Fasting during Chaitra Navratri: significance and guidelines- Special foods and dishes prepared during Navratri fasting

Navratri is celebrated twice a year, surrounded by two significant seasons Chaitra (Spring of March/April) and Sharad (Early autumn of Mid-September to Mid-November). The main celebratory factor of Navratra is the victory of good over evil by goddesses. In different parts of India, the festivities occur differently, along with the variety of names allocated for Navratri. Navratri celebrates the nine forms of the goddess Durga and worships each of them during these nine days. Navratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India by Assamese, Bengalis, Odia , Bihari, Nepalese, Bhutanese and many other ethnicities. The last day is also the birth date of Lord Rama, which is why we also call it Rama Navami.

Navratri is celebrated by creating many pandals, temporary tents nearby roadside shrines, community halls, and other places adorned and decorated with natural elements. People decorate their mandir and home temples with fresh flowers while they worship the many forms of Maa Durga and Shakti. There are various rituals that take place during the pooja of Navratri, starting with the Ghatasthapana. In this, the holy Kalash is established at the pooja place.

With immense colours, songs and dance, the other main itinerary of Navratri is the significant fast. People keep fast as per their devotion and capabilities. Keeping fast is one way for devotees to worship the brave and strong Hindu goddesses. People keep fasts differently in various regions in India. Fasting had its relevance and importance in worshipping goddesses Durga and Shakti. According to Ayurveda, keeping fast is valuable and helpful for the human mind, body and soul. When an individual keeps fast, their body feels lighter, and their mind is at peace, which makes them more devoted dedicatedly towards worshipping.

Worshipping God is a way of devotion where a human being neglects the worldly distractions of the world and focuses solely on the inwards and most essential things in life, like inner peace, which is necessary for the mind and soul. One can become one with God if he meditates devotedly and sacrifices the whims of this world. Hence, fasting is one of the ways to walk on the path of receiving the actual bliss and happiness of life by praying and meditating.

During the Navratri fast, people can eat various kinds of Navratri food and delicacies so that they don’t feel fainting and dizzy because it is a human body, after all, that requires vitamins and minerals for survival with devotion to god. Some do’s and dont’s regarding food during navratri are as follows:

• Do not eat Grains like Wheat and rice during the fast.
• You can eat Kuttu ka Aata(buckwheat flour) or Singhare ka Aata(water chestnut flour).
• You can also consume Rajgira ka Aata (Amarnath flour) and samai ke chawal (barnyard millets).
• You can consume fruits like bananas, apples, watermelons and other seasonal fruits.
• Some people eat only fruits and consume milk during the nine days of the fast.
• Normal table salt is not to be consumed during Navratri. You can use rock salt or sendha namak.

• Potatoes are one of the staple food to be taken during Navratri. Other vegetables include Arbi, sweet potato, yams, lemon, spinach, bottle gourd, cucumber, carrots, and more.
• You are not supposed to consume onion and garlic during Navratri. That is a hard pass.
• Non-vegetarian food, eggs, smoking, alcohol and aerated drinks are a big no.
• Dishes like Halwa, puri and chana are offered to Maa Durga.
• There are various dishes that are offered as Prasad during Navratri.
• Sweet pongal, rice payasam, ven pongal, curd rice, medhu vada, black chana sundal, chalimidi, panakam, vadapappu are mainly offered to goddess Durga.
• Sabudana Khichri, sabudana vada, sabudana pappad and makhanas are also some of the staple fast food of Navratra.

This Navratri, indulge in the mouth-savouring dishes of the special occasion while worshipping our goddesses, Maa Shakti and Durga. You can check for various recipes online in just one click. Fasting will help relax your mind and boost your morals which will ultimately give you immense strength to show your devotion and dedication towards prayers and worshipping. Engage in the festivities enthusiastically and have a happy Navratri.