Ritucharya: Seasonal Regimens in Ayurveda

Ritucharya is a discipline in Ayurveda which focuses on consuming seasonal produces and living a lifestyle that is in tune with each season. By keeping the body and mind in sync with nature, one can avoid seasonal illnesses. 

This blog will cover the six different kinds of Ritucharya and the kind of diet and lifestyle each regimen asks one to maintain. 

The Sanskrit word “Ritucharya” is comprised of two words. “Ritu” means season, and “Charya” means regimen. Ritucharya in ancient Ayurvedic practice is maintaining a lifestyle and diet routine to deal with the physical and mental impact one faces during seasonal changes. 

Ritucharya in Ayurveda helps us build our physical and mental strength so that we can battle the various ailments that may happen due to seasonal changes. Practising this regime enables one to balance the three doshas (Pitta, Vata and Kapha) in our body. 

Ayurveda divides a year into two “Kaalas” periods, and each Kaal is further divided into three seasons. So, according to Ayurveda, there are six seasons in a particular year. Each of these seasons last approximately two months, and they are synonymous with the weather seen in the Indian subcontinent. 

We know that the external environment, due to seasonal changes, influences our body. During the changes in the seasons, one’s body may fall to Dosha Vaishamya and become susceptible to catching diseases. As previously discussed, Ritucharya divides the year into 2 Kaalas and 3 seasons each, and these are:

Duration: 14th January- 14th July

This Kaal is characterised by intense sunlight and powerful winds, and as a result, all the strength and energy from humans gets sapped away. Moreover, the Sun also takes away the Earth’s cooling quality during this time. This Kaala is divided into the following three subcategories or seasons:

1. Shishir Ritu/Winter

In the Shishir Ritu, the Earth’s environment is cold and windy. As a result, people’s strength decreases. The cold and wet season also increases the Kapha energies in one’s body. If you want to keep the aggravating Kapha balanced, your Agni element should burn even brighter.

Duration: Mid-January to Mid-March

Diets: You should eat more sour foods like Amla during this season. According to Ritucharya, you should consume more salty, fatty, sweet and fermented food items. You should increase the consumption of food items like pulses, cereals, rice and milk. It would be best to incorporate condiments like ginger, garlic, Pippali and Haritaki in your meals.

On the contrary, you should avoid consuming food that has astringent or cooling properties. Ritucharya also recommends avoiding pungent and bitter foods during this season as it will increase the Kapha levels in your body.

Lifestyle: Massage your scalp and body with oil and shower with lukewarm water. Wear warm clothes and expose yourself more to sunlight, especially after a bath.

2. Vasant Ritu/ Spring

People often refer to spring as the season of flowers; during Vasant Ritu, new flowers and leaves bloom everywhere. An individual’s strength tends to be at moderate levels during this time. The Earth and Air elements combine to create a lively transition. Furthermore, the Kapha energies also start decreasing during this season.

Duration: Mid-March to Mid-May

Diets: You should incorporate food you can easily digest into your daily diet during this season. Eat more rice, old barley, Mugda and cereals. Pungent, bitter and astringent foods like bitter gourd and neem should also be a part of a Ritucharya-based diet. Besides, you must incorporate honey in your meals and beverages. Avoid foods that are sour, sweet, cold and heavy.

Lifestyle: You should avoid sleeping during day time during this season. It is also a good idea to perform Nasya to clear out the nasal passageways. 

3. Grishma Ritu/ Summer

In the Grishma Ritu, the weather is usually extremely hot, and unhealthy winds called “loo” blow during this time of the year in most parts of India. Lakes and rivers dry up easily, and plants start to look lifeless and become weak. Moreover, the Fire and Air energies dominate during this time, so the Pitta and Vata energies increase in one’s body. 

One's Agni remains at an all-time low during this season, so it is important to consume light to digest food. One should also avoid long exposure to sunlight and heavy exercise. 

Duration: Mid-May to Mid- July

Diets: During this time of the year, you should eat more mineral-rich, light, sweet and cold foods. Drink ample amounts of water and fruit juices to stay hydrated. Some ideal produce for summer seasons is fresh coconut water, watermelon, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables and leafy greens. Additionally, avoid the consumption of warm, pungent and sour foods.

Lifestyle: Nap in the daytime and staying in cool and shaded places when going outside are some recommended by Ritucharya. You can also apply sandalwood before and after the shower if possible. Avoid excess consumption of alcohol and cold water, which lowers digestive Agni. 

Duration: 14th July to 14th January

In this Kaal, the days are shorter, and nights are longer. Moreover, in India, people often discourage one from participating in or hosting auspicious works. The three different seasons under this Kaal are:

4. Varsha Ritu/Monsoon

In this season, the sky remains cloudy, and it rains almost all the time. Generally, thunderstorms do not accompany these rainfalls. Monsoons bring great respite to humans and nature because the dry lakes and rivers are again filled with water. However, one’s Agni gets extremely dampened during this season as the Earth and Fire energies are elevated in this season.

Duration: Mid- July to Mid-September

Diets: According to Ritucharya in Ayurveda, you should eat more sour, salty and oily foods during monsoon. Drink lots of soup and incorporate lots of ginger in your meals. Start the season with light meals but slowly transition into oily foods to not shock your bodies. You should avoid difficult-to-digest food and excess liquid and wine. 

Lifestyle: Avoid getting wet in the rain and napping in the daytime. Additionally, you should also avoid hanging out near river banks.

5. Sharad Ritu/Autumn/Fall

This season provides one last surge of dryness and warmth just after the rainy season. The Agni and digestive fire in a human’s body again starts to gain strength. Moreover, this season pacifies the weakened Vata and Pitta Doshas.

Duration: Mid-September to Mid-November 

Diets: Ritucharya advises one to consume sweet, bitter and easy-to-digest food items. Some food items you can incorporate in your meals are wheat, sugar, honey, patola, green grams, and animal meat like goat meat. On the contrary, you should avoid consuming fats, fish and oil.

Lifestyle: During this season, you should eat only when you are hungry. Furthermore, Ritucharya suggests that you use water than is kept out in the Sun so that sunlight sanitises the water. It is also recommended to opt for Panchakarma practices like Raktamokshana. 

6. Hemant Ritu/ Late Autumn/ Early Winter

In this season, you will feel a cool breeze and a slight chill in the air. Earth and Water elements dominate during Hemant Ritu. Moreover, this season pacifies Pitta doshas in one's body. Individuals regain all their strength, which is highest at this time.

Duration: Mid- November to Mid- January

Diets: According to Ritucharya, you follow a diet with lots of sweet, salty, sour and unctuous food items. You should also eat food made with flour, green grams and newly harvested rice. Additionally, increase the intake of milk and milk products, fats, meat, sesames and fermented foods.

Lifestyle: During this season, you should exercise regularly and massage your head and body parts with oil. Furthermore, you should bathe in warm water and sunbathe if possible. You should avoid napping during the day and exposing yourself to cold winds.

Ritucharya in Ayurveda has always preached to live a life in tune with the ongoing seasons. Individuals should eat seasonal fruits and vegetables as they grow during that season and are more suitable for that weather. Though the once seasonal produces are available throughout the year, it is advisable to stick to natural diets. 

Consuming something unsuitable for a particular season leads one to contract various unwanted health issues. That is why it is important to follow the diet and lifestyle lessons of Ritucharya.