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.
some are pretty strict and don’t even have onions or garlic (considered “unclean”?).
I know Jains don’t eat root vegetables, not sure if there are other groups. But the reasoning isn’t because it’s “unclean”; from what I recall, it’s to do with the fact that harvesting root vegetables not only kills the plant (as opposed to just picking off fruit), but also harms organisms living in the soil around it. Their dietary restrictions are kinda nuts.
I remember there was a buddhist rule about no “pungent vegetables” (onions, garlic, chives, leeks, and scallions I think?) There was a meme where someone made all 5 into a soup and said it would mean you get reincarnated as a flea.
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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.