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During Paryushan, many Jain families keep dry fruits such as badam, kaju, kishmish and pista for the days of fasting and simple meals, while practices on anjeer, dates and raw seeds differ from family to family. Whatever you keep, check every pack for insects and staleness before it comes into the kitchen, because Paryushan falls in the damp monsoon months when both are most likely.
We are a dry fruit counter, not a religious authority. What follows describes common practice as families describe it. For your own household, follow your elders and your guru’s guidance.
Paryushan in Surat
Surat has a large Jain community, and Paryushan is one of the most important times of its year. It falls in the monsoon, usually in August or September. Svetambara Jains observe it over eight days, and Digambara Jains observe Das Lakshan Parva over ten.
These are days of fasting, prayer and careful eating. Some people fast completely, some eat once or twice a day, and many families simplify their meals and stop cooking after sunset. Dry fruits come in because they need no chopping of fresh produce, keep well, and are easy to eat on the days food is allowed.
Dry fruits Jain families commonly eat
The usual list, though every household has its own rules:
- Badam: whole Regular Badam is easy to inspect, because it is a single solid kernel. Families who prefer roasted items sometimes pick Roasted Almonds; check them against your own rules.
- Kaju: whole Regular Cashew rather than broken pieces is easier to check one by one.
- Kishmish: Kishmish is widely used, though some families check each one closely or avoid it in the monsoon.
- Pista: shelled Pista Kernels or roasted pista in the shell.
Where practice varies
Jain dietary practice is built on avoiding harm to living beings, and families apply it in different ways. Some of the differences you will see:
| Item | What some families do |
|---|---|
| Anjeer (fig) | Many Jains do not eat figs at all, as a fruit with many seeds that can hold tiny insects. |
| Dates and munakka | Some split each one open to check inside, and some avoid them during Paryushan. |
| Raw seeds | Some prefer roasted seeds, because a raw seed that could sprout is treated as living. |
| Dried fruits in general | Some families limit the list during the monsoon, when insects are more common. |
| Anything eaten after sunset | Many avoid all food and water between sunset and sunrise. |
If you are buying for elders or for someone observing a fast, ask what they keep. Two neighbouring Jain families in the same building can follow different lists, and both are right for their own home.
How to check dry fruits for freshness and insects
This matters for everyone, and most of all in Surat’s humid monsoon. Before Paryushan, set aside time to check the whole stock.
- Spread it on a clean plate in daylight. Never check straight from the bag.
- Look for fine powder, webbing or small holes. Powder at the bottom of a bag of whole nuts, silky threads, or pin-sized holes in a kernel are signs of insects.
- Split a few. Break a handful of badam and kaju in half. The inside should be clean and even in colour.
- Check kishmish and dates one by one. Look for dark spots, a sour smell, or sugar crystals that feel wet.
- Smell the pack. Fresh nuts smell of very little. A sharp, bitter or paint-like smell means the oil has gone rancid.
- Bite one. A good kaju or badam snaps. One that bends has picked up moisture.
Anything doubtful should go out. It is not worth the worry during Paryushan.
Storing dry fruits through the monsoon
- Buy smaller packs, closer to when you need them, rather than a year’s stock at once.
- Keep them in clean, dry steel or glass jars with tight lids.
- Move nuts to the fridge once opened during the humid months, in a sealed container.
- Never mix an old batch into a new one.
- Clean and dry the jar fully before each refill.
Our nuts shelf is weighed to order, so you can buy 250 g at a time. We make no claim about any product being certified for any religious practice. Please check each item against your own family’s rules. For today’s rates, see dry fruit prices in Surat. Parcels reach Surat in about 2 to 4 days, so order a week before Paryushan begins. Delivery is free on orders over ₹1,000. If you are choosing kishmish, our guide to kishmish, munakka and dakh explains the names.
Questions people ask
Can Jains eat dry fruits during Paryushan?
Many do, especially badam, kaju, pista and kishmish on the days food is taken. Practices vary, so follow your family’s rules and your guru’s guidance.
Why do many Jains avoid anjeer?
Figs have many seeds and can hold tiny insects inside, so many Jains leave them out entirely as a matter of non-violence.
How can I tell if nuts have insects?
Look for fine powder, silky webbing or tiny holes, and split a few kernels open. A clean, even inside and no odd smell is what you want.
Should I keep dry fruits in the fridge during the monsoon?
Once opened, yes, in a sealed container. It slows both staleness and insects in humid weather.
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Written at our counter, where these questions get asked every week.
