Is It Safe To Practice Navratri Fasting During Menstrual Periods?

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Festivals and special occasions are something that most of us look forward to, as they give us a chance to take a break from the routine and involve in certain traditional activities with friends and family.

Various countries celebrate different festivals, based on different religions and geographical locations.

India is known as the land of festivals, because it probably celebrates more festivals than any other country!

India, popularly known as a 'subcontinent' and a 'cultural melting pot', houses a whole array of different religions, castes and sub-castes and each one of them have certain specific festivals that they celebrate, along with a few common ones.

Now, Navratri is one of the major festivals celebrated in India, by the Hindus, which signifies the victory of good over evil in the world.

The festival of Navratri is celebrated differently in various parts of India and even has different names.

For example, it is popular as Durgastami and Navratri in the north, while in south India, it is known as Dushera or Dussara.

This festival is celebrated for 10 days with grandeur throughout the nation.

During the festival of Navratri a number of traditions and rituals are conducted, along with the worship of Goddess Durga and Lord Rama.

Now, one of the important traditions followed during Navratri, is the ritual of fasting, which is observed commonly by women.

The fasting ritual starts from the first day of the Navratri festival and is usually broken on the ninth day.

Fasting during Navratri is an auspicious act which signifies the cleansing of the body, mind and soul. By giving up on the regular, lavish foods for 8 to 9 days, a person gets to test his/her own self-control.

Also, fasting during this festival is a mark of respect to the deities, where the person fasting is performing the rituals with a cleansed body and mind.

Normally, people who fast during this festival only consume fruit, milk and water.

Now, many a times, women may get their menstrual period during the festival of Navratri, so they could be wondering if fasting during these days is healthy or not.

Let us find out today, if it is safe for women going through their periods to fast during Navratri.

What Happens When You Fast During Menstruation?

As we all may know by now, menstruation is a natural process which every woman has to go through, starting with the onset of her puberty and ending with her menopause.

Once a woman attains puberty, each month, the lining of her uterine walls rupture and follow out in the form of blood through her vagina; this process is known as the periods.

A period usually lasts anywhere between 4 to 7 days and varies from woman to woman.

During the periods, a lot of hormonal changes occur in a woman's body, so she may experience symptoms such as, painful pelvic cramps, fatigue, body pain, mood swings, hunger, constipation, etc.

Now, what if a woman gets her period during a festival like Navratri in which she requires to fast? Is it safe?

Well, experts opine that fasting during periods can work negatively, for some women.

During the periods, many women would already have a low blood pressure, so going for a long time, with just fruit and water, could cause dizziness and may worsen the fatigue.

Furthermore, fasting during menstrual periods can also cause more irritability, especially if a woman is already prone to mood swings.

So, it is best to take a break from the fasting rituals, if you are on your periods or seek the advice of your doctor before fasting during menstruation.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.