Why do people avoid leafy greens, curd, non-veg and haircuts in Sāvan and Cāturmāsa?

a classical Cāturmāsa rule gives up greens in Śrāvaṇa, curd in Bhādrapada, milk in Āśvina and split pulses in Kārtika; the monsoon’s effect on digestion is the practical reason.

The digests describe a month-wise restraint for Cāturmāsa: śāka (leafy vegetables) in Śrāvaṇa, dadhi (curd) in Bhādrapada, dugdha (milk) in Āśvina and dvidala (split pulses) in Kārtika. Few households follow all four, but the Śrāvaṇa rule on greens is widely kept. In the rains, leaves carry insects and mud, and digestion is weaker, so Āyurveda also advises lighter, cooked food.

Many families give up meat, fish, eggs and alcohol for all of Sāvan, partly because it is a sacred month and partly because the monsoon is the breeding season for fish and animals. Some men also avoid shaving or cutting hair, especially on Mondays or for the whole month, as a mark of the vow.

None of these are tests of faith. Take on what is meaningful for you, and keep health first.

Śāka · Dadhi · Dugdha · Dvidala (month by month) · Source: Nirṇayasindhu (Cāturmāsya-vrata)

Dharma Q&A — vratas, festivals & temples · Ask a Jyotishi your own question