The festival of Chaitra Navratri or the Vasant Navratri marks the beginning of the Spring festival. The festival will begin from March 18, 2018 and conclude with Ram Navami on March 26, 2018. People worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga, each on one day in this nine-day long festival. It is celebrated in equal enthusiasm like the big Indian festival Navratri. Most of the women observe fasts as a way of pleasing and worshipping the Goddess.

Why fast during Chaitra Navratri?

It is said during this auspicious period, the Goddess descends on the Earth and her devotes please her with whatever they can. So a fast is a way of pleasing the goddess, and people then make certain offerings to the deity. Other than considering just the religious reasons, fasting can also help you physically. This is because the arrival of spring denotes a change in the atmosphere. During summers, a lot of oily and spicy food should be avoided. While fasting, one definitely abstains from non-vegetarian and alcohol, but also certain masalas and heavy grains. It helps your body and boosts your immunity for days to come ahead.

Fasting is a very common ritual which most of the Indian women follow during various festivals throughout the year. It is important to note what you can actually eat and what you cannot. During Chaitra Navratri you can have flours (Rajgira atta, Singhara atta, Kuttu atta, Arrowroot flour), vegetables (Potatoes, Sweet potatoes, Raw banana, Arbi, Yam) and spices (Cumin seeds/powder, Dried pomegranate seeds, Curry leaves, Black salt, Dry mango powder (Amchur powder), Green Chilly, Lemon). Other than this you can have dry fruits, fruits and sabudana.

Let us look at some of the fasting food recipes for Chaitra Navratri:

1. Arbi cutlet: This is a yummy snack you can have during tea-time or even lunch while you are fasting. Although it tastes extra yummy with a chutney, you will have to do without it, since you are fasting. If you haven’t tried them ever before, then these colocassia cutlets need to be made!

Check out the recipe of fasting food Arbi cutlet:

2. Samvat rice Khichdi: This is one filling recipe which you can have for your lunch or dinner. Samvat rice is also called as vrat ke chawal which itself refers to fasting rice. You can have it with curd or basic raita and have a good meal.

Check out the recipe of fasting food Samvat Rice Khichdi:

3. Aloo Tamatar Sabzi: When you are fasting you usually stay away from many vegetables, but this aloo tamatar fasting recipe is easy and quick to make. You can combine it with samvat rice khichdi and have a complete meal.

Check the recipe of fasting food Aloo Tamatar Sabzi:

4. Satvik Dhokla: If you love the staple Gujarati snack, Dhokla, then you do not need to worry about missing eating it while you are fasting. The Satvik dhokla is made with barnyard millet (Sama Ke Chawal) which is allowed to consume during fast.

Check the recipe for fasting food Satvik Dhokla:

5. Apple dry fruit pudding: Everyone loves a little sweet dish after having food. Worry not if you are fasting, you make enjoy an apple dry fruit pudding. It is not only delicious but also a nutritious dessert which will make sure you get your required calories although you are fasting.

Check out the recipe of fasting food Apple dry fruit pudding:

Other than the recipes that we have listed above there is always the option of commonly made Sabudana khichdi, Sabudana wada or thalipeeth. But if you are looking for some change then you can always make any of the above recipes. If you know of any better better and new recipes for Chaitra Navratri fastign then share them with us in the comments section.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 15, 2018 03:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).