Ritu means Season and Charya means following. Ritucharya is the observance of diet and regimen according to the seasonal changes. Paush is the 10th month of the ancient calendar i.e December of the present day calendar.In the month of Paush, effects of winter deepen, colder winds blow and cool the atmosphere, which causes our limbs and flesh to contract and resist the cold. This contraction uses up the nutritious elements in our bodies. If these elements are exhausted without being replaces, the limbs dry out, which leads to various pains and diseases in the joints know as vata* vyaadhi (diseases due to the aggravation of the vata)
General care during Paush
In this season the digestive activity becomes more powerful. Vayu is accentuated and needs to be satisfied by a heavy diet. The following lifestyle changes will help align the body to the changes in the nature undergoes.
- Massage with til oil followed by steam bath
- Exercise (vyaayaama).
- Exposure to sunlight and fire to keep yourself warm. Enjoy indirect sunlight everyday - Sunlight is rich in Vitamin D – Lack of sunlight brings in Seasonal Affective Disorder.
- Avoid laziness and dryness increasing activities.
The following diet will help pacify vata
- Intake of sweet, sour and salt taste food helps reducing the vata.
- Wheat/gramflour products, milk products, sugarcane products and corn/edible oils can be taken as a part of food.
- Indian clarified butter.
- Carrots, tomatoes, figs, dates, cane sugar, nuts to be taken. Intake of warm water should be taken as it aids digestion and also increases life span.
- Bitter, astringent and pungent food must be avoided.
- Light and dry diets should be avoided (For example, popcorn, salads).
Special additions to diet
Til Gud Laddoos (Sesame Seed-Jaggery Sweetballs) 
Til has important medicinal qualities in Ayurveda, and is widely used as a remedy for various diseases. Til oil gives nourishment and energy, removes vaayu and destroys kapha*. The oil also purifies skin by removing toxins, thereby brightening the color of the skin. Also, the use of til oil soaked cotton swabs reduces local pain. These characteristics makes til one of the chief food items in winter.
Jaggery supplies heat and energy to the body and should be consumed with til. As we know that anything that needs heat to ripen, the body also needs fuel in order to further internally “cook” digesting food and change it into energy. Jaggery acts as this fuel.
The properties of Til and jiggery balances each other out. Since til is heat dominant, it destroys the kapha in jaggery. Jaggery to its credit quiets the pitta* excited by til. Thus, til and jaggery supplement each other as excellent winter food items.
So be sure to share your til and jaggery with your loved ones, and enjoy a healthy Paush.
* Read more about the principles of vata, pitta, kapha at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-principles-of-vata-pitta-and-kapha.htm
