In traditional Jain āhār-niyam, ginger is not “allowed”; it is treated like other root / underground vegetables and generally avoided.

Why the confusion then?

1. Basic Jain rule

- Ginger is an underground stem (rhizome), grouped with kand-mool (potato, onion, garlic, etc.). - Uprooting it kills the whole plant and disturbs many tiny lives in the soil. - So, by core Jain principles of ahiṃsā, fresh ginger should be avoided in both Digambar and Shvetambar traditions. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Why do some people say “ginger is allowed”?

- In some families or regions, dry ginger (soonth/saunth) or a little ginger in tea is used and people casually say “ginger is allowed”. - Reasons they give: - it’s dried (they feel it is “lifeless” now), - it is used in very small quantity, often as medicine (for cold, digestion, etc.). ( jainknowledge.com) - But many Jain teachers still say: if you avoid roots, you should avoid ginger in all forms (fresh, dry, powder, in masala, in tea) except very limited medicinal use. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Difference in practice (summary)

- Strict practice (both Digambar & Shvetambar): - No ginger at all – no fresh, no dry, no ginger tea, no ginger powder, except possibly as clear medicine, in minimum quantity, without taste‑desire. ( jainknowledge.com) - Lenient / local practice: - Some householders take little dry ginger or ginger tea and socially call it “allowed”, even though the stricter śāstriya view is to avoid roots.

So, from a shāstra-based Jain point of view:

• Ginger is basically in the avoid list (kand‑mool).
• Any “allowance” is usually a relaxation for laypeople, often only for health reasons, not a general approval.

You can read related discussions here and here .