Janmashtami 2024: 7 Food Items To Eat While Fasting

This year, Krishna Janmashtami, celebrated tomorrow on August 26, 2024, marks the joyous occasion of Lord Krishna’s birth, bringing together devotees and Krishna lovers from around the globe. Janmashtami 2024 is filled with vibrant festivities, including dance, music, and dramatic reenactments of Krishna’s life.

Many participants observe fasting, which can range from complete abstinence from food to consuming only fruits and milk, to purify the body and soul in devotion. 

In preparation for the celebrations, gathering fresh ingredients for traditional dishes like milk-related dishes like sweets and savory snacks like sabudana cutlets is essential. 

To make this easier, many are turning to services that deliver groceries, ensuring they have everything necessary to honor this auspicious day with offerings and feasting. That’s why we’re ready to serve you with a list of 7 food items to eat while fasting and where to find these ingredients.

7 Food Items to Eat During the Janmashtami Fast

1. Fruits

Fruits are a staple for Janmashtami 2024 fasting, offering hydration and essential vitamins. Opt for bananas, apples, pomegranates, or melons. You can have them whole, as a fruit salad, or blended into smoothies with milk. 

Fruits provide natural sugars for energy and are light on the stomach, helping you feel refreshed throughout the day.

2. Milk and Curd

Milk and curd are commonly consumed during fasting, providing protein and calcium. Drink a glass of cold milk to stay hydrated or enjoy curd as a cooling agent. 

You can also make lassi or buttermilk to keep digestion smooth and prevent any acidity, which is common during fasts.

Milkbasket, a daily milk delivery app is offering FREE milk worth 7 days for all users! Simply subscribe to MILK for 15 days or more. To know more, read our blog on Celebrate Tradition with Milkbasket: 7 Days of Free Milk

3. Vegetables

Not all vegetables are allowed, but non-grain veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and bottle gourd are great choices.

You can boil or sauté them with minimal spices like rock salt and black pepper. 

They are filling, packed with nutrients, and easy to digest, making them ideal for long fasting hours.

4. Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls)

Sabudana is one of the most popular fasting foods due to its high carbohydrate content. It provides sustained energy. You can make a sabudana khichdi by mixing it with potatoes, peanuts, and minimal spices. 

Alternatively, sabudana kheer, prepared with milk and sugar, can be a sweet treat during the fast.

5. Kuttu Atta

Kuttu atta is rich in fiber and is gluten-free, making it a healthy alternative for fasting meals. You can use it to make puris or pancakes (cheelas). 

It keeps you full and aids digestion, perfect for a day of fasting. Pair it with aloo sabzi or curd for a balanced meal.

6. Singhara Atta

Singhara atta is another gluten-free option, ideal for making rotis or halwa. It is a great source of antioxidants, which help detoxify the body during fasting. 

It’s also low in calories and high in fiber, keeping you feeling full without overeating. Combine it with boiled potatoes or a light yogurt dish.

7. Nuts & Seeds

Almonds, cashews, and pumpkin seeds are excellent for snacking during the fast. They are rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber. You can have them raw, roasted, or blended into smoothies. 

They provide sustained energy, keep you satisfied, and are great for brain function during a low-energy fasting period.

What are Janmashtami’s fasting rules?

The fasting rules for Janmashtami 2024 can vary widely among different regions and communities, but they generally fall into two categories: strict fasting and partial fasting.

1. Strict Fasting (Nisha or Upvas)

• In this practice, devotees refrain from consuming any food or water throughout the day and night leading up to the midnight hour when Krishna is believed to have been born.
• This type of fasting is seen as a way to fully dedicate oneself to spiritual practices and prayers, and it is often followed by a midnight feast after the rituals.

2. Partial Fasting

• Some devotees opt for partial fasting, where they may consume limited foods such as fruits, milk, and nuts while abstaining from grains and certain vegetables.
• This approach allows individuals to maintain their energy levels while still observing the sanctity of the occasion.

Do and Don’ts of Fasting

While the core elements of fasting on Janmashtami 2024 are well understood, several additional fasting rules are often observed:

1. Avoidance of Specific Foods

While the avoidance of grains, pulses, and certain root vegetables is common, the restrictions can vary depending on regional traditions and personal preferences. 

For example, many devotees abstain from rice, wheat, and lentils, opting instead for alternatives like buckwheat flour (kuttu) or water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta). 

Additionally, ingredients like garlic and onions are avoided as they are considered tamasic, or dulling, to the mind and spirit. In some households, even spices are restricted, with only minimal seasoning used to maintain the sattvic (pure) nature of the meal. 

A common question that arises is: Can we eat dahi in Janmashtami fast? 

The answer is yes, as dairy products like milk, yogurt, and certain vegetables such as pumpkin or cucumber are considered appropriate for the fast, aligning with the sattvic principles many devotees follow.

2. Duration of Fasting

The fasting period on Janmashtami is a dedicated time to purify both the body and soul in honor of Lord Krishna. It begins with an early morning ritual, often after a purifying bath, and continues throughout the day. 

Devotees refrain from eating for the entire day, though some may allow themselves water or fruit to maintain energy, especially if they have medical conditions or are elderly. 

The fast typically culminates at midnight, marking the moment of Lord Krishna’s birth, with fervent prayers and rituals. 

Some devotees even extend their fasting rituals beyond Janmashtami, engaging in additional fasting days known as Ekadashi for heightened spiritual benefit.

3. Spiritual Focus

During the Janmashtami fast, the day is spent immersing oneself in spiritual activities rather than mundane tasks.

Apart from reciting the Bhagavad Gita, devotees might also engage in chanting the Maha Mantra (“Hare Krishna, Hare Rama”), attending temple services, and performing “aarti” (a ritual of worship with fire). 

Many also observe the practice of silence (Mauna) for parts of the day, creating a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere conducive to connecting with the divine. 

Fasting is seen not merely as abstaining from food but as an opportunity to cleanse the mind from negative thoughts and emotions, thereby fostering a deeper sense of devotion and connection to Lord Krishna.

4. Breaking the Fast

Breaking the fast is a significant ritual that is done with great reverence and care. After the midnight puja (prayer), devotees often wonder, “How to break Janmashtami vrat properly?”

It begins with simple sattvic (pure and clean) food offerings to Krishna, ensuring that the first bite is taken as “prasadam” (blessed food) after offering it to the deity. 

Popular foods include fresh fruits, nuts, milk-based sweets like peda, kheer, or shrikhand, and fasting-friendly dishes like sabudana khichdi, rajgira laddoo, or singhare ki puri. 

The food prepared for breaking the fast must be cooked with devotion and purity, free from onions, garlic, and other non-sattvic ingredients. Devotees often make a point to break their fast with their family and community, emphasizing the joy and blessings of shared devotion.

Celebrate Janmashtami 2024 with Milkbasket’s Hassle-Free Fasting Essentials

Celebrate Janmashtami 2024 with a peaceful and fulfilling fast by choosing the right foods to honor the occasion. Whether it’s fresh fruits, dairy products, or essential fasting ingredients, Milkbasket has everything you need for your Janmashtami fast. 

With over 9000+ vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and groceries, you can easily buy groceries online at the cheapest prices. We deliver silently by 7 AM every day, ensuring your fasting needs are met with convenience and ease.

So, don’t forget to check out our Janmashtami collection and add your Janmashtami 2024 fasting essential to the cart and we’ll ensure to deliver it right to your doorstep with joy and care! Celebrate with us as you prepare for this vibrant festival, filled with love, devotion, and delicious treats!