Navratri, a popular Indian religious festival celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country, occurs four times a year. However, Chaitra Navratri (March to April) and Sharad Navratri (September to October) hold special significance. This year, Sharad Navratri 2024 starts on October 03, 2023 and ends on October 12. The nine holy days of Navratri are dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Devotees express their unwavering faith through worship and some people also observe a fast for nine days. People observing Navratri fast follow a sattvic (pure) diet, avoiding garlic, onion, pulses, grains, meat and alcohol, in line with Hindu customs. This pure diet includes ingredients like sago, rajgira, buckwheat, water chestnut flour, milk, curd, dry fruits, potatoes and samak rice, which form the basis of many traditional Indian vrat special dishes.
During this religious festival of Navratri, you can prepare a variety of Indian dishes suitable for both prasad and daily consumption. Fasting does not mean going hungry; It is important to maintain energy levels. Limited ingredients during Navratri fasting inspire to create delicious Indian dishes. We have prepared a list of nine special recipes for the nine days of Navratri, which will make your cooking easier.
Sharad Navratri 2024: Here are 9 Navratri recipes for 9 days that you can try:
1. Kuttu Puri
Specially crafted for fasting days, Kuttu Ki Puri is both delicious and gluten-free. Just add spices to boiled potatoes and deep fry the puri. You can also use Rajgira or water chestnut flour instead of buckwheat flour. Click here
2. Sabudana Khichdi
Sabudana Khichdi is very popular during Navratri. A light dish made from sago or sago, mildly spiced. Sabudana Khichdi is one of the main vrat dishes of Western India, especially in the regions of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Mix it with a bowl full of curd. Click here
3. Potato Kadhi
This is an interesting vrat-friendly kadhi that is perfect for Navratri. To make this delicious kadhi, you will need potatoes, buckwheat and curd. You can pair it with samak rice. Click here
4. Vratwala Rice Dhokla
During the nine days of fasting, make dietary adjustments with our improved version of the popular Gujarati Dhokla recipe, prepared for fasting. Samak rice, which is a special grain for Navratri, forms the base of this dhokla. With whole red chillies, cumin seeds, ghee and curry leaves, this is a flavourful option. click here
5. Vratwale Sour Sweet Potatoes
Enjoy the sweet and sour taste of lemon and chilli with these delicious potatoes – a perfect choice for Navratri. Potatoes play a major role during this festival, and this sweet-and-sour-potato recipe is exceptional. Add rock salt and spices to potatoes for a delicious dish. Click here
6. Radish Thepla
If you want to avoid puris during fasting, try this simple mooli thepla recipe. This is a great Navratri option. Mix radish, boiled potatoes, samak rice, ginger and green chillies in water chestnut flour, knead the dough, give it the shape of roti, apply ghee and cook. click here
7. Sabudana Tikki
These crispy tikkis are a delicious option for Navratri fast. Prepared from mashed potatoes, cashew nuts and green chillies, they are cooked with rock salt. On normal days, you can substitute regular salt. Enjoy them with tea or chutney. Click here
8. Sweet Potato Chaat
Recognizing the immense popularity of chaat in India, we present to you the delicious recipe of Navratri Special Sweet Potato Chaat. It is both filling and healthy. Lightly fry the boiled sweet potatoes, then add black pepper, cumin powder, rock salt, green chilli and lemon juice – your delicious chaat is ready. Click here
9. Sabudana Kheer
Kheer, a classic Indian sweet, is a staple on special occasions and festivals. For Navratri, we present a unique kheer recipe containing sago. In this version, sago is boiled in milk mixed with cardamom and saffron. Click here
With these nine traditional vrat special Indian dishes you will never feel bored while fasting during the nine days of Navratri. We hope these recipes will bring delightful variety to your diet.
Best wishes to you on Sharad Navratri 2024!