Navratri is here and devotees are all set to celebrate the nine-day festival with fervour. The festival is celebrated during Sharad Ritu as per the Hindu calendar, which is known as Sharadiya Navratri. During this period, devotees of Goddess Durga observe fast and stay away from certain foods. Many devotees observe Navratri Vrat with all dedication to seek blessings from Goddess Durga. During Navratri, nine forms of Maa Durga are worshipped. This year Navratri festival will be observed from October 15 to October 24. Read on to find out all about the food items you can consume during the festive period. (Image: Reuters)
While observing Navratri Vrat, devotees abstain from consuming grains, lentil and non-vegetarian food as an act of penance and devotion. Although there are restrictions on having certain food items, one can still have exciting yet healthy food during the fasting period. Here are some of the easy dishes that you can prepare at home for Navratri fasting. (Image: Shutterstock)
Sabudana Khichdi | Sabudana Khichdi is a popular dish during the Navratri fasting. It is prepared with soaked sabudana, roasted peanuts and spices. To make the Sabudana Khichdi, you need to soak the tapioca overnight, and then stir-fry the same with cumin seeds. You can also add boiled potato. Add crushed peanuts with green chillies and curry leaves to it. Garnish with coriander before serving it with curd or raita to make it a complete meal. (Image: Shutterstock)
Kuttu Dosa | Kuttu or buckwheat pancakes are yet another very popular and wholesome choice for Navratri fasting. The pancake is made up of combining the kuttu flour with grated potatoes along with sendha namak (rock salt), green chillies, and a pinch of cumin seeds. You need to make thin pancakes on a hot pan using ghee. These pancakes can be served with yoghurt or potato curry, making them a delicious meal option during your fasting. (Image: Shutterstock)
Sama Rice Pulao | Sama rice, which is also known as barnyard millet, is a nutritious grain which serves as a suitable option for fasting. Sama Rice Pulao is easy to prepare and delicious in taste. To make the pulao, you need to saute the Sama rice with ghee, and cumin seeds. Add sendha namak, black pepper, and water to the rice, and let it cook until it is fluffy and cooked. Garnish the Sama rice pulao with roasted cashews and yoghurt. (Image: Shutterstock)
Singhara Aloo Tikki | For a crispy and savoury snack during the Navratri fasting, you can definitely go for Singhara Aloo Tikki. To make this delicious snack, you need to combine the singhara flour with boiled and mashed potatoes, green chillies, and rock salt. Shape the combined mixture into small-sized tikkis and shallow-fry them until they become golden brown. Serve the tikkis with mint chutney to make it a complete snack. (Image: Shutterstock)
Rajgira Paratha | Rajgira is another popular and healthy ingredient for Navratri fasting. Rajgira Paratha is a nutritious and fulfilling option. To make the paratha, mix Rajgira flour with boiled and mashed potatoes, rock salt, and a hint of green chilli to form a dough. Now, you will have to roll out the dough into parathas and cook on a hot pan with ghee. These parathas are rich in essential nutrients and fibre, making them one of the healthiest choices during fasting. (Image: Shutterstock)