As the festive season begins with Ganesh Chaturthi, a palpable change fills the air, heralding the vibrant celebration of Navratri. This nine-day festival, dedicated to prayers, sattvik food, and devotion to Maa Durga and her nine avatars, will be observed from October 3 to October 11, 2024, with Vijayadashami following on October 12.
Navratri marks the arrival of Goddess Durga on Earth, and during these nine days, devotees engage in worship and offer prayers, alongside preparing special foods for the nine forms of the Goddess. Many devotees fast to express their devotion, with some choosing to fast for the full nine days, while others observe fasts in pairs, either at the beginning or the end of the festival.
According to Drik Panchang, the Ghatasthapana Muhurat signals the start of the Navratri puja. These nine days are dedicated to the nine avatars of Maa Durga: Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri, and Maa Siddhidatri. The festival not only emphasizes spiritual devotion but also fosters a sense of community and cultural identity, celebrated through music, dance, and a variety of local traditions that showcase the rich diversity of Indian culture.
Puja muhurat and timing
- Shardiya Navratri 2024: Ghatsthapana Muhurat
- Pratipada Tithi Begins -October 03, 2024 - 12:18 AM
- Pratipada Tithi Begins -October 04, 2024 - 02:58 AM
- Ghatasthapana Muhurta - October 3, 2024 - From 05:38 AM To 06:40 AM
- Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurta -October 3, 2024 - From 11:12 AM To 11:59 AM
- Kanya Lagna Begins - October 03, 2024 - 05:38 AM
- Virgo Lagna Ends - October 03, 2024 - 06:40 AM
Rules regarding food one should follow
As per historians, these nine days are meant to prepare the body for the winter season and hence it is suggested to eat healthy and light. The main food rules to follow during these 9 days are:
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- No onion and garlic.
- No grains and pulses like wheat, rice, lentils, beans.
- No alcohol and tobacco consumption
- No meat, egg, or any sort of seafood.
- Consume sattvik foods like fruits and vegetables like potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, bottle gourd, raw banana, and more.
- Drink water, fruit juices, milk, buttermilk, lassi, shakes, and smoothies.
- Avoid white salt, chaat masala, and black salt, and consume sendha namak and black pepper.
Here is list of 'Do's' you should follow during Navratri:
- During your fast, ensure you’re eating regularly. Snack on nuts and fruits every two hours.
- Drink plenty of water, milk, buttermilk, and fresh juices to keep your body hydrated.
- Use rock salt (sendha namak) instead of table salt for cooking.
- During the 9-days fast, stick to the Navratri diet which is an alkaline one and includes nuts, fruits, dairy products like milk and butter and selected flours like Kuttu ka Atta (buckwheat flour), Singhare ka Atta (water chestnut flour) or Rajgira ka Atta (amaranth flour).
- Drink water, milk, buttermilk, and fresh juices throughout the day to keep the body hydrated.
- While using spices stick to cumin seeds, cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves, black pepper powder, red chilli powder, and black peppercorns.
Here is list of 'Don'ts' you should avoid during Navratri:
- Onion and Garlic: Avoid using onion and garlic in your cooking.
- Certain Spices: Steer clear of heat-generating spices.
- Oils: Do not use mustard oil or sesame oil.
- Meat and Eggs Consumption of meat and eggs should be avoided
- Alcohol and Tobacco: Avoid alcohol and tobacco entirely.
- Full Meals Before Aarti: If you’re fasting, refrain from having a proper meal or your last meal before the sandhya aarti (sunset).
- Packaged Juices: Avoid packaged juices, as they may contain added salt and preservatives.
Must-try foods during Navratri
Sabudana Khichdi: It is prepared by soaking sabudana pearls and then cooking them in a tempering of ghee, cumin, green chilies, and curry leaves. The dish is then topped with cumin powder, coriander powder, roasted peanuts, sendha namak, black pepper, fresh coriander leaves, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Coconut Laddoo: This easy dessert is made with grated coconut cooked along with milk powder, condensed milk, milk, sugar, cardamom powder, and then shaped into laddoos and topped with nuts.
Cucumber Raita: This probiotic-rich one-pot dish is made with grated and sauteed cucumber, mixed in beaten curd, and topped with sugar, sendha namak, black pepper, and a tempering of ghee, green chilli, and cumin seeds.
Sabudana Kheer: This one-pot dessert is made with soaked sabudana pearls, cooked in full-fat milk along with sugar, and nuts in it.
Fruit Chaat: This healthy snack is made with seasonal fruits like banana, apple, papaya, kiwi, and pears, which are cut into dices and then are topped with sendha namak, black pepper, and beaten curd.
(with ToI inputs)
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