Answer

During Paryushan, try to eat simple, non-violent, and disciplined food. Since you are in college at DYP Akurdi, choose food that is easy to manage and avoids unnecessary harm.

You can generally eat:

• Simple home-packed food like roti, rice, dal, khichdi, sabzi without root vegetables
• Fruits if allowed in your family tradition
• Milk, curd, buttermilk if you consume dairy
• Dry snacks like roasted makhana, chana, khakhra, murmura, or simple farsan if it follows Jain rules
• Boiled water, preferably consumed within the time followed by your tradition

Avoid:

• Root vegetables such as potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, radish
• Green leafy vegetables, if avoided in your family or sect during Paryushan
• Fermented foods like bread, dosa, idli, dhokla, pizza base, bakery items
• Outside food as much as possible
• Food after sunset, if you are observing Jain discipline strictly
• Eggs, meat, fish, alcohol — these are not Jain food

College-Friendly Options

If you are at DYP Akurdi during the day, you can carry:

• Plain roti with Jain sabzi
• Khichdi or dal-rice
• Thepla without methi/green leafy vegetables if your tradition avoids greens
• Khakhra
• Roasted chana or makhana
• Dry fruits in moderation
• Fruit, if permitted by your family tradition
• Boiled water from home

Explanation

Paryushan is not only about food restriction. It is a time for:

• Ahimsa — reducing harm to living beings
• Sanyam — self-control
• Tap — austerity
• Pratikraman — repentance and purification
• Kshama — forgiveness

So the best food during Paryushan is food that is simple, limited, freshly prepared, and taken with awareness.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, eating during Paryushan should support spiritual purity. The aim is not taste or variety, but reducing attachment, carelessness, and violence.

If you cannot do full fasting because of college, you can still practice sincerely by:

• Eating fewer times
• Avoiding outside food
• Avoiding root vegetables
• Not eating after sunset
• Doing daily Pratikraman or at least asking forgiveness
• Keeping calm speech and thoughts

Takeaway

For college, carry simple Jain food from home and avoid canteen food during Paryushan. Even if you cannot do big tapasya, sincere discipline, ahimsa, and inner purity are very valuable in Jain Dharma.