Festivals in India are incomplete without delicious food, and Navratri is no exception. Navratri is a long festival, which is celebrated continuously for nine days. Therefore, a variety of dishes are made and served during this festival. The Indian cuisines are famous for their wide variety. Special Navratri cuisineis a part of the multitude of culinary delights of the country. Since, in most of the communities, people observe fast during Navratri and eat only one meal a day at sunset, the Navratri meal has special courses and is strictly vegetarian. Even onion and garlic are not allowed, due to their foul smell.
Specific ingredients and vegetables are used for preparing delicious recipes on Navratri. The choice of vegetables may vary from region to region. Spices are restricted to red chillies, turmeric and cumin seeds and only rock salt can be used. However, one can eat milk, curd, fruits and nuts. In our related section, we have given some of the recipes that you can try during Navratri. Great care has been taken to ensure that the ingredients being specified here are in consistency with the allowed spices for the fasts. Yet, as this also varies from region to region, special care should be taken from your side as well.
India is a land of festivals and festivals are incomplete without mouth watering dishes. Navratri is one of the festivals celebrated with a variety of dishes. As some people keep fast on this nine days festival, there are specific recipes which are made only with the ingredients used in the fast.
Navratri is a festival that comprises of nine-days continuous fasting, so you need to take special care of your diet. You should include milk and milk products in your diet during the fasts. Curd is one of the best milk products you can have during this time. It is also believed that food is incomplete without curd.
In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during Navratri that lasts for all the nine days of the festival. The festival of Navratri culminates in Navami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls, representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga, are worshiped.