Is Coffee Allowed During Shivratri Fast?
In India, we often come across the term Shivratri and we are familiar with the meaning – ‘the festival of Lord Shiva’. On this auspicious day, millions of Indians observe a strict fast. The rituals of this fast involves certain abstinence and restrictions, like not eating certain foods and beverages. So, the question that looms large amidst all this is – can we drink coffee during Shivratri fast?
The answer is both yes and no. It actually depends upon the individual and the amount of faith one has, as to whether he or she can partake of coffee, even though it has caffeine in it. It may be noted that in some families, the parents considered the intake of any form of caffeine as a violation of the fast. Generally, Hindus abstain from food and water for the entire duration of the day.
According to one of the regional beliefs, as per which believers are mandated to observe fast, it has been understood that followers of this faith need to exercise a lot of self-control on Shivratri day. Principally, they have to restrict themselves from taking in all animal products, caffeine-based beverages and, most importantly, alcohol.
Can Coffee Substitutes be Consumed in a Shivratri Fast?
In India, or any such region, where there is a substantial number of believers, it is generally accepted that individuals take up alternate measures to substitute for their everyday cup of coffee on Shivratri day. They resort to herbal beverages like tulsi tea or other teas and other beverages that do not contain any caffeine. At the same time, one should bear in mind that some of these herbal teas can be strong and will affect the functioning of the body in one way or another.
Should You Take Your Regular Coffee or Not?
So, based on this, it is presumed that drinking coffee on Shivratri has to be a personal choice. There is no hard and fast rule that one should not take coffee on this day. A cup of coffee won’t violate the fast, although the nature of the fast can end up being different than the usual annual ritual. However, believers should take care to take only moderate amounts of coffee and to compensate for that by eating extra fruits and other healthy foods and less oily and fried items.
Will Observing the Fast be Effective Then?
Markedly, Shivratri is a religious fast wherein spiritual seekers tend to refrain from excessive indulgence and stay away from worldly pleasures. Since coffee is not a part of the routine fasting, it is believed that the results of the fasting ritual may not be as effective if coffee (or any other caffeine-based drink) is taken in.
Conclusion
All in all, there is no explicit provision of allowing or not allowing coffee for Shivratri fast. Evidently, it is based upon the beliefs of the person and if someone is determined to keep a complete fast, he or she should opt for herbal teas instead of caffeinated drinks like coffee. Moreover, it must be noted that these herbal teas can also have certain side effects on the health and hence, consumption should be done in limited amounts.
