What to Eat During Navratri Vrat (Navratri Fasting)

All around the world, millions of Hindus observe Navratri as a time for fasting, dancing, and spiritual engagement. In addition to engagement, prayers, and traditional festivities, many devotees observe what is referred to as "Navratri Vrat," or fasting.

When it comes to fasting during Navratri, it is not just about avoiding certain foods. People believe that fasting helps calm the mind, detoxify the body, and provide a spiritual link to the inner self.

Another aspect of Navratri fasting is to adopt a satvik diet, which is a healthful, wholesome, and light approach. So, if you feel confused about which vegetables to avoid and which ones to eat during the nine days of fasting, you are definitely not alone! Don't worry, we will explain it to you in the simplest and easiest possible way. Let us break down what to eat, what not to eat, and how to ensure you can still have delicious, filling, and nutritious fasts during Navratri.

Understanding the Navratri Vrat Rules

Before getting into delicious stuff, let's clarify what Navratri fasting is! Navratri vrat is similar to fasting, but instead of fasting in the sense of not eating or drinking anything, Navratri vrat means consuming sattvik meals that are easily digestible.

In addition to being a custom, adhering to the fasting guidelines for Navratri is a means of cleansing the body, mind, and spirit. These guidelines tell followers what to eat, how to carry out ceremonies, and how to maintain the spiritual potency of the vrat.

Navratri fasting is a type of self-control that:

• Increases spiritual vitality
• Eliminates toxins from the body
• Increases devotion and mental focus
• Connects you to the shakti of Goddess Durga

What foods are allowed during Navratri Vrat?

The action is about to start! But here’s the good news: when you fast during Navratri, you don't have to starve yourself. In fact, you can consume delightful and creative food. Typical foods allowed during the vrat include:

• Fruits and Vegetables: Grounding sources, such as pumpkin, bottle gourd, and sweet potatoes, provide grounding nutrients, while light, sattvic fruits such as bananas, apples, and melons offer a sattvic foundation. Fruits are light, hydrating, and contain a good amount of nutrients.
• Nuts and Seeds: Nuts, like almond and walnuts, and seeds, such as pumpkin seeds, offer critical lipids and proteins to sustain you during a fast.
• Dairy: Although people consider milk, paneer, and yogurt sattvic foods, experts recommend limiting their intake, especially if you have a kapha dominance.
• Grain: Amaranth, barnyard millet (samak), and buckwheat (kuttu) are gluten-free grains that provide a digestible and grounding alternative while balancing pitta and vata.
• Rock Salt: The preferred salt for Navratri is rock salt (Sendha Namak), which is cooling and helps with digestion without aggravating doshas, unlike regular iodized salt.
• Stay Hydrated: It is very important to keep yourself hydrated while fasting. Drink plenty of water, coconut water and herbal teas to help keep your energy level and digestion moving! Avoid drinking any sugary or caffeinated drink as that can throw off your dosha balance.

Foods to avoid during the Fast

Now, let’s review the foods you should avoid. Foods that are typically avoided during Navratri include:

Garlic and Onion: It is considered rajasic foods that can aggravate restlessness and stimulate the intellect.

Heavy Oils and Fried Foods: Although you may think it’s okay, using excessive oils because it’s technically “allowed,” may aggravate kapha, and cause a heaviness and lethargy.

Grains & Lentils: Since rice, wheat, beans, and lentils are tamasic and too hard to digest when intoxicated, avoid these foods unless it's immediately after fasting during Navratri.

Non-vegetarian foods should be avoided altogether, as they are considered tamasic and can cause mental inactivity.

Processed Foods: Avoid eating any packaged and processed foods, opting for meals prepared at home with fresh ingredients.

Emphasize the Sattvik Diet during the fasting period

Following a Sattvik diet is the fundamental principle of Navratri fasting. But sattvik food means pure food. To be more straightforward, a sattvik meal is light, fresh, and full of life! It enhances happiness, promotes peace of mind, and improves overall activity. Your body is already detoxifying when you fast, so if you are eating sattvic foods, they should be easily digestible, allowing you to avoid feeling sluggish or weighed down. It includes some simple recipes made with milk, almonds, fresh fruit, and basic veggies.

