Somvati Amavasya Foods | What to eat, What to Avoid

Traditional South Indian festive meal platter

Somvati Amavasya Foods | What to eat, What to Avoid.. Nirjala Vrat, Phalahari Vrat on Somvati Amavasya.. If you choose to observe a partial fast (often called a Phalahari vrat) for Somvati Amavasya, the diet shifts entirely away from regular grains and legumes to specific pure, easily digestible foods.

Here is the standard list of what is traditionally allowed and what must be strictly avoided.

Allowed Foods (Phalahari Diet)

1. Fruits and Nuts

• All fresh fruits: Mangoes, bananas, apples, melons, grapes, and pomegranates are excellent for maintaining energy levels.

• Dry fruits and nuts: Almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, and peanuts.

• Makhana (Fox nuts): A staple fasting food, often roasted in ghee or made into a sweet kheer (pudding).

2. Dairy Products

• Milk, buttermilk, and fresh yogurt (curd).

• Homemade paneer (cottage cheese).

• Ghee (clarified butter) is used as the primary cooking fat instead of seed oils.

3. Vrat-Approved Flours and “Grains”

Regular wheat and rice are strictly forbidden. Instead, you can use:

• Sabudana (Sago/Tapioca pearls): Popularly used to make Sabudana Khichdi or Vadas.

• Kuttu ka Atta (Buckwheat flour): Used for making puris or parathas.

• Singhare ka Atta (Water Chestnut flour): Often used for pancakes or thickening sweets.

• Rajgira (Amaranth flour) and Samak ke Chawal (Barnyard millet): Used as a rice substitute.

4. Vegetables

The vegetable list is restricted to root and tuber vegetables that grow underground or on vines:

• Potatoes and sweet potatoes (the most common staples).

• Colocasia (Arbi) and Yam (Suran).

• Pumpkin and bottle gourd (Lauki).

5. Spices and Seasonings

Regular table salt is chemically processed and prohibited.

• Sendha Namak (Rock Salt): This is the only salt permitted during Hindu fasting.

• Spices: Cumin (jeera), black pepper, green chilies, and fresh ginger.

• Note: Turmeric, red chili powder, and mustard seeds are generally avoided by most households during a vrat.

Strictly Forbidden Foods (Tamasic & Standard Grains)

To maintain the purity (sattva) of the fast, the following must be entirely avoided until the fast is broken:

• All regular grains and legumes: Wheat, rice, oats, dal (lentils), chickpeas, and besan (gram flour).

• Tamasic foods: Onion and garlic are absolutely forbidden.

• Processed items: Refined sugar (jaggery or raw sugar is preferred instead), regular table salt, and any packaged food containing artificial preservatives.