Tag: Vaishnava diet

According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, 44% of Hindus in India are vegetarians, a practice often intertwined with broader spiritual beliefs and rituals. A specific dietary tradition observed by many devout Hindus is the avoidance of pungent ingredients like onions, a practice rooted in ancient texts, Ayurvedic principles, and spiritual philosophy.

While red lentils, or masoor dal, are a common source of plant-based protein, specific Hindu traditions lead some communities to avoid them. This dietary practice stems from a mix of ancient mythological legends, spiritual classifications of food, and regional cultural beliefs that categorize the legume as 'tamasic' or impure.