Answer

During Paryushan, Jains generally eat simple, pure, and non-violent food that supports self-control, prayer, and spiritual reflection.

Commonly allowed foods may include:

• Simple grains like wheat, rice, and certain lentils, depending on family tradition
• Cooked vegetables that are permitted in your tradition
• Milk, ghee, curd, and other dairy items, if your practice allows
• Fruits, if allowed by your family or sect tradition
• Simple homemade food with minimal spices

Many Jains avoid:

• Root vegetables such as potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, radish
• Green leafy vegetables in many traditions
• Fermented foods
• Eating after sunset
• Outside food
• Heavy, rich, or indulgent foods

Explanation

The exact food rules during Paryushan can differ by Shvetambar, Digambar, family tradition, and personal vow.

Some people observe:

• Upvas – fasting for the whole day
• Ekasan – eating once in one sitting
• Beasan – eating twice
• Ayambil – very simple food without taste-enhancing items like ghee, oil, spices, sweets, milk, curd, etc.

If you are not fasting, the main idea is to eat food that is:

• Simple
• Freshly prepared
• Non-violent as far as possible
• Helpful for discipline and spiritual practice

Spiritual Understanding

Paryushan is not mainly about “what tasty food can we eat.” It is a time for:

• Reducing attachment to taste
• Practicing ahimsa
• Doing pratikraman
• Asking forgiveness
• Purifying the soul

So the best food during Paryushan is food that keeps the body light and the mind peaceful.

Takeaway

Eat simple, fresh, Jain-friendly food, avoid root vegetables and indulgent items, and follow the rules given by your family, guru, or local Jain sangh.