Navratri 2023 | Navratri Fasting Guidelines, Recipes & Pooja Vidhi

This detailed put up shares Navratri quick guidelines, Navratri pooja vidhi (process or pointers), Navratri kanya poojan, meals elements allowed for Navratri vrat, Navratri recipes and the way Navratri vrat vidhi is noticed in our place.

This 12 months Chaitra Navratri begins on 22 March and ends on 30 March 2023. Additionally the Sharad Navratri begins on 15 October and ends on 23 October 2023.

Earlier than I start with the Navratri fasting guidelines and pointers, I want to thanks for studying this put up. I additionally hope you’ve gotten a loyal, fruitful Navratri competition and get blessings from