5 Things You Should Never Do During Navratri According To Hindu Traditions

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From Sunday, 11 October, many Hindu households will change how they cook, groom and even speak. Shardiya Navratri, the nine-day festival of Goddess Durga, begins that day and continues until Monday, 19 October, with Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October.

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Alongside fasting and prayer, tradition comes with a list of things to avoid. Here are five things not to do during Navratri, and the reasoning behind each. Practices vary by region, community and family, and some rules apply mainly to those observing an anusthan, a formal period of ritual worship.

5 Things You Should Never Do During Navratri

1. Do Not Eat Non-Vegetarian Food, Onion Or Garlic, Or Drink Alcohol

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Devotees abstain from onions, garlic, meat and alcohol during the nine days. Onion and garlic are regarded as tamasic foods, and those fasting also avoid grains and processed salt. Rock salt is used in cooking instead, and smoking and other intoxicants are also avoided.

2. Do Not Cut Your Hair Or Nails, Or Shave

The belief is that shaving or cutting hair and nails brings misfortune and pulls the mind away from the puja, since grooming is tied to beauty standards. Many observers, men and women, follow this, and many men do not shave during the nine days. The practical tip is to get your haircut done before the festival begins.

3. Do Not Sleep During The Day

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Tradition holds that daytime sleep cancels the good karma earned through fasting. The rule is stressed especially for those observing an anusthan. Some devotees also follow niyamas such as sleeping on the floor.

4. Do Not Quarrel Or Disrespect Women

Arguments, quarrels and violence are to be avoided during Navratri. Because the festival honours Shakti, being disrespectful to women is listed as the first thing to avoid, and a peaceful household is said to attract peace for the whole year. This fits the custom of Kanya Pujan, in which young girls are honoured as manifestations of the goddess.

5. Do Not Leave The Home Empty Or Break Akhand Jyoti Rules

Tradition advises against leaving the house empty during the nine days. Those who keep an akhand jyoti, a lamp that burns continuously, are advised not to break any of the rules linked to it.

A Note On Fasting And Your Health

Fasting for nine days is a physical commitment as well as a spiritual one. Light exercise is considered acceptable, but strenuous activity that drains your energy is best avoided. Fruits, dry fruits, nuts and dairy are permitted during fasting days. People with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, pregnant women and older adults should speak to a doctor before fasting.

Bottomline

These five "nevers" are less a rulebook than a shared rhythm for the nine days: eat lightly, keep the household calm, and slow down. How strictly each is followed depends on family and community, and many people adapt them to modern life. What most share is the intention behind them, which is to make the nine days feel set apart.