Navratri is one of the most significant Hindu festivals and is observed four times a year. In this festival, the nine avatars of Goddess Durga, or Shakti, are worshipped for nine days by the devotees. They keep a fast, meditate, and take only Satvik food. The Navratri held in this month is referred to as Shardiya Navratri, which is the most widely observed and regarded as the most important among all four Navratris. It is also referred to as Maha Navratri.
Do you know that every avatar of Goddess Durga has a specific significance, and religious people present various prasad to her daily in order to bless them? Hindu religious books also tell us about specific methods of fasting such as Nakta or Ekabhukta in specific circumstances.
The fasting ones can take sabudana (sago), water chestnut flour, Mordhan flour, dry fruits, and seasonal fruits. Even the non-fasting ones are advised to take pure vegetarian foods, minus garlic, onion, or drumsticks.
1. Replace deep-fried snacks with roasted and baked ones:
Deep-fried snacks such as puris and potato chips can be substituted
with healthier ones. Dry-roast makhana with some ghee and rock salt
instead of deep-frying them. Instead of puris, make a baked kuttu
(buckwheat) or singhare (water chestnut) flour roti for a crunchy but
light meal.
Healthy alternatives:
- Roasted makhana in place of deep-fried chips
- Baked kuttu roti instead of kuttu puri
- Air-fry sabudana vada in place of deep-fried vada
2. Opt for steamed and boiled options over fried: Steaming and boiling preserve the nutrition in food without making it heavy. Steaming or boiling your snacks, in place of frying them, is a healthy option. You can prepare steamed sabudana tikkis or boil sweet potatoes as alternatives to frying them.
Healthy alternatives:
- Steamed sabudana tikki in place of deep-fried sabudana vada
- Boiled sweet potatoes in place of fried aloo chips
- Steamed kuttu dhokla in place of deep-fried pakoras
3. Apply healthier cooking oils in small amounts:
If oil is required to be used, opt for healthy oils such as ghee or
coconut oil. These contain important nutrients and are easier to digest
than refined oils. Also, attempt shallow frying or pan roasting rather
than deep-frying.
Healthy cooking tips:
- Apply ghee sparingly in place of refined oil
- Prefer shallow frying instead of deep-frying
- Experiment with an air fryer for crunchier snacks with less oil
4.
Make smart, sweet choices: Deep-fried and sugar-based Navratri sweets
are the most common. Switch to healthier sweet options such as homemade
fruit desserts, jaggery-sweetened sweets, or makhana-nut baked kheer.
Healthier sweet alternatives:
- Baked apple or banana chips as an alternative to deep-fried sweet goodies
- Jaggery or honey as a replacement for refined sugar
- Makhana kheer with dates instead of sugar-laden sweets
5. Stay hydrated and add more fruits and nuts: Fried foods can make
you feel dehydrated and lethargic. Instead, add fresh fruits, nuts, and
seeds to your fasting diet. Coconut water, buttermilk, and lemon water
can keep you hydrated and energised throughout the day.
Hydrating and healthy choices:
- Fresh fruit salads instead of fried snacks
- Coconut water and buttermilk instead of sugary beverages
- Eat nuts and seeds for instant energy rather than deep-fried foods
This Navratri, initiate a small yet significant change to your fasting food by shunning deep-fried foods. By opting for better choices such as roasted, steamed, and baked foods, you can still have tasty meals without sacrificing nutrition. Such minor changes will not only keep you fit and active but will also improve your overall fasting experience. Therefore, give these healthy modifications a go and usher in Navratri with a light and wholesome diet.
