food and the body
Why do some Hindus avoid onion and garlic?
What the tradition says
In Hindu thought about food, onion and garlic are classed as rajasic or tamasic. Rajasic means stimulating, heating, and agitating to the mind and emotions. Tamasic means dull, heavy, or clouding. The belief is that these foods stir up passion, anger, and restlessness, which works against the calm and clarity sought in spiritual practice. So some people avoid them during times of deep practice, prayer, or fasting. Others avoid them all the time as part of their spiritual path. The practice varies widely. Some households avoid them on certain days, like days of worship or in the month of Shravan. Some avoid them only during meditation or ritual. Others do not follow the practice at all.
Where this belief comes from
The idea that foods carry qualities that affect the mind and body is old in Hindu and Ayurvedic thought. Over time, onion and garlic came to be grouped with foods thought to heat and agitate. The belief is tied to the idea that what we eat shapes not just the body but the mind and spirit. It is part of a larger system of sorting all foods by their effects.
In everyday life
Practice differs widely by region, sect, and household. Some families avoid them strictly. Others use them freely. Many avoid them at certain times—during fasting, on holy days, or when visiting a temple. Some Hindus abroad keep the practice as a link to home or spiritual habit, while others do not. Whether someone follows this custom depends on their own path and family tradition.