Festivities are in the air as there are celebrations galore all over. But this Diwali, we performed Lakshmi Puja (conducted online by the Vedic Pandits from the Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore), lit diyas, and partook of home-cooked food for both lunch and dinner.
Normally, I like to binge, eat outside, and succumb to the cravings for a variety of sweets. But it was a big “no” on this occasion — more about this later. Should one visit an Ayurvedic doctor or attend a wellness programme, say the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living, terms such as Satvik, Rajasik, and Tamasik food are often mentioned. Ayurvedic medicine is based on the concept that the world is made up of five elements — aakash (space), jala (water), prithvi (earth), teja (fire), and vayu (air). A combination of each element results in three humours, or doshas, known as vata, kapha, and pitta. These doshas are believed to be responsible for a person’s physiological, mental, and emotional health. According to Ayurveda, for optimal health, a vata-dominant person should follow a regular routine, manage stress through meditation and other calming activities, and maintain a warm body temperature by avoiding cold weather and consuming warm foods and drinks.
Those with a pitta-dominant dosha should focus on work–life balance and avoid extreme heat — whether in weather or food. Recently, while attending the Navratri Pujas at the Art of Living Centre, Bangalore, my wife and I consulted an Ayurvedic doctor and underwent Nadi Pariksha. My wife was identified as a Vata personality, while I was diagnosed as a Pitta personality, and we were prescribed the necessary medication. It may sound mind-boggling at first, but the findings were remarkably accurate. Simply put, my wife has long suffered from a nagging migraine and was also diagnosed with thyroid problems by the Ayurvedic doctor. Since childhood, I have struggled with stomach ailments. Earlier, it was malabsorption, and later, my gut was severely affected due to excessive drinking — a habit I overcame through various Art of Living programmes. The Ayurvedic doctor quickly identified evacuation and bloating issues as my primary concerns.
Now, how come the Diwali celebrations were so low-key? A sudden stomach bug afflicted me, and soon I suffered a severe bout of gastroenteritis and dehydration, which required hospitalisation. After tests, I was put on antibiotics and IV fluids. It took almost a week to recover, during which I was on a diet of khichdi, buttermilk, chaas, coconut water, and bananas — feeling utterly enfeebled.
As I began regaining strength — like a cricket team trying to avoid a follow-on — my wife too suffered a similar attack and had to follow the same treatment. During our recovery, we chose simple, home-cooked food. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is known for frugal eating and yogic discipline, partaking of one variety of food during Navratri and fasting to detoxify the system. Wellness advocates like Akshay Kumar and Nagarjuna promote early dinners and fasting for better metabolism. Even Zen practitioners emphasise mindful eating through zazen. Gut health is the cornerstone of well-being.
Ravi Valluri is Advisor, Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited and is a faculty of the Art of Living