A Guide to Navratri Fasting
Navratri, nine days of colors, music, love, and FASTING!
Fasting is a part of the rituals surrounding Navratri. It is a way of celebrating these nine days.
Fasts are a way of bringing people closer to the Almighty. They are also a medium of bringing about spiritual purification that strengthens people’s willpower. During these days, people follow a traditional Satvik diet which is simple and basic. Scientifically, fasting helps rejuvenate the body and is a way to de-stress, build up immunity and helps detoxify.
So, while you reminisce over how Navratri was celebrated back home, here’s some points to keep in mind if you’re planning to have Satvik food or fast:
You definitely need to stay away from wheat and rice. If you want, you can use its alternatives like Buckwheat flour (Kuttu ka Atta), which is high in carbohydrates and proteins, and Water Chestnut flour (Singhaare ka Atta) or just bring over the star of Navratri – Sabudana (Tapioca Sago). It’s the star because you can use it to make Papad, Vada, and even Kheer.
Focus on the Namak
Fasts are all about staying away from polluted/corrupted things and investing in pure things. Sendha Namak (Rock Salt) is one of those ingredients. It’s considered to be the most superior and pure salt in Ayurveda as it helps in absorbing minerals better than the common salt.
Make every day fruitful
The best things come in the shape of fruits, especially when you’re fasting. Some people love the idea of fruits and fast only on fruits and milk for 9 days. The best fruits to indulge in this season are apples, mangoes, melons, grapes and pomegranate. Make yourself a delicious fruit chat by sprinkling Rock Salt on it.
Say bye-bye to non-vegetarian food
For nine days, avoid all kinds of onion and garlic. Change your diet to a vegetarian one. Consume vegetables like green leafy veggies, potatoes pumpkins, carrots and others. If you’re looking for a dish that’ll leave everyone spellbound, treat them to a delicious Kadhi Pakora.
Keep yourself hydrated
Changing from fast or heavy foods to light meals might leave you weak and dehydrated. Stay hydrated and energized by drinking fluids such as buttermilk (Chaas), coconut water, lemon water, and other fluids that provide nutrition than just plain water.
Navratri fasts have their religious meaning but do you know that they also have a scientific logic attached to it? As Navratri starts during the transition of weathers, the light diet is beneficial as our bodies are more prone to sickness because our immunity levels tend to get low due to the fluctuations in the atmosphere.
There’s so much you can do, so much that you can eat, so many tunes you can dance to.
The magic of Navratri never fades.
Let its intensity stay longer, make light, healthy meals from pure and 100% Organic Spices, Organic Flours and Organic Pulses.
