Foods to eat in Chaitra Navratri fasting | Fusion - WeRIndia

Navratri is a Hindu festival that occurs four times every year, but only Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are celebrated widely.

Chaitra Navratri has approached, which means that people fast for nine days, giving up foods like onions, meats, alcohols, and most flours. During Chaitra Navratri, people instead prepare foods like sabudana vada, singhade ka halwa, and sabudana khichdi. However, fasting over these nine days can cause the body to become weaker and more prone to illnesses.

Yet by following some simple dietary tips, one can keep the body healthy and strong during Chaitra Navratri while still following the fasting rules.

During Chaitra Navratri, several grains cannot be consumed, such as wheat and rice.

However, other grains can still be eaten, such as buckwheat flour, amaranth flour, and water chestnut flour. In replacement for rice, use barnyard millet, which is used in khichdi and dhoklas.

Normal salt cannot be consumed during Chaitra Navratri, so opt for rock salt instead, since it is made by evaporating sea water and it does not contain a high sodium content.

Spices can also be used in place of salt, such as cinnamon, clove, cumin powder, and black pepper powder.

Fruits are completely allowed during Chaitra Navratri, and some people even go all nine days on only fruits and milk. Be sure to eat plenty of fruit during the nine-day fast, since it will keep the body’s nutrient levels high. Vegetables are also great to consume during Chaitra Navratri, such as potatoes, yams, cucumbers, and carrots.

Dairy products are also completely allowed during Chaitra Navratri, such as milk, curd, and paneer. Eat plenty of dairy during the nine-day fast, in order to give the body the calcium and the protein that it needs.

Refined and seed-based oils should not be consumed during Chaitra Navratri, such as vegetable oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil. Instead, cook food in peanut oil or desi ghee.

Image Credit:- Archana Joshi / CC BY-SA

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sabudana_vada.JPG