Navratri Fasting Rules
As Shardiya Navratri, the nine-day festival dedicated to Maa Durga, approaches, devotees are preparing for fasting, puja rituals, and festivities. Navratri is celebrated with vibrant diversity across India, with various regions showcasing unique customs and traditions.
One common practice is fasting, observed predominantly in North India, where devotees abstain from certain foods as an expression of devotion. Whether you’re a seasoned observer or a beginner, understanding the rules and guidelines for fasting is essential to ensure a spiritually enriching experience.
Dos and Don’ts for General Observers
Even if you’re not fasting during Navratri, there are certain practices and principles to adhere to:
Skip Onion and Garlic: Avoid consuming onion and garlic, along with specific vegetables like mushrooms, leeks, and shallots during Navratri. Embrace satvik ahaar (pure food) that enhances your devotion and purifies your system.
No Shaving or Nail Cutting: It is considered inauspicious to shave or cut nails during Navratri. Devotees believe that refraining from these activities can avert bad luck.
Abstain from Alcohol and Non-vegetarian Food: Alcohol and non-vegetarian dishes fall under the category of tamsic (impure) foods and are not permitted during this sacred period.
Avoid Gossip and Negative Thoughts: It’s not just the purity of food but also of thoughts that matters during Navratri. Avoid engaging in gossip, speaking negatively about others, and fostering unkind thoughts.
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If you’re observing a fast, follow these rules to ensure a spiritually rewarding experience:
FASTING:
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) March 30, 2023
Besides many health benefits, now proven by modern science, long fasting, anything more than 3 days, releases hidden energy in your body. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Fasting also helps us discover our relationship with food. When food is scarce we…
Sattvik and Vrat-friendly Foods: During Navratri, certain foods are restricted, including wheat, rice, and specific vegetables like brinjal, okra, and mushrooms. Instead, embrace vrat-friendly grains like samak chawal, singhara atta, sabudana, and fruits such as banana, apple, and oranges. Replace regular salt with sendha namak for seasoning.
Perform Morning and Evening Aarti: Devotees should ideally light Akhanda Deepak (continuous lamp) throughout Navratri. However, if this is not feasible, performing morning and evening aarti to honor Maa Durga and her different avatars is recommended. Each day pays tribute to one of the nine forms of Adi Shakti.
Ghatasthapana Ritual: On the first day of Navratri, Ghatasthapana is a significant ritual. This should be performed during the Pratipada (first day) prevailing on that day, signifying the beginning of the festival.
Red Flowers and Red Clothes: As different avatars of Maa Durga are worshipped on each day of Navratri, it is customary to wear red clothes and offer red flowers during the puja. This color symbolizes strength and devotion.
Foods to Consume and Avoid:
Fasting devotees should select from a range of vrat-friendly ingredients:
Foods to Eat:
- Samvat ke chawal (barnyard millet)
- Kuttu ka aata (buckwheat flour)
- Sabudana (sago)
- Rajgira
- Singhare ka aata (water chestnut flour)
- Potatoes, sweet potatoes, bottle gourd (lauki), arbi (colocasia), pumpkin, spinach, cucumber, carrots.
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Foods to Avoid:
- Onion and garlic
- Okra, brinjal, and mushrooms
- Wheat, rice, semolina, maida (refined flour), corn flour
- Legumes and pulses
Conclusion
Navratri fasting is not only a religious observance but also a spiritual journey filled with devotion and tradition. Whether fasting or not, these guidelines and principles provide a deeper understanding of the significance of Navratri and help ensure that the nine days are celebrated with purity and reverence.
