Goddess Durga ornamented with kumkum, bangles, flowers, and jeweled

attires; morning prayers accompanied by synchronized bells and the aroma

of pure butter delicacies, it's time to step into Navratri festivities.
Navratri is one of the holiest Hindu festivals where people across the
country worship the different avatars of Goddess Durga for nine days.
Goddess Durga is believed to have nine different incarnations and each
female deity signifies a distinct power. The word Navratri refers to the nine
auspicious nights during which Goddess Durga is worshiped and most
people observe fasts. It is celebrated twice a year, the beginning of spring
and at the beginning of autumn, which is considered as a sacred time to
worship Goddess Durga.
Usually a large part of north, west and central India observes a fast on all
nine days. Some people may choose to fast only on the first and the last
day of the festive period. Fasting is a way to pay your gratitude to the
Goddess. Traditionally in Hinduism, the consumption of alcohol and nonvegetarian food is considered inauspicious and unholy but there is also
sound science behind it. During these fasts people avoid eating
meat, grains, alcohol,onion, garlic etc. From an Ayurvedic perspective,
these foods attract and absorb negative energies and should be avoided
during a seasonal change as our bodies tend to have low immunity around
that time.
Navratri festivities give you a chance to get back to the roots and deviate
from the day-to-day affair. Ingredients like kuttu atta, singhara atta,
fresh vegetables, milk, yogurt andmakhanas are preferred as they are light
on the stomach and can be digested easily. Instead of regular salt, rock
salt or sendha namak is used as it is pure and unprocessed. Those who do
not wish to fast may follow a vegetarian satvik diet where ingredients like
garlic and onions that produce heat in the body are avoided to allow your
body to detox.
Embrace the joy of the festival with the best of our fasting recipes. From old
favourites to newer ones, indulge in a lot more than just the usual fare.
1. Sabudana Khichdi
Recipe by Niru Gupta

Sabudana is full of starch or carbohydrates which gives you the much

needed energy boost while fasting. A light dish made
with sabudana, peanuts and mild spices.

2. Kuttu Ka Dosa
Recipe by Gunjan Goela
This Navratri move over the usual kuttu puris and rustle up something
different. A crispdosa recipe made of kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) with
a potato filling.
Kuttu Ka Dosa Recipe Video

3. Singhare ke Atte ka Samosa

Recipe by Niru Gupta
Feast while fasting! Your favorite tea time snack made with fasting
ingredients like water chestnut flour, sendha namak and a filling of
spiced chironji.

4. Aloo ki Kadhi
Recipe by Niru Gupta
Tuck into the soothing flavors of this light and lovely curry made with the
ever-so-versatile potatoes.

5. Low Fat Makhana Kheer

Recipe by Gunjan Goela
Desserts inspire a cheer, here's for you low fat kheer recipe made
with makhana and nuts. Indulge without worrying about the weighing scale!

6. Khire ke Pakode
Recipe by Niru Gupta
Cool cucumbers fried crisp! These pakoras are one of the most loved
fasting recipes. We bet you cannot stop at one bite!

7. Banana Walnut Lassi

Recipe by Aditya Bal & Devanshi
Charge up with this nourishing drink. Lassi made with the goodness of
yogurt, bananas,honey and walnuts.
Banana Walnut Lassi Recipe Video

8. Vratwale Chawal Ka Dhokla

Recipe by Niru Gupta
A fresh recipe that gives you a break from the usual
fried pakoras and puris. Steameddhoklasmade with samwat ke chawal. A
healthy way to fast.

9. Kebab-e-Kela
Recipe by Niru Gupta
Fasting need not be boring anymore! Spiced banana kebabs that perfectly
melt in your mouth and please your soul.

10. Chironji Ki Dal

Recipe by Niru Gupta

Slurp on something different during your fasting days. Here's a quick

serving of dal made with chironji or chironji seeds.