Chatt puja is an auspicious occasion celebrated with giant fervour across the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. An ode to the Sun god, Chhath is usually observed for three days, during which the devotees take a holy bath, clean the house and their surroundings and offer a satvik meal, meaning a vegetarian meal without onion, garlic and salt, as bhog to the god.
One key aspect of Chhath festivities is a three day fast during which the devotees can not eat any food, or even drink water. Naturally, this is a tough fast to keep, and may not even be suitable for every devotee, as no food and water for three days can lead to severely dwindling energy levels. So, to help devotees observe their fasts with ease and get some tips to maintain energy levels during these three days, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Pooja Shah Bhave, Dietician and Diabetes Educator, Assisting Chief Fitness Officer, CEAT Limited.
Preparing For Chhath Puja Fast
Bhave recommended, “You should prepare for the fast at least one week before the festival by having homemade healthy meals.” She listed a set of tips that you should follow at least a week before beginning your fast.
- Avoid Unsaturated Fat And Refined Carbs: Avoid outside meals high in fat and refined carbs like maida, alcohol and aerated drinks as it will make you sluggish, low on energy, and reduce your metabolic rate due to their lack of nutrients.
- Ensure Proper Hydration: Reduce tea, alcohol, aerated beverages, and coffee as they can make you dehydrated. Consume ample water, vegetable soup, vegetable juice, lemon water, and buttermilk.
- Consume Protein: Ensure enough intake of easy to digest protein like egg, curd, milk, paneer, and easy to digest lentils especially moong dal and masoor dal.
- Eat Enough Carbohydrates: Ensure you take enough carbohydrates as they are the primary source of energy during the fast. Do not have a low carbohydrate diet or a very low fat diet. Include banana, chikoo, and other fruits. Eat boiled sweet potato first thing in the morning or as a snack in between meals.
- Eat Whole Grains: Have a breakfast and lunch consisting of whole grains like wheat and millets like jowar, ragi and bajra roti.
- Eat Your Veggies: Eat vegetables like french beans, cluster beans, ladyfinger, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, snake gourd, sponge gourd, ridge gourd. Consume these vegetables with a bowl of curd or buttermilk and salad.
- Have A Light Dinner: Dinner can be light like dal rice, khichdi or daliya. Even lighter meals like lentil and vegetable soup can be consumed.
- Eat Nuts And Dried Fruits: Additionally, nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts and dry fruits like figs, dates, and black currants can be consumed. Also, a handful of roasted chana and a piece of organic jaggery or gud can be consumed as a mid evening snack.
- Eat Your Oils: Make sure you have at least 2 tsp homemade ghee and 3-4 tsp of oil like mustard oil, groundnut, or rice bran oil daily.
- Boost Your Immunity: Add 5-6 leaves of tulsi to a litre of drinking water and consume it daily. This will help to maintain immunity and improve digestion.
- Exercise: If you have a habit of exercising, continue moderate intensity workout like brisk walking or swimming and include muscle strengthening workout a week before the fast.
Tips To Follow During Chhath Puja Fast
Bhave also shared comprehensive tips that you can follow to maintain your energy levels during the three day fast. She said, “To conserve your energy, avoid any form of cardio or muscle strengthening exercise during the Chhath Puja fast. Although few basic yoga asanas, like surya namaskar and breathing exercises like anulom vilom can be beneficial.”
“Also reduce the amount of house chores which are strenuous and consume energy. Let other family members who are not fasting take charge of these activities,” she added.
Also Read: Chhath Puja 2020: How To Prevent Dengue Fever During Chhath Puja?
She concluded the holygrail of fasting tips by recommending the devotees observing the three day fast to sleep for at least 7-8 hours not only during the fast but also from at least one week before the fast. Lastly, she advised that screen time should also be reduced as they are stress causing factors, and avoiding them can help you complete calmness during this period.