Celebration of Navratri is for Goddess Durga’s Victory over Mahishasura . Mahishasura got a boon from lord Bhrama to “ become immortal” after pleasing lord Bharama with his prayers so that no men and god can kill him and he become immortal. He said himself in case death approach me that should only through a women because he thought women are weak and powerless . How can a women defeat all powerful Mahisha?
A very powerful band of lightening emerged from the mouth of Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva which given a young and beautiful female virgin with ten hands appeared. This Shakti coalesced to form the goddess Durga. Riding on the Lion who assisted her, Durga came out to fought with Mahishasura.
The battle continue for nine days and nine nights and at the tenth day of ashven Shukla paksha Mahishasura was defeated and killed by Durga. Hence Dasha-hara is also known as Navratri or Durgostav and is a celebration of Durga’s victory.
Navaratri is a festival represents the Hindu deity MAA Durga. The word Navaratri means ‘nine nights’ in ‘ संस्कृत ‘, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights and along with that it brings all the flavours of food specially meant for Navratri. The special food is prepared at this auspicious and religious days of Navratri across India. Navratri is celebrated twice a year in India during spring (vasant), and once during fall (sharadiya).
The nine Navratri colors for 2016 are:
Pratipada – October 1, 2016 (Saturday) – Grey
Pratipada – October 2, 2016 (Sunday) – Orange
Dwitiya – October 3, 2016 (Monday) – White
Tritiya – October 4, 2016 (Tuesday) – Red
Chaturthi – October 5, 2016 (Wednesday) – Blue (Navy Blue)
Panchami – October 6, 2016 (Thursday) – Yellow
Sashti – October 7, 2016 (Friday) – Green
Saptami – October 8, 2016 (Saturday) – Peacock Green
Ashtami – October 9, 2016 (Sunday) – Purple
Navami – October 10, 2016 (Monday) – Sky Blue
Dasami – October 11, 2015 (Tuesday) – Pink
This is also very important as these are those peak time when people are more vulnerable towards diseases so diet is very important aspect we should keep in mind. The right diet is very important for precautions. So the ancient Indians ushered in the new seasons with a diet that would help them cope with the change. Take the traditional flours and grains that are a part of the Navratri diet–buckwheat (kuttu) flour, water chestnut (singhara) flour, amaranth (rajgira) flour, and millet (saame) flour. Did you know that these are all gluten-free, and recommended as healthier alternatives to wheat flour all over the world?
Rock salt, or sendha namak, which is the only salt one can use during Navratri, is good for your blood pressure and helps absorb minerals better than common salt. In fact, you’ll find that all the food items that make the body feel heavier, bloated, or induce acidity, are in the list of tamasic food: Onions, garlic, lentils and legumes, asafoetida (hing), mustard (sarson), fenugreek (methi), garam masala, alcohol, meat, poultry (chicken and eggs), coffee, and sunflower oil.
Beverages For Navratri Vrat or Upvas:
All fruits can be eaten during Navratri fasting so you can make fruit salad, chaats, juices, or milkshakes. Remember to use sendha namak or Rock salt. All milk products are also allowed during Navratri fasting.
- Sweet Lassi
- Dry Fruits Milkshake
- Banana Milkshake
- Sweet Lime Juice
- Watermelon Juice
- Muskmelon Juice
- Mango Almond Smoothie
- Shikanji – Indian Lemonade
- Mint Juice
Desserts For Navratri Festival:
- Sabudana Laddoo
- Sabudana Kheer
- Makhane ki Kheer
- Papaya Halwa
- Sweet Potato Halwa
- Carrot Payasam
- Apple Halwa
- Lauki ka Halwa
- Coconut Laddoo
- Pumpkin Halwa
- Vrat Ka Halwa
- Dry Fruits Laddoo
Accompaniments For Navratri Fasting or Vrat:
- Palak Raita
- Cucumber Raita
- Pomegranate Raita
- Beetroot and Carrot Raita
- Phalahari Chutney
- Coconut Chutney [Click here to know the recipe]
Snack Items For Navratri Fasting or Vrat:
- Sabudana Pakoda
- Sabudana Vada
- Roasted Makhane
- Banana Chips
- Sukhi Arbi
- Arbi Tikki
- Arbi Cutlet
- Fruit Chaat
- Fruit Salad
- Aloo Chaat
- Potato Finger Chips
- Farali Pattice
- Aloo Tuk
- Sun Dried Potato Chips
- Sabudana Bhel
- Palak Pakodas
- Vrat Ke Pakode or Kuttu Pakoda
- Sama Ke Chawal Ki Idli or Vrat Ki Idli
North Indian Navratri Vrat or Fast Items [Main Course Items]:
- Sabudana Thalipeeth
- Vrat Wale Aloo
- Singhare Ki Poori
- Aloo Paneer Kofta
- Dahi Aloo
- Dahi Arbi
- Sabudana Khichdi
- Arbi Masala
- Kaddu Ki Sabji
- Jeera Aloo
- Samvat Pulao
- Vrat Ke Uttapam
- Kuttu Ka Parantha
- Rajgira Ki Poori
- Khatta Meetha Kaddu
- Aloo Tamatar Sabzi
South Indian Navratri Vrat or Fast Items [Main Course Items]:
Below are some recipes that are made during Navratri festival in South India. All the recipes are without onion and garlic. But people who want to keep fast as done in North India should not make these below mentioned recipes as they are not fasting recipes.
- Medu Vada
- Rice Payasam
- Carrot Payasam
- Lemon Rice
- Besan Ladoo
- Vermicelli Kheer
- Udipi Sambar
- Drumstick Rasam
- Idli Recipe
- Coconut Chutney
Sundal Recipes:
Sundals are legume or lentil preparations made during Ganesha Chaturthi or the nine days of the Navratri Festival in South India. They can be made from different legumes or lentils like black eyed peas, sweet corn, moong beans, bengal gram, peanuts. More or less the method to prepare sundal is same with minor variations here and there.
- Kala Chana Sundal
- White Chickpeas Sundal
- Rajma Sundal
- Green Peas Sundal
Foods To Be Avoided For Navratri Fasting or Vrat:
- Onion & garlic are strictly avoided. If you find any recipe in a food blog which has onion and garlic, then try skip adding the. So, most vrat recipes make use of curd and ginger.
- No lentils and legumes.
- Common Salt is not used and instead rock salt or sendha namak also called as ‘Upvaas ka Namak’ is used.
- Turmeric [haldi], asafoetida [hing], mustard [sarson or rai], fenugreek seeds [methi dana], garam masala and non-vegetarian food is strictly NO during this holy period.
- Alcohol and non-vegetarian food is strictly NO during this holy period.
Flours and Grains Not Allowed For Navratri Fasting or Vrat
- Rice and rice flour
- Wheat flour or atta
- Maida [all purpose flour]
- Sooji [rava or semolina]
- Besan [chickpea flour or gram flour]
NOTE: If you want to make roti, poori or paratha for fasting then use above mentioned singhare ka atta, kuttu ka atta, and rajgira ka atta. For making rice based dishes, kindly use sama ke chawal.
May the tripumph over evil in our life on this Durgostav.
Happy Durga Puja.
