- By Bornika Das
- Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:09 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Navratri Fast-Friendly Grains: Navratri, the nine-day festival, is celebrated with joy and fervour across the country by the Hindus. This festival celebrates the nine forms of Maa Durga. Also known as Chaitra Navratri, the festival is commemorated in the month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April. Chaitra Navratri 2025 began on March 20 and will continue till April 7. During these nine days, devotees offer prayers to Maa Durga and observe a fast. Devotees restrict themselves from consuming certain foods, including onion, garlic, meat, alcohol and other tamsik foods. Mainly, sattvik foods are consumed during the fast on these nine-days. There are certain types of fast-friendly grains that are consumed during Navratri to keep the devotees energised.
As traditional staples like wheat and rice are avoided during Navratri, there are several nutrient-rich grains that are consumed, ensuring that the fasting remains both spiritually fulfilling and nutritionally balanced. Not only do these grains provide energy throughout the festival, but they also aid in digestion and detoxification, keeping the body light and refreshed. Here’s a list of five types of grains that are consumed during Navratri.
Grains You Can Consume During Navratri
Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls)
This is one of the most common fast-friendly grains eaten during Navratri fasts. Sabudana is made of cassava root and is high in carbohydrates and provides a quick source of energy. This is used in making dishes like sabudana khichdi, vadas or kheer.
Kuttu
Also known as buckwheat, this grain is consumed during this nine-day festival. Kuttu is rich in fibre, protein and magnesium. Kuttu wali puris and parathas are commonly consumed with any kind of sattvik side dish.
Amaranth Can Be Eaten During Navratri (Image Credits: Canva)
Singhara Atta
Singhara Atta or wheat chestnut, is made from dried water chestnuts that are turned into flour. These are naturally gluten-free and are high in protein and fibre. They are very low in calories and are a vrat-friendly ingredient that provides loads of energy. It is used in making parathas, samosas, puris and cheelas.
Amaranth
Derived from the Amaranth flour, these are a great source of protein, fibre, iron and calcium. It is also gluten-free and is used to prepare dishes like roti, dosa, upma or even puddings. It is a powerhouse of nutrition and helps maintain energy levels throughout the fasting period.
Samak Rice
Also known as barnyard millet, this is very commonly consumed during the fasting season. This grain has several other names, such as sama seeds, samo seeds, samvat grain and sama grains. It is gluten-free and are packed with fibre and protein and provides energy for a long time. You ca make pulao, kheer, khichdi as well as dosa with samak rice.