Why don't Indians eat eggs? Exploring complex cultural and religious reasons

December 18, 2025 •

5 min read

While India is one of the world's largest egg producers, a significant portion of its diverse population adheres to vegetarian diets that exclude eggs. This nuanced reality leads many to question, "Why don't Indians eat eggs?"

Quick Summary

This article examines the complex reasons behind varying egg consumption in India, delving into religious interpretations, cultural norms, regional diversity, and changing modern dietary trends.

Key Points

Religious Beliefs: Adherence to the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) and the spiritual classification of foods (tamasic) are primary reasons for avoiding eggs among many Hindus and Jains.
Cultural Definition: Unlike in many Western countries, eggs are culturally categorized as 'non-vegetarian' within a major segment of Indian society, influencing social perceptions and dietary rules.
Regional Diversity: Egg consumption varies significantly across India, being more common in Southern and Eastern states and less so in traditionally vegetarian regions like Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Eggetarianism: A growing number of Indians, especially in urban areas, are 'eggetarians'—vegetarians who eat eggs for their nutritional benefits, reflecting modern dietary shifts.
Historical Context: Historical concerns over potentially fertilized eggs and a general aversion to animal products among higher castes historically solidified the anti-egg stance for many families.
Socioeconomic Influence: While income levels affect dietary diversity, cultural practices often remain the strongest determinants of whether eggs are included in a family's diet.

Understanding the Nuance: Is It True That All Indians Avoid Eggs?

Despite the common generalization, it is not true that all Indians avoid eggs. India is a vast and diverse country with a wide array of dietary habits shaped by region, religion, and social custom. A significant population, including many Hindu communities, is strictly lacto-vegetarian, meaning they consume dairy but no eggs or meat. However, a substantial and growing number of Indians, particularly in urban areas and in certain regions, do eat eggs. Therefore, the question is less about a universal practice and more about understanding the specific cultural and religious traditions that lead many to abstain.

The Role of Religion: Ahimsa and the Three Gunas

For many religious communities in India, particularly among Hindus and Jains, diet is viewed as having a profound impact on one's spiritual well-being. This perspective is a core reason why many don't eat eggs.

The Principle of Ahimsa (Non-Violence)

A central tenet in many Indian-born religions, ahimsa emphasizes non-violence towards all living beings. While unfertilized eggs are technically not a living organism, the historical context was different. Before modern, large-scale poultry farming, distinguishing between fertilized and unfertilized eggs was difficult. As a result, the egg became associated with a potential life, leading to its general avoidance to uphold the principle of ahimsa.

The Three Gunas: Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic Foods

In Hindu philosophy and Ayurveda, foods are classified based on their effect on the body and mind.

Sattvic: Foods that are pure, light, and promote calmness and clarity. Examples include fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk.
Rajasic: Foods that are stimulating and provoke passion and restlessness. This category includes spicy foods, onions, and garlic, and also eggs.
Tamasic: Foods that are stale, processed, or promote ignorance, lethargy, and negative emotions. This includes meat and, by some interpretations, eggs.

For those on a spiritual path aimed at inner peace and self-control, sattvic foods are preferred, and rajasic and tamasic foods like eggs are avoided to maintain mental purity.

Cultural Definitions: The 'Non-Vegetarian' Label

In India, the definition of "vegetarian" differs culturally from the West. In Western parlance, a vegetarian often eats eggs (ovo-lacto-vegetarian). However, in India, a vegetarian diet is often strictly lacto-vegetarian, meaning dairy is consumed, but eggs are not. This cultural distinction means that eggs are almost always listed in the "non-vegetarian" section of menus in India. This label reinforces the perception of eggs as a non-vegetarian food, influencing social norms and dietary choices, especially for those raised in traditional households.

A Spectrum of Practice: Regional Variations Across India

The culinary landscape of India is incredibly diverse, and egg consumption varies significantly by region. The north and west, home to traditionally stricter vegetarian communities like many in Gujarat and Rajasthan, have lower rates of egg consumption. In contrast, coastal and eastern states, such as West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, have much higher rates of egg consumption, with eggs being a common and staple source of protein. This regional difference reflects varying historical, religious, and economic influences on local food culture.

List of Factors Influencing Regional Differences

Geographic location: Coastal areas with a history of fish consumption are often more open to other animal products like eggs.
Caste and community: Certain caste groups have historically had different dietary customs.
Economic factors: In some regions, eggs became an inexpensive and accessible source of protein, especially in urban areas, shifting food habits.
Changing Lifestyles: Increased urbanization and globalization have introduced new food trends, leading some to adopt eggs for nutritional benefits.

