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The source details the inclusion of Sendha Namak in the Nahay Khay meal and its subsequent omission from the preparation list. It situates sweet prasad within a Sattvic context instead of offering a nutritional analysis.

Source article · Original Wave 4 wording preserved below. Cultural interpretations are not independently verified ritual rulings.

The Sattvic Diet: Why Common Salt is Prohibited

During the Chhath Puja fasting period, the use of regular iodized table salt is strictly forbidden in preparing the Vrati's meals.

The Role of Sendha Namak (Rock Salt)

On the first day (Nahay Khay), the Vrati consumes a modest dish called Kaddu Bhaat. This meal is made using Sendha Namak (Rock Salt) Rather than sea salt or processed table salt, Sendha Namak is regarded in Ayurveda as the purest type of salt, remaining unrefined and free from chemical processing.

Following the Nahay Khay meal, salt is completely removed. The Prasad (such as Thekua and Rasiya) is sweet, prepared solely with pure jaggery, wheat, and rice, to preserve the cooling, non-stimulating (Sattvic) quality needed to sustain the 36-hour fast.

About this edition: Derived from the provided Wave 4 article. The original article’s wording and headings remain intact; labeled editorial notes are distinct. This is neither a medical review, venue assessment, nor a full festival schedule.