Beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August, Sawan month is the sacred month of the year bringing in a sense of joy among the devotees of Lord Shiva.

With festivities of Sawan already afoot this year, devotees all around the world are avidly seeking blessings of Lord Shiva by offering religious prayers and keeping Sawan Somvar Vrat, a vital ritual where devotees go without food on every Monday of the Sawan month.

According to Hindu mythology, the vrat has certain rules and regulations with prohibitions on foods and activities to ensure that your fast is completed without any obstacles.

                        (Image source from: indianletter.com)

The devotees who fast during Sawan mass are on many occasions confused about basic staples which they eat regularly are allowed or not. The most common yet unanswered doubt amongst the majority of health freaks are whether oats are allowed during Sawan vrats or not?

Oats are certainly one of the most savored breakfast options for many due to its range of potential health benefits. Besides being high in fiber and low in calories, oats are loaded with various essential vitamins and minerals that help in boosting metabolism and concurrently shedding some extra inches.

They are versatile and can be clubbed with any ingredient to form a healthy and satiating meal in itself. That’s why people mostly want to consume oats during fasting period so that they get adequate energy for the whole day without always wanting to eat more.

But then, according to Hindu mythology and the fasting rules, oats are whole grains and we are not allowed to eat grains (anaj) during our fasting phase.

According to religious beliefs, consumption of grains, meat, alcohol, salt, onion, garlic attracts negative vibes or energies. If you see this logically then, having oats or any whole grain takes a longer duration to digest which during fasting phase can cause indigestion. Besides, during the fasting period, your body goes into a detoxification mode where you need to keep your diet casual and light. Hence, it is always advised to consume light and easy to digest foods such as fruits.

What Can You Eat Instead of Oats?

A good deal of people are highly dependent on rotis or rice to feel complete during any meal and for those people, there are a few foods like buckwheat or kuttu, water caltrop or singhada and tapioca pearls or sabudana which doesn’t contain any complex carbs and can be easily digested. The foods made out of these flours or grains are allowed during fasts and therefore, can be a substitution for your usual oats. These easy to digest foods are light on the tummy, keeps you satiated and also provides energy without adding more calories. Thus, this time if you are keeping a fast go for these tasty replacements of your regular staples.

By Sowmya Sangam