Socioeconomic and Historical Context

Historically, the perception of eggs was also shaped by practical considerations. In earlier times, there was no guaranteed supply of infertile eggs, making consumption risky for those adhering to ahimsa. The rise of modern, large-scale poultry farming producing infertile eggs has changed this reality, but the deeply ingrained cultural and religious norms persist in many families.

Economically, for a long time, protein sources in India were predominantly plant-based, such as lentils (dal), chickpeas, and nuts. While the government has promoted eggs for their nutritional benefits, particularly for combating malnutrition, the practice remains highly dependent on a family's socioeconomic status and cultural background. For some, especially in rural areas, affordability and access may also influence dietary habits.

The Modern Shift: The Rise of Eggetarianism

Over the last few decades, particularly since the 1980s, India has seen a rise in what is called "eggetarianism". This shift was catalyzed by several factors:

Government Campaigns: The National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), with government support, launched successful ad campaigns promoting eggs as a nutritional food.
Nutritional Awareness: Growing awareness of protein deficiency has led many to reconsider eggs as a high-quality, accessible protein source.
Urbanization and Globalization: Modern urban lifestyles and increased exposure to global culinary norms have made egg consumption more socially acceptable.

Why Eggs Are Avoided: A Comparative Summary


Reason for Avoiding Eggs	Description	Who is most affected?
Religious Principle	Belief in ahimsa (non-violence) and avoiding animal-derived products as a matter of spiritual purity.	Strict lacto-vegetarians (Hindus, Jains), particularly from orthodox or conservative families.
Cultural Classification	Eggs are culturally categorized as "non-vegetarian" regardless of fertilization, a distinction from Western dietary norms.	Individuals from traditional Indian vegetarian households, especially those from higher castes like Brahmins.
Spiritual Purity	The belief that eggs are tamasic (food of ignorance) or rajasic (food of passion) and therefore hinder spiritual progress.	Practicing Hindus seeking a sattvic (pure) diet.
Family Tradition	Simply following dietary habits passed down through generations, often without a detailed understanding of the original religious reasons.	Many individuals in traditionally vegetarian families across different regions.

Conclusion: A Diverse and Evolving Culinary Landscape

The idea that Indians don't eat eggs is a simplification of a deeply complex issue. It is more accurate to say that certain segments of the Indian population do not consume eggs due to a combination of long-standing religious prohibitions, cultural definitions of vegetarianism, and regional traditions. However, modern societal changes, including increased nutritional awareness and urbanization, have led to a significant shift, with many more Indians, particularly younger generations, embracing eggs as a nutritious part of their diet. The debate over whether to include eggs in public programs like school lunches continues to reflect this ongoing tension between tradition and modernity. The dietary landscape of India is not static but rather a dynamic tapestry of personal, cultural, and spiritual choices.

For more insight into Indian food practices, one can explore the wealth of information available, including studies on diet and health like those found on the National Institutes of Health website.

Frequently Asked Questions

In India, the classification of eggs as non-vegetarian is rooted in cultural and religious interpretations. While infertile, an egg is still seen as a product of an animal, which violates the strict lacto-vegetarian principles of many communities. Historically, before mass-produced infertile eggs, the uncertainty of an egg being fertilized also played a role.

No, not all Hindus avoid eggs. The practice varies widely based on regional, community, and family traditions. While many upper-caste Hindus, especially Brahmins, traditionally abstain, many other Hindu communities and individuals eat eggs.

An 'eggetarian' is a term used in India to describe a person who follows a vegetarian diet but includes eggs. This dietary choice is often seen as a compromise for health reasons, particularly for protein, and is increasingly common in modern, urban lifestyles.

Low egg consumption in certain regions, like parts of Northern and Western India, is primarily due to deeply ingrained cultural and religious norms that have traditionally favored strict vegetarianism. Socioeconomic factors and dietary traditions also play a role.

While no single Hindu text explicitly bans eggs for all, many interpretations of Hindu philosophy, such as the principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and avoiding tamasic foods, have led many followers to adopt an egg-free diet.

The main difference is the inclusion of eggs. Most Western vegetarians (ovo-lacto-vegetarians) eat eggs, while a significant portion of Indian vegetarians (lacto-vegetarians) do not. This is a key cultural and religious distinction in dietary classifications.

The serving of eggs in Indian schools through mid-day meal programs is a point of debate and varies by state. Some states include eggs as a cheap and effective source of protein to combat malnutrition, while others face political and cultural resistance from strictly vegetarian communities.