Upcoming Sharad Ritu & Veggies!

Now we are moving from the rainy season to the next season in India, known as Sharad Ritu or October Heat.

In India, this season is experienced with different intensities, and shades. In the Northern part of India this season is experienced starkly for 45-60 days. Whereas in Southern India this season is experienced mildly for only 15-20days. It is marked by reduced rains, and the strong and hot sun, with humidity sometimes.

As each season has a certain definite impact on the body, hence balance in the body is made with a modified diet and lifestyle. The Sharad ritu increases and overflows(prakop) the Pitta in the body. Pitta is one among the three Doshas that govern the systemic and cellular balance of our body. In short, the function of Pitta is to govern digestion, transformation of all processes in the body and balance heat.

To balance and maintain health, the three flavours that are recommended to have are bitter, astringent & naturally sweet flavouring seasonal local organic fruits vegetables and special preparations. So here is a list of veggies that may guide our choice- lauki (bottle gourd), chachinda (snake gourd), turai (ridge gourd), kundru, dosaakaya, tindaa, & parwal. There are some veggies that are available in the market but are not seasonal, such as spinach, tomato, capsicum.

Including desi (indian breed) cow milk & its preparations in this season are useful for balancing Pitta. One can include millets such as Raagi, Jao (barley), Kodo, and Bhagar. Soybeans, curd & cheese are good to avoid, as they tend to aggravate Pitta. Some of us may feel that our choices are highly curtailed, what will one eat? But the question is what is the basis of our choices? One needs to reflect on how health principles can be aligned with the principles of Nature.

This season has several festivities which have several kinds of fastings, with specific diets. The purpose of these fastings have been to balance the Pitta Prakop in a healthy person. India has had a culture of celebrating health with spiritual upliftment ingrained in each of its festivities. Where in it is understood that taking of care one’s health is a dynamic process, with each season, and each lifetime stages. Of course if an individual has some disorder/sickness then detox modalities known as Panchkarma are to be done in this season. One can also go for Laghu Shankhprakshalan & Brihat Shankhprakshalan, which Yoga instructors can help one undergo as well.

We can choose to create ‘being healthy’ as a dynamic joyful process in our families, that builds a healthy perspective for the next generation too. So here was a little on Sharad Ritu that one can implement!