Healthy Vrat Foods You Can Include

Fasting during Navratri does not have to be boring! You can prepare these delicious and satvik foods at home during the festival for filling meals or snacks:

• Cucumber Raita: This refreshing condiment is a nice addition to any fasting meal and is helpful for digestion.
• Sabudana Kheer: This is a popular option for fasting, as it is filling for the stomach, yet also light.
• Fruit Chaat: This is a healthy and refreshing snack when fasting.
• Sabudana Khichdi: During the Navratri fast, you can try this satisfying yet light dish.
• Makhana: This snack tastes delicious when lightly toasted with ghee and sprinkled with rock salt.
• Pancakes made with Singhara flour: A yummy and healthier alternative to wheat flour pancakes.

And if you’re not in the mood to cook, you could always go to The House of Makeba, which tends to have a range of vegetarian food and fasting-friendly options that will complement the festive celebration.

Tips for Fasting During Navratri

Stay Hydrated: It is very essential to stay hydrated throughout a fast. To keep hydration fluids and electrolytes up, drink water, low-fat milk, and fruit and vegetable juices.

Don’t Eat Too Many Fried Foods: For a lot of people, fasting means they are eating fried and fatty foods for most of the day. Along with having fried and junk food, you are making your body suffer more than it would from fasting.

Don’t Starve: Some people will also eat large amounts of fruits and snacks while fasting, while other people starve themselves. The general rule of thumb is to avoid extended fasting.

Eat Foods Rich in Fiber: As you start planning your Navratri day-to-day menu, be sure to include fiber-rich foods. To help satiate your hunger, have plenty of green vegetables, including sweet potatoes, raw bananas, bottle gourds, and pumpkins.

Satvik Snack Ideas for Between Meals

We are all aware that while you fast, your cravings for snacks increase. Here are a few suggestions for quick Satvik snacks:

• Ghee-roasted makhana
• Ghee-fried banana crisps
• Curd with rock salt and chopped cucumbers
• Apple slices
• Coconut laddoos with jaggery

Common Myths and Misconceptions About Navratri Fasting

Let's set right some misconceptions around fasting during Navratri:

Myth 1: When you fast, you are starving yourself

Fact: Fasting does not mean starvation from food. Instead, Navratri fasting aims to purify and focus on spiritual growth, more important than filling the body with the wrong nutrition and nourishment.

Myth 2: It is acceptable to consume unlimited Sattvic food during a fast

Fact: The purpose of Navratri fasting is essential to awaken ourselves to the high potential of reality. Both moderation and Sattvic consent are crucial. When you binge on anything, including sattvic food, it beats the purpose of the fasting process.

Myth 3: Fasting makes you exhausted

Fact: When done effectively, fasting can increase energy levels. Preparation of the food to fuel longer energy. Nutrient-dense foods. Superfoods like coconut water, bananas, and almonds.

Myth 4: Not everyone can fast safely

Fact: Weight loss is the primary way fasting improves health. That said, fasting is a personal choice, and can be unwise or inappropriate for everyone, especially for minors, elders, or individuals with health history concerns. Therefore, before adopting the Navratri fasting routine, an individual with diabetes, heart disease, or any other chronic disease must complete their doctor review.

Conclusion

More than just a custom, Navratri fasting is a spiritual activity that fosters self-care, discipline, and commitment. Apart from promoting energetic status, sattvic food allows your body to feel refreshed. There are plenty of other vrat- recipes, including options for solid food, too, so you can enjoy the taste of nine days of food!

However, if the idea of cooking at home does not appeal to you, don't worry, as some veg restaurants in Ahmedabad offer Navratri thalis and vrats. Many Indo-oriented restaurants will go above and beyond to make your meal appetizing and celebratory while fasting!

Discover The House of Makeba’s Navratri special menu for delightful fasting.