Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Let Us Celebrate with Joy Without Forgetting Our Swasthya
The moment the month of Shravana begins, life seems to take on a whole new colour. One festival follows another. There are prayers and rituals, visits from family and friends, new clothes, beautifully decorated homes, the fragrance of flowers, mango-leaf toranas, the glow of lamps and the beauty of festive altars. All of these brighten not only our homes, but also our hearts.
A festival is never merely a day of celebration. It is an opportunity for the family to come together. A time to receive the blessings of elders. A moment to watch children celebrate with innocent joy. And, through prayer and devotion, a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with the divinity that is already present in our lives.
And then, of course, there is the food! Every festival has its own special delicacies. Payasam, holige, kajjaya, sweets, savouries and so many traditional preparations. The aroma of festive cooking itself brings alive the spirit of celebration.
Visiting friends and relatives, sharing a meal with them, exchanging homemade delicacies and enjoying food together are all beautiful parts of our festive traditions.
But there is one question that makes us pause.
Why does a home filled with so much happiness on a festival day sometimes turn into a house full of medicines the very next day?
Fever, body aches, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhoea, cold, headache, acidity, heartburn… one or the other health complaint often seems to appear.
One family member falls unwell, then another, and then another. Before we know it, the whole family is taking a break after the festival, not because of relaxation, but because the body has been overwhelmed.
So, is post-festival discomfort an unavoidable “buy one, get one free” offer that comes along with celebration?
Certainly not!
Our festivals were never meant to compromise our health. On the contrary, they can be beautiful opportunities to refine our food, lifestyle and thoughts, and make both body and mind more balanced and sattvic.
So, what should we keep in mind during festivals?
Our Daily Routine Should Not Take a Holiday
Ayurveda gives great importance to Dinacharya, the daily routine, as an important foundation for maintaining health.
A festival is not a day when we need to give our body’s biological rhythm a holiday.
Whenever possible, it is beneficial to wake up around Brahma Muhurta, traditionally considered to be approximately one and a half hours before sunrise.
Waking up at this time on a festival day and spending a few moments in meditation, prayer, japa or quiet contemplation can be especially meaningful.
The peacefulness of the early morning makes it easier to turn the mind inward. It is an ideal time to connect the body, senses and mind with a sense of devotion and inner awareness.
For this, we need to finish our activities a little earlier the previous night and go to bed on time.
Staying awake late into the night before the festival, waking up tired, eating a very heavy meal and then sleeping for hours during the afternoon is not really celebration. It is simply placing an additional burden on the body.
Ayurveda generally advises against excessive daytime sleep. Particularly in certain individuals and circumstances, excessive daytime sleeping can aggravate Kapha and affect digestive strength. It may be associated with heaviness, congestion, cough, recurrent colds, reduced appetite, impaired digestion and metabolic disturbances.
Therefore, even on a festival day:
Give importance to night-time sleep.
Keep daytime sleep to a minimum.
Let your routine support your health rather than disturb it.
Give Your Body the Gift of Abhyanga
Another wonderful practice that can be incorporated into a festival day is Abhyanga, the traditional oil massage.
Before bathing, preferably on an empty stomach when appropriate, gently applying warm oil over the body can be a beautiful form of self-care.
Sesame oil or another suitable oil can be used according to one’s constitution and needs.
You may begin by applying oil to the scalp. Traditionally, a few drops may also be applied to the ears, and the face can be gently massaged.
A small quantity of oil may also be applied inside the nostrils as part of the traditional practice of Nasya, when appropriate.
Then gently apply oil over the neck, arms, chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, legs and feet.
Over the limbs, oil can generally be applied in the direction of the natural hair growth. On areas such as the face, abdomen and around the joints, gentle circular movements can be used.
This does not have to become another elaborate task on an already busy festival day.
Even five minutes of oil application followed by another five minutes of allowing the oil to remain on the body can become a simple ten-minute ritual of self-care.
Follow it with a warm bath.
Amidst the running around, prayers, rituals, hospitality and festive activities, this small pause can help the body feel more relaxed and comfortable through the day.
Make Time for Festive Food, But Eat at the Right Time
Food is often where our routine changes the most during festivals.
As far as possible, maintain your usual meal timings for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The problem on a festival day is not necessarily one large meal.
It is often the continuous eating in between meals.
“A little prasada.”
“Just taste this.”
“This is specially made for you.”
And then another piece.
