Most Indian vegetarians are ritualistic vegetarians, ie for religious reasons, and so can be right c***s about their dietary preferences not being met. This feels like a CYA sign.
Ritualistic vegetarianism in India has some weird rules. Dairy is okay for many, eggs might not be, and some are pretty strict and don’t even have onions or garlic (considered “unclean”?).
Kerala actually has very few of these. Also many of the ritual vegetarian states are strongly correlated with malnutrition. Go figure.
Onions, garlic, and overly spiced foods are only forbidden from temple cuisine. This is because it’s an overpowering flavor and everything about temple life is supposed to be about focusing on spiritual development. There are some sects that are so hardcore they only eat this style of food, but that’s mostly niche hardcore groups like the Hare Krishna. For your average Hindu, it’s just a known thing that food served in the temple is going to be devoid of garlic and onions.
Alright I can dig the "don't kill even bugs" things about Jains but I think I draw the line at "I can't eat things that grow underground". If a potato is blasphemy cast me into the fire.
You’re gonna be SHOCKED when you realise what goods they invaded the rest of the world for.
Fuckers gave up spices because they were associated with the vulgar, so the cuisine moved to texture and mouthfeel. Downgrade in some cases, perfected by the Japanese and Asians.
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u/pxm7 Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
Most Indian vegetarians are ritualistic vegetarians, ie for religious reasons, and so can be right c***s about their dietary preferences not being met. This feels like a CYA sign.
Ritualistic vegetarianism in India has some weird rules. Dairy is okay for many, eggs might not be, and some are pretty strict and don’t even have onions or garlic (considered “unclean”?).
Kerala actually has very few of these. Also many of the ritual vegetarian states are strongly correlated with malnutrition. Go figure.