During Das Lakshan Parva, the main focus is on self-purification, forgiveness, restraint, and reduction of passions. The exact food rules can vary by tradition, guru’s guidance, and the type of vrata you are observing, but the general Jain observance is:

What to do

• Practice the 10 dharmas:

Kshama, Mardava, Arjava, Shaucha, Satya, संयम, Tapa, Tyaga, Akinchanya, Brahmacharya

• Do samayik, pratikraman, swadhyay, japa, and meditation
• Keep speech, mind, and body calm and disciplined
• Eat and drink only in a way that supports ahimsa and restraint
• Avoid waste, luxury, and attachment

What not to do

• Do not anger, insult, criticize, or gossip
• Do not indulge in greed, pride, deceit, or attachment
• Do not eat food that is considered forbidden in Jain discipline
• Do not take food or water at wrong times if you are observing a vrat
• Do not eat for taste, pleasure, or indulgence

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Food to avoid during Das Lakshan

In strict Jain observance, avoid:

• Root vegetables: potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, radish, ginger, turmeric root, etc.
• All tubers and underground vegetables
• Meat, fish, eggs — absolutely not allowed
• Honey
• Alcohol and intoxicants
• Food cooked many hours earlier or stale food
• Food involving harm to living beings
• Fermented foods in strict observance, depending on tradition
• Raw items that may contain many small living beings if your vrata is very strict, depending on guidance

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What to eat

This also depends on the type of observance:

If you are doing strict fasting

• No food
• Often also no water, depending on the vrat

If you are doing one-meal observance

• Simple, sattvic, freshly prepared Jain food
• Grains, pulses, vegetables allowed by Jain rules
• Milk products only if your tradition permits them during that observance

If you are eating normally but with restraint

Choose:

• Fresh, simple, pure food
• Non-root vegetables
• Unfermented, non-stale food
• Minimal spice, minimal luxury

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Timings

This is important:

1. If observing upvas

• Usually from sunrise of one day to sunrise of the next day
• No solid food during that period
• Water rules vary by practice:

- Some do nirjala: no water - Some allow limited water in specific observances - Follow your family or guru’s rule

2. If observing ekasana

• Eat one meal only in the day
• Usually meal should be taken after sunrise and before sunset
• Many Jain traditions avoid eating after sunset

3. If observing beasana or other reduced intake

• Two limited meals may be allowed, depending on local custom
• Still maintain purity and restraint

4. General Jain timing rule

• Avoid eating after sunset
• Prefer food during daytime only
• Do not eat in a rushed, distracted, or indulgent way

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During Das Lakshan, many also avoid

• Fried food
• Heavy sweets
• Outside food
• Food cooked by non-Jain rules
• Eating out of habit or greed
• Entertainment that increases attachment

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Best practical conduct

A simple and sincere Das Lakshan observance is:

• Wake up early
• Do prayers, samayik, and swadhyay
• Keep food simple or fast according to your vow
• Avoid roots and prohibited items
• Eat only within permitted time
• Keep forgiveness in heart and speech
• End the day with pratikraman and repentance

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Very important

The strictness of food rules during Das Lakshan can differ between:

• Digambar
• Shwetambar
• local guru-parampara
• whether you are doing upvas, ekasana, ayambil, or partial vrat

So the safest general rule is:

No root vegetables, no meat/eggs, no alcohol, no stale food, and no eating after sunset. If fasting, follow sunrise-to-sunrise discipline.

If you want, I can also give you a day-by-day Das Lakshan vrat food chart in simple form.