Before we realise it, we have barely given the stomach an opportunity to experience hunger.
Repeatedly eating without allowing adequate intervals between meals can place an additional burden on digestion. This may contribute to indigestion, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, headache, acidity and heartburn.
This does not mean that we have to reject all the wonderful food prepared for the festival.
Enjoy the festive food.
But enjoy it at the right meal time and in a quantity that suits your hunger and digestive capacity.
When sweets and fried foods are abundant, simple digestive beverages may also be useful for some individuals.
Preparations using ingredients such as fresh ginger, cumin, fennel, cardamom, clove or coriander can be gently boiled in water and consumed warm, according to individual suitability.
The aim is not to take away the joy of food.
It is to find a balance between experiencing the taste of food and respecting the process of digestion.
Fasting Is Not a Punishment for the Stomach
Fasting is an integral part of many of our festivals.
But have we truly understood what fasting means?
Completely ignoring hunger, avoiding water unnecessarily, or eating nothing throughout the day only to consume a very heavy meal at once later is not a healthy interpretation of fasting.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, eating itself can be viewed as a sacred act, almost like a Yajna, where food is offered as an oblation into the Jatharagni, the digestive fire.
Therefore, repeatedly suppressing natural urges such as hunger and thirst, only to overload the digestive system later, is not beneficial.
The word Upavasa itself carries a beautiful deeper meaning.
‘Upa’ means near, and ‘Vasa’ means to dwell or stay.
Thus, Upavasa is not merely about staying away from food. It is an opportunity to remain closer to the Divine.
It is a time to step away from kama, krodha, lobha, mada and matsarya, to cultivate greater sattva in body, speech and mind, and to turn towards prayer, contemplation and self-reflection.
One purpose of fasting may be to keep the body light so that the mind can become more inward and focused.
But fasting was never meant to be a punishment or a means of exhausting the body.
When genuine hunger arises, it should be respected.
At the appropriate time, one may consume light, sattvic and easily digestible food according to one’s needs, while using the remaining time for prayer, japa, meditation and positive reflection.
That is a much more meaningful dimension of Upavasa.
What Is the True Prasada of a Festival?
The traditions created by our ancestors were not merely rituals. Many of them carried a deeper understanding of life and wellbeing.
On a festival day:
Do not,
- overwork the body.
- overeat.
- compromise on sleep.
- suppress hunger.
Moderation in food.
Discipline in sleep.
Sattva in our celebrations.
Devotion in the mind.
This is the essence of celebrating a festival in a healthy way.
The true success of a festival is when we are able to return to our everyday lives the next day with the same energy and enthusiasm with which we celebrated.
Let the memories of the festival remain with us.
But let them be memories of laughter, togetherness, devotion, delicious food and beautiful moments, rather than memories of fever, indigestion, body aches and acidity.
Let our festivals not become days when we punish the body.
Let them become opportunities to nourish, cleanse and reconnect with both body and mind.
Suffering after celebration is not inevitable.
Joy and Swasthya can coexist.
The true fulfilment of a festival lies in being able to carry its happiness forward, even after the celebration is over, with our health, vitality and peace intact.
May every festival we celebrate contribute to greater health, longevity, prosperity, happiness and auspiciousness.
That is the true spirit of Ayurveda.
|| Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu ||
|| Samasta Sanmangalani Bhavantu ||
May all beings everywhere be happy.
May auspiciousness and wellbeing prevail everywhere.
Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Sadhanashree P. BAMS, MD(Ayu)
Dr. Sadhanashree P., M.D. (Ayurveda), is a passionate Ayurvedic physician with expertise in Panchakarma and holistic wellness. As the founder of Arogyavardhini Ayurveda, she blends ancient Ayurvedic practices with modern lifestyle solutions. Dr. Sadhanashree is committed to spreading Ayurveda’s benefits through consultations, workshops, and rural health camps, empowering individuals and communities to achieve optimal health.
About Arogyavardhini Ayurveda
Arogyavardhini Ayurveda is dedicated to promoting holistic health through Ayurveda and Yoga. Led by Dr. Sadhanashree, the clinic offers personalized consultations, Panchakarma therapies, wellness retreats, and community outreach programs, including rural health camps and corporate wellness initiatives.
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Disclaimer
The information provided on this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle, or treatment plan. This site may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Arogyavardhini Ayurveda is not responsible for any adverse outcomes resulting from the application of information found here.
