Chaitra Navratri 2025 offers vegetable variety for fasting

Chaitra Navratri is an important festival for Hindus, celebrating the nine forms of Goddess Durga. In 2025, this festival will begin on March 30 and end on April 6. Many devotees fast for all nine days, following a strict diet. During Navratri, specific foods are allowed, while grains, pulses, garlic, and onions are avoided. Common permitted foods include sago, buckwheat, water chestnut flour, and dairy products. Devotees often use rock salt instead of regular salt in their meals. Potatoes are popular during this period, but there are other vegetables to enjoy as well. Here are six nutritious options that can add variety to fasting meals: 1. Lauki Ki Sabzi (Bottle Gourd Curry) - A healthy and refreshing dish made with lauki and coconut. 2. Kaddu Ki Sabzi (Pumpkin Curry) - This curry features tender pumpkin cooked with spices and is great with kuttu puri. 3. Shakarkandi Chaat (Sweet Potato Chaat) - A tangy chaat with roasted sweet potato, chillies, and lime juice. 4. Aloo Ki Kadhi (Potato Curry in Yoghurt Gravy) - A comforting dish made with potatoes and served with samak rice. 5. Arbi Ki Sabzi (Taro Root Curry) - Taro root is versatile; you can try arbi kofta or arbi kadhi for variety. 6. Kebab-e-Kela (Raw Banana Kebabs) - These kebabs use raw banana and buckwheat flour for a tasty treat. Besides these, root vegetables like carrots and radishes are also allowed. Cucumber can be used for raita, pakoras, or chillas. This Navratri, enjoy these vegetable recipes to keep your meals diverse and nutritious.