food and the body
Why is eating meat avoided on specific days like Tuesday or Thursday in some Hindu households?
What the tradition connects to these days
Each day of the week is linked to a different deity in Hindu tradition. Tuesday is linked to Mangal, the god of Mars, and Thursday to Brihaspati, the god of Jupiter. Some families avoid meat on these days as part of their worship or vrat, a practice of fasting or eating simply on days sacred to a chosen god. The idea is that eating meat on that day is seen as less fitting during a time set aside for that deity. The practice is not a rule for all Hindus, but a choice made by families who want to honor a particular god or follow a custom passed down in their household or region.
Where it comes from
This custom is rooted in the idea of ritual purity and auspicious days. Different regions have their own versions. In parts of Maharashtra, Bengal, and South India, meat avoidance on certain weekdays is more common in some communities than others. The practice ties meat-eating to the body and the everyday, and sees certain days as set apart for the spirit and for honoring the gods. Over time, these customs became woven into family life and passed down as habit.
How it works in practice
Today, the custom varies widely. Some families keep it strictly, others loosely, and many do not follow it at all. In cities and among the diaspora, people often choose whether to keep the practice based on their own belief, their family's tradition, or how much time they have. A family might avoid meat on Thursday out of devotion to Brihaspati, or on Tuesday for Mangal, or on multiple days depending on which gods they worship. The same household might eat meat freely on other days. It is a personal or family choice, not a rule that applies to all Hindus.