7 NAVRATRI FALAHARI AND BHOG OFFERING IDEAS

Navratri is around the corner and we can’t wait to start the celebration with fasting while bingeing on falahari. Chaitra navratri 2022 in India will be celebrated from 2 April to 11 April. Moreover, it is celebrated in Chaitra Maas,which is considered as the first month in the Hindu Lunar calendar.The Chaitra navratri fasts conclude on the 9^th day with Ram Navmi which marks the birth of Lord Shri Rama.

During Navratri people abstain from eating non veg,alcohol,onion, garlic and certain other things too.Throughout the 9 days of navratri,feminine power is celebrated in all its glory and on the last day which is either 8^th or 9^th day, kanya pujan is performed ,this marks the conclusion of navratri.

To make Navratri festive season easy ,simple and fun, we have curated a list of bhog offered during 9 days along with Navratri food recipe ideas(falahari) that can be eaten during navratri.

NAVRATRI VRAT FALAHARI IDEAS

Let’s be honest, it becomes quite a task to think about what to make in Falahari during Navratri. Food Options do get limited while thinking of Vrat dishes since one has to use certain ingredients like kuttu, sabudana ,potato etc. and avoid garlic,onion,tomato and certain other things.Therefore,we have come up with a list of falahari/fasting recipe ideas that can ease up your stress and have a fun Navratri .

1. Singhare Ke Aate Ki Poori

Not many people know but Singhare ki poori tastes the same as regular pooris. In addition to this Singhare ka atta has health benefits too. To make Singhare ki poori a dough is prepared with following ingredients- Singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour), kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour), rajgira ka atta (amaranth flour), sama ke chawal ka atta (barnyard millet flour) and arrowroot flour. These flours can be a good gluten free option during fasting.

2. Vrat Ke Uttapam

Uttapam can be a good idea to have on a fasting day.To be honest regular Falhari items like aloo chaat, pakoras, kuttu etc. gets a little heavy which gives all sorts of digestion problems. Vrat ke Uttapam can be prepared with sabudana and samak rice paste which can be lighter and healthier at the same time.. To add a little more taste and give a little nudge to your taste buds, serve it hot with spicy green chutney or coconut chutney.

3. Makhana Aloo Tikki

Makhana Aloo tikki is not only delectable but also it is easy to make. It can be an easy and good option to eat in Navratri - prepared from Makhana or Faux Nuts which is roasted and mixed with boiled and mashed potatoes and flavoured with Indian spices. It is then deep or shallow fried from both sides till it becomes crispy. Faux Nuts are generally consumed during fasting. Since Makhna has great nutritional benefits it thus makes this dish a healthy one.

4. Kuttu Ka Dhokla

Kuttu which is also called buckwheat flour is commonly consumed during Navratri. Options do get limited when it comes to kuttu, for example people generally make pakoras or cheela. To add a new element to it one can try making Kuttu ka dhokla.Not only will it be a lighter option but also it would bring some newness to your regular falahari.

5. Sabudana Pulao

Sabudana Pulao is made up of satvik ingredients making it a light and healthy option to have during Navratri. Since fasting during Navratri can deprive you of your energy pretty quickly, Sabudana can be a very good option to eat as it is a powerhouse of energy, it has high calcium and iron content. In addition to this, Sabudana or Tapioca Pearls also help in digestion.

6. Singhara Atta Cheela

Usually people make kuttu cheela during fast but one can also try Singhara atta cheela which is a kind of pancake made from Water Chestnut flour. Add Green chilli, coriander and basic Indian spices to the batter just like you would add in any other cheela batter.Water Chestnut flour contains a lot of nutritional components such as proteins, calcium and vitamins making it a healthier option to have during Navratri. Singhara Cheela can be served alongside with spicy green chutney or coconut peanut chutney to rev up the taste

7. Palak Makhana Sabzi

Palak Makhana can be a great choice to make in falahari as it is a delectable and healthy dish. Creamy palak gravy would make up for onion and garlic flavour. Since Palak is a green vegetable nothing can be more healthier than it as it contains high iron content and vitamins like Vitamin A,Vitamin C ,Vitamin K, folate and potassium. On the other hand, Makhana too has health benefits like it cures Insomnia, is high in antioxidants, regulates blood sugar levels, and is great for a healthy heart. Palak Makhana sabzi can be served alongside ajwain poori or pulav making it a wholesome meal.

SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH NAVRATRI DAY & BHOG IDEAS

Navratri is a time when we all struggle to think about the ideas for bhog offerings to be made to god but interestingly enough, there are specific bhogs one should offer according to the goddess worshipped on that particular day.

Day1- On day 1 Goddess Maa Shailputri is worshipped. She is also considered as Goddess Parvati who is believed to be the companion of Lord Shiva. In addition to this she is the complete form of mother nature and an epitome of patience and devotion. It is said that one should offer cow ghee as prasadam on this day. Also,one can offer any sweet made up of Desi Ghee like ladoos,barfi,halwa etc.

Day2- On day 2 Goddess Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped. Name Brahmacharini is made up of two words Brahma and Charini wherein Brahma means penance and charni means conduct. In Hindu religion it is believed that Maa Brahmacharni is the unmarried incarnation of Goddess Parvati. On this day one should offer Sugar and Panchamrit as Prashad. As the name suggests Panchamrit is a mixture of five ingredients which includes 4 to 5 tsp cow’s milk,1 tsp sugar,1 tsp honey,1 tsp curd & 2 tsp ghee .

Day3-On Day 3 Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped. GoddessChandraghanta signifies fearlessness and courage, also she is represented as having ten arms and holding many weapons in them.Since,there is a half moon shaped bell on her forehead therefore,she is called Chandraghanta. Sweets made of milk are offered as Prashad to the Goddess.Sweets like Ras Malai, kheer, Shahi Tukda, Mishti Doi etc. can be offered on this day.

Day4- On day 4 Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped. According to Hindu mythology she created the Universe with her radiant smile. Her name is made up of three words ku, Ushma and Anda wherein “ku”means little , “Ushma” means energy or warmth, “Anda” means egg combining all of which highlights that she is the creator of ‘little cosmic egg’. Moreover,she is said to have power because of which she can live inside the sun.It is said that on this day Bhakts should offer Malpua as Prashadam to her.

Day5- On day 5 Maa skanda mata is worshipped. She is the mother of Lord Kartikeya, who is considered a war god also called Skanda. She is represented as holding a baby, having four arms and sitting on a lion, highlighting the power to protect a child. One should offer Bananas as Prashad to the goddess in order to garner her blessings.

Day6- On day 6 Maa Katyayani is worshipped. She is believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Parvati as the daughter of Rishi Katyayana. Moreover, it is said that one who reveres her is blessed with qualities like courage, knowledge and strength. Also,she is considered the fiercest form of Goddess Durga. As offerings one should serve meetha paan to Goddess Katyani on the 6th day of Navratri.

Day 7- On day 7 goddesses Maa kaalratri is worshipped. Since she is said to be the most ferocious form of Maa Durga , it is believed that she entails power to destroy all demons, ghosts and negative energies. Food made with jaggery is generally served to goddess. Sweets like Til Gud ke ladoo, Jaggery rice, Rice payasam etc. can be a good choice to offer as Prashadam on this day.

Day 8- On day 8 Maa Mahagauri is worshipped. She is the 8th avatar of goddess durga. It is thought that Goddess Mahagauri entails the power to fulfil the desires of her bhakts. Name Mahagauri is made up of two words Maha and Gauri wherein Maha means great and Gauri means radiant or fair. Sweets made of coconut like coconut barfi,laddoos,ice cream etc. should be offered as prasadam to her. One can also offer a coconut to the goddess.

Day 9-On day 9 Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped.This day usually marks the conclusion of Navratri, kanya Pujan is performed on this day in which feminine energy is revered beautifully. Goddess Siddhidatri blesses her devotees with spiritual wisdom and she is said to destroy ignorance. Chana and halwa puri are made on this day for prasadam.

CONCLUSION

Navratri falahari sometimes do lead to binging on fried food which in turn lead to consuming more than usual killing the whole purpose of fasting. Therefore,above mentioned falahari ideas can be a good option to make this Navratri more healthier and happier. May this Navratri Goddesses shower their blessings upon you and fill your lives with all the joy in the world.

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7 NAVRATRI FALAHARI AND BHOG OFFERING IDEAS