Bakery
Sweets
Snacks
Breads
Gift Hampers
Dairy
Grocery
Navratri is a celebration lasting for nine nights and has significance amongst Hindus worldwide. The festival is observed to worship the Goddess Durga. Hindu devotees keep Navratri fasting to seek blessings from the Goddess, and during this time, various fasting varieties are prepared and enjoyed. This article explains how fast-specific dishes are enjoyed during this auspicious time.
Navratri, the 9-day festival of Goddess Durga, is here, and Hindus will soon be busy dancing to Garba’s tunes, wearing traditional Navratri attire, the Ghagra Choli for women and Kurta and Dhoti pants for men. One more thing that won’t change even today: Navratri fasting food! If you are looking for different varieties to enjoy this season of Navratri, we are here to help you discover a list of your favorite Navratri fasting food items.
But, before that, let’s explore some facts about Navratri.
Why is Navratri celebrated?
Every community in the Hindu religion has different reasons to celebrate Navratri around the world. The popular legend about Navratri speaks about the great fight between the powerful devil Mahishasura and Goddess Durga. Maa Durga defeated the evil, which is why the festival is observed to celebrate the ultimate victory of ‘Good over Evil.’ Navratri is basically Durga Pooja that is, worshipping Durga Mata for 9 days and 9 nights.
The legend also says that Durgamata fought with Mahishasura for 15 long days. Mahishasura kept confusing the Goddess by changing his forms. At the end of the fight, he was in the form of buffalo when Goddess Durga killed him with the Trishul in her hand.
There is one more interesting thing about Navratri. This festival has 9 colors dedicated to each day and their importance. People usually wear the colors according to the days which is believed to be bringing in peace and harmony.
Why is fast observed in Navratri?
Navratri fasting starts in the month of Chaitra. The fasting days differ according to the community rules in the Hindu religion. Some keep fasts for the whole 9 days of Navratri, and some people follow it for the festival’s first and last two days. Some people keep fast only with water in their diet, some have fruits, and some have a special Navratri fasting menu.
The basic belief about the Navratri fasting menu is that the food should be healthy and light. Some ingredients include sabudana, fresh dairy, dry fruits, and vegetables. You strictly need to avoid some ingredients in your fasting diet like onion, garlic, grains, legumes, lentils, canned foods, and all types of fast foods.
How to do 9 days of Navratri fast?
Nine days of Navratri are considered very optimistic, and everyone tries to please Goddess Durga with their dedication and purity. People wake up, get ready early in the morning, and pray to the Goddess. They perform special poojas to welcome Goddess Durga. Devotees observe fasts with exceptionally pure Navratri food to mark their devotion to the Goddess.
Is Navratri fasting healthy?
The significance of Navratri fasting is not just a part of devotion but has a scientific reason too. It is an ideal way to detox the body, improve digestion and boost positivity.
At Rajbhog Foods, you can find some authentic and pure Indian Navratri fasting dishes if you are observing a fast during these auspicious 9 days.
What we can eat in Navratri fast?
Here are some must-haves during your Navratri fasting diet:
Sabudana Khichadi
Sabudana khichdi is just more than a fasting dish; it comes with many emotions. Any festive day has to have sabudana khichadi for the celebration. It is made with pure sabudana pearls, boiled potatoes, roasted peanuts, chilies, and select spices.
Sabudana khichadi is enjoyed on any or all days of Navratri. We bring you authentic Indian khichadi just like you have had in India. You can visit Rajbhog Café or a grocery store near you to buy it.
Walnut Halwa
Walnut halwa is one of the popular desserts enjoyed during Navratri. It is a dense confectionary with walnut, milk, sugar, and ghee. Walnut halwa is rich due to ghee and sugar. It is an ideal dessert for the festive days of Navratri as it is nutritious, fiber-rich, and tasty.
Walnut Halwa from Rajbhog Foods is the perfect dessert to celebrate your Navratri fasting. Just visit Rajbhog Café or a nearby grocery store to buy your packs.
Signature Rasmalai
You can try authentic Indian Rasmalai if you are observing fast during this Navratri and want to enjoy some delicious dessert. We all have relished this incredible delicacy full of flavors that tastes best when enjoyed chilled.
Rasmalai is made with paneer, and sugar and then dipped into malai with its signature flavor of Kesar. It is then garnished with pieces of almonds, pistachios, and cashews. Rajbhog Foods is ready with freshly-packed Signature Rasmalai for your Navratri celebration. Visit a nearby grocery store to buy or step into Rajbhog Café to enjoy this delicious dessert.
Fruit Shrikhand
Navratri fasting menu can have fruits in it and they taste better when mixed with authentic Indian Shrikhand. Rajbhog Foods brings you this holistic combination with our Fruit Shrikhand that gives you a fusion of fresh fruits and Indian pudding.
Get your packs of Fruit Shrikhand from Rajbhog Cafe or a grocery store near you and enjoy your fasts during Navratri.
Fasting during Navratri brings and enhances tranquility and positivity within us. Along with pooja and fasting diet during Navratri, you can observe your mind getting more peaceful and alert. You can experience your body getting lighter, energetic, and more efficient during these 9 days.
You must also note that fasting during Navratri is not recommended for people with some specific constitutions and health conditions. They can enjoy the mentioned dishes along with their regular diet.
Visit www.rajbhog.com to learn more about Rajbhog Foods’ history and how we became the USA’s Number 1 Indian Sweets Brand.
We also deliver dishes from popular food delivery apps like UberEats, GrubHub, or DoorDash.
We wish you and your family a very Happy Navratri. May Maa Durga bless you with goodness and prosperity.
