During Janmashtami vrat (fast), devotees follow specific dietary rules and consume foods that are sattvic (pure) and allowed during fasting. Here is what to eat and avoid:

Foods to Eat During Janmashtami Vrat

• Flours: Use non-grain flours such as buckwheat flour (kuttu ka atta), amaranth flour (rajgira ka atta), and water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta) to prepare breads like kuttu ka dosa, rajgira paratha, or singhare ki poori

• Fruits: Fresh fruits like bananas, apples, pomegranates, and melons are commonly consumed for hydration and natural energy

• Dairy: Milk, curd, paneer, butter, and milk-based sweets like peda, gheeya ki lauj, and shrikhand are integral to the fast and provide essential nutrients

• Vegetables: Root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin (kaddu ki sabzi), and bottle gourd are allowed and used in vrat dishes without onion or garlic

• Sabudana (Sago): Sabudana khichdi is a popular fasting dish made from tapioca pearls, potatoes, peanuts, and mild spices

• Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, makhanas (fox nuts), and other nuts provide energy and are preferred over fried snacks

• Salt: Use rock salt (sendha namak) instead of regular table salt

• Beverages: Coconut water, fresh fruit juices, and buttermilk are preferred over tea and coffee

Foods to Avoid During Janmashtami Vrat

• Grains such as wheat, rice, barley, and maize

• Pulses and legumes like lentils, peas, and beans

• Onions and garlic, as they are considered tamasic (impure)

• Non-vegetarian foods including meat and eggs

• Regular table salt; only rock salt is allowed

• Fried and oily foods like pakoras and fries

• Tea, coffee, and alcohol

Common Janmashtami Fasting Dishes

• Sabudana Khichdi: Tapioca pearls cooked with potatoes and peanuts.
• Rajgira Paratha: Flatbread made from amaranth flour.
• Kuttu ka Dosa: Buckwheat flour dosa with buttermilk.
• Vrat ke Aloo: Potato curry without onion or garlic.
• Kaddu ki Sabzi: Pumpkin curry cooked with mild spices.
• Gopalkala: A mix of milk, curd, butter, puffed rice, fruits, and spices.
• Sweets: Milk-based sweets like peda, panjeeri, and gajak

Devotees usually begin the fast with a pledge (sankalp), maintain a positive and peaceful atmosphere, and break the fast after midnight or sunset with prasad offered to Lord Krishna

. This diet ensures purity, energy, and devotion during the Janmashtami fast while respecting traditional fasting rules