Chaitra Navratri 2024 begins today (April 9, 2024). The nine days of festivities of Navratri worship various incarnations of Goddess Durga and celebrate the triumph of good over evil. This is also the time when devotees observe a period of fasting, following a restricted diet to cleanse the body and also prepare it for the change in season, from monsoon to winter. Food ingredients like whole grains (wheat and rice), table salt, non-vegetarian items, alcohol, onions, garlic, and a few other ingredients are a strict no. But what about your morning cup of coffee? Is that allowed?
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The answer is not that simple. While some people believe that only tea is allowed to be consumed during the fasting period, coffee lovers stand against the claim. Then there are those who believe that both beverages are allowed to be consumed during the fasting period. Renowned food writer Anoothi Vishal says, "There is nothing written in stone as Navratri fasting rules. I believe it's more of a personal choice. Over the years, people have made these rules. Navratri is a period where you restrict yourself from certain foods to cleanse your body. While grains and non-vegetarian dishes are strictly prohibited, beverages like tea and coffee are alright to be consumed."
Shalini Nandwani, a Delhi resident who has been keeping the Navratri fasts for 20 years says, "In our family, coffee and tea are both allowed during Navratri fasting, as well as other beverages like chaas and fresh fruit juices. Packaged or processed beverages are usually avoided."
Navratri 2024: Coffee during Navratri fast, allowed or not?
Homemaker Madhu Bhasin says, "We have been following Navratri for many years, and have always consumed tea and coffee. What we try and avoid are packaged and processed beverages and other products, since they contain preservatives and artificial agents."
Homemaker Sarabjeet Singh says, "Coffee may contain higher caffeine than tea but I don't see why it should be shunned during Navratri fasting while tea is enjoyed everywhere. Back in the day, coffee wasn't a popular mass beverage in India, and it still isn't as compared to tea. I doubt there were ever any rules formulated against its consumption during Navratri. It's really a personal choice. What's more important is to avoid whole grains, meat, eggs, alcohol, onion, garlic, and excessive spices during this period."
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Traditionally, Navratri fasts were followed keeping the changing season in mind. To safeguard the body from various infections, selective food items were included in the diet. Masaledar drinks were avoided, and light beverages like plain chaas were traditionally consumed. Today, both, tea and coffee, as well as fresh fruit juices and milkshakes, are consumed by many people who observe Navratri fasting.