Govardhan Puja, is your official post Diwali detox. yes, you heard me right. For those who follow me regularly know that my articles get featured in many newspapers, health websites, magazines and journals. Around Diwali time, I was approached for writing on Festive Eating tips and ways to maintain Gut healthy during Diwali. Along with these topics, I was approached for podcasts and write ups on Post Diwali Detox, but my take on this detox is very different from popular dictum of soup, salad, lemon shots and fruit only diet, that I was not able to please people with it and thus no media features on this!
Our food choices, rather our whole approach towards food is so influenced by the food and fitness industry that we are mere puppets to the diet trends that come and go. In this whole desire to ‘lose weight’ we end up losing our health. But I have begun to feel that we don’t even bother about it as fat as we weight our desired number on the scale!
Our tradition, our festivities are perceived as road blocks in our health and fitness journey. Our traditional recipes are ‘ too sweet’ ‘too oily’ and ‘ too fattening’ and thus we buy exotic low calorie, dark chocolaty, air fried, salt free, fat free, vegan ( the list is endless) varieties of sweets and snacks. and still go in detox diet post these!.
Mere pyaare Bhaiyaon adn behno.. jago, Govardhan Puja, is your official post diwali detox. Ji haan.
Govardhan Puja, is your official Post Diwali Detox
Govardhan Puja is observed a day after Diwali On this day, as per the Bhagavata Puran, Shri Krishna lifted the Govardhan parbat (mountain) on his little finger for seven days to protect the residents of Vrindavan from torrential rains and thunderstorms brought on by Indra’s anger. Hence, on this day, people offer puja to the Govardhan parvat
There is another dimension to Govardhan puja.
In mythology, Krishna won over the intellect- symbolized by the King Indra, the one who controls the indriyas and the senses.
The mistake of the Intellect is responsible for the disturbed state of mind. Even if the mind is under control the intellect can disturb the mind. It is the discriminative faculty of the mind and can be very destructive. It is the main cause of ignorance. External desires and the uncontrolled five senses are responsible for it. Kama, Krodha, Lobha and Moha are the causative factors.
Govardhan puja is the example of winning over the intellect. The same can only be done by one point concentration on the object of concentration. Krishna raised the mountain (the problem) on his one finger (one point determination) to save the people from heavy rains (turmoil of thoughts).
It means taking one point decision (one finger) whenever the mind is indecisive (mountain) with multiple possibilities (rain).
Only when the mind body and soul are purified after one month spiritual Yagna, from the first Navratri to Diwali, one can use the intellect to take one-point decisions.
Govardhan Puja Meal: A Gut Healer
The meal is very smartly planned by our ancestors and it’s a reflection of the food wisdom which is inherent in our cultural practices. It typically comprises of Kadhi, Chawal and Moon Bengan Sabzi. Annakut ( a mix veg) is also prepared.
Kadhi Chawal
With all the late nights and indulgence during Diwali, our gut health surely goes for a toss. Kadhi, which is made with chaas is probiotic, that helps restore the gut bacteria. Rice is prebiotic, ie the food for the gut bacteria. Thus the combination of kadhi with rice becomes a full pre- probiotic combination. Kadhi also a vegetarian source of Vit B12 and thus beats bloating and other digestive issues. Its hydrating and light on the body so it helps to resume normal functioning of a taxed gut.
AnnaKut
Annakut is a mix of different vegetables and prepared with methi and til seeds. Again from nutritional perspective, after the sweets and fried foods consumed during Diwali, a mixed veggies is an ideal source of fiber in the meal, thus the veggies.
Just as in Bengali culture on Bhoot Chaturdashi, 14 saag vegetable is cooked to re introduce the leafy vegetables in the meal, so is the annakut a similar opportunity to bring back the veggies on the plate, interesting isn’t it?
Moolli Baigan:
Mooli is a seasonal vegetable during this time. It’s high in potassium, Vitamin C and Fiber, thus builds immunity during the winters. But what it really is good for is Liver Detox! So it comes handy after the Diwali feasts!
Last bit of Wisdom
Our ancestral food wisdom is so deep, so rich that the festive meals are designed with utmost care and intelligence. Just as spirituality teaches us that everything we seek is inside us, similarly, the food wisdom is inherent in our culture and we are busy chasing shallow diet trends. Its high time we build the confidence to decode our culinary practises and embrace the festivities in totality. Waiting for West to patronize our Haldi doodh is just seeking validation from external sources and not trusting our own kitchen. Its high time we begin to follow our rituals with complete understanding and not blame them to be mere weight gain madness.
Download your free copy of the health guidelines that I follow with my one on one clients: A Healthy Routine for Healthy You
Also Read:
1. Is your Kitchen Winter Ready?
2. How to Prevent and Treat Hair Fall
3. Why are we always told to eat local and seasonal
Confused by the misinformation about potential health problems with traditional Indian foods ? Get in touch with the Best Dietitian in Delhi Madhavi K Sharma is a strong advocate of the holistic, wellness benefits of fresh, local, and traditional Indian foods.
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