Answer

During Paryushan, Jains try to eat food that supports ahimsa, simplicity, self-control, and purity of mind.

Commonly eaten foods include:

• Simple grains such as wheat, rice, and certain millet preparations, depending on family tradition
• Dal and pulses, if allowed in one’s tradition
• Simple cooked vegetables that are not root vegetables
• Milk, curd, ghee, and other dairy items, if one consumes dairy
• Fruits, depending on the level of observance
• Dry fruits and nuts
• Simple sweets made without restricted ingredients
• Boiled and filtered water, usually consumed only during permitted daylight hours

Foods generally avoided during Paryushan include:

• Root vegetables such as potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, radish, sweet potato, etc.
• Green leafy vegetables in many traditions, especially during stricter observance
• Fermented foods
• Stale or leftover food
• Food eaten after sunset
• Non-vegetarian food, eggs, alcohol, honey, and anything involving clear violence or indulgence

Explanation

Paryushan is not mainly about “what to eat,” but about reducing attachment to food and living with greater awareness.

Many Jains follow stricter rules during these days, such as:

• Eating only once or twice in the day
• Avoiding rich, spicy, or indulgent food
• Not eating after sunset
• Drinking only boiled water
• Doing upvas, ekasana, beasana, ayambil, or other forms of tapasya

The exact rules can differ between Shvetambar, Digambar, Sthanakvasi, Terapanthi, and family traditions.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, food during Paryushan should help reduce:

• Himsa — violence
• Rag — attachment
• Bhog-vilas — indulgence
• Pramad — carelessness

The goal is to make the body lighter and the mind calmer so one can focus on:

• Samayik
• Pratikraman
• Swadhyay
• Tapasya
• Forgiveness and inner purification

Takeaway

During Paryushan, eat simple, fresh, vegetarian, non-root, non-indulgent food, preferably during daylight, and follow the guidance of your family tradition or Jain Guru. The main aim is not taste, but self-control, ahimsa, and spiritual purification.