Answer

During Paryushan, Jains traditionally eat food that is simple, sattvik, non-violent, and easy to digest. The main focus is not enjoyment of taste, but self-control, purity, and reduction of harm to living beings.

Commonly followed food practices include:

• Strict vegetarian food
• No root vegetables such as potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, radish, etc.
• No green leafy vegetables in many families and traditions
• No fermented foods
• No stale or overnight food
• Food prepared and eaten before sunset
• Boiled and filtered water, used within the traditional time limit followed in your family or sangh
• Simple grains, pulses, and milk-based items, depending on one’s tradition and vow

What You Can Generally Eat

Depending on your family tradition and level of observance, people may eat:

• Roti, rice, khichdi, dal
• Simple sabzi made without root vegetables
• Moong dal, tuvar dal, chana dal
• Milk, curd, buttermilk, ghee, if allowed in your tradition
• Dry fruits and nuts, if suitable
• Fruits, if your vow allows them
• Simple sweets made fresh, without prohibited ingredients

What to Avoid

• Potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot, radish and all root vegetables
• Eggs, meat, fish, honey, and all non-vegetarian items
• Alcohol and intoxicants
• Fermented items like bread, idli, dosa, dhokla made through fermentation, depending on practice
• Packaged or processed foods with unknown ingredients
• Food after sunset
• Leftover food from the previous day

Spiritual Understanding

Paryushan is a time for:

• Ahimsa — reducing harm to living beings
• Tapasya — practicing self-discipline
• Samyam — control over taste and desires
• Pratikraman — repentance and purification

So the best food during Paryushan is not only “permitted food,” but food eaten with restraint, awareness, and gratitude.

Takeaway

Eat simple, fresh, vegetarian food before sunset, avoid root vegetables and harmful foods, and follow the exact rules of your family, guru, or sangh tradition. The real purpose of Paryushan is inner purification, not food variety.