai na world… isme do type k log hai… ek jo karna chahte hai, pad kar nahi paate, andaar ki darr ki wajase… so, they just spot doers and crticise… and the other group who does it without much thinking… but happiest are the third unregistered but actually prudent group who takes fun of this whole drama from miles above n crunch crispy chicken legpieces 😉

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  9. Parul, I loved that part where you asked whether to follow IST 😛

    Some people avoid eating non veg on one day of the week just to exercise some control. I do that. But I don’t go about preaching the same to others. I do it because, it gives me a sense of satisfaction.
    Others do it because they are forced to, by their religions & cultures. That is really sad. This is not the only taboo in the name of God. There are many more. Some are super-annoying!

    Good that you came up with this 🙂

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  10. Too lazy to note the do’s and dont’s and keep track of ’em. I find this “no” list quite amusing and funny too but then there are times abiding by it brings happiness to few close ones so I go along with it sincerely 😀 (what’s the harm I say? )

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  11. well written . But this is also true that our maximum fastings are due to change of weather , season etc . people follow them so it was associated with religion as human beings are always scared of God and His anger . . I too do not believe on many Tough Rituals , coz i know i cant do but i fast every Tuesday , I fast first and last day of navratri twice a year . I have decided that I wont keep fast when I am out of station as I dont wanna to give any botheration to my host . But I cant eat non veg on that day . No one has compelled me but I cant . Whatever I do its just because I love my God and owe great respect to Him . I have never forced my kids ( i know they wont listen to me ) They do according to their desire and I respect their ideas beliefs

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  12. I’m with you…I don’t believe in fasting and all these rules that on this day you can eat something or in some other day you can’t..I just don’t find any rationale behind all these…I eat what I like when I like and my devotion is not dependent on anything or any rules made by men, atleast rules that make no sense to me

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  13. I completely agree with you Parul eating or other things really have nothing to do with God or religion- many rituals or customs or even beliefs are just passed on blindly. I too was caught in this dilemma till I realised that the God I worship is kind and loving and has made me! So go ahead and be a good person……tweak your beliefs and customs to keep you happy!

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  14. Hi Parul, you have a nice blog design. Above all, when i was fishing for a good read i stumbled on this post. Thought provoking and this liner is a catchy one ” “Saaton din bhagwan ke, kyaa mangal kyaa peer” (All 7 days are God’s and there is no difference between a Tuesday and Thursday).”

    Loved reading it..

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    1. Hi Ajay – thanks for stopping by. Feels good that you liked the design. Lots to learn still. Yes, this line is a pretty common punch line that’s thrown at my parents’ place and I love it. Its so true that it never fails to stand out. Thank you!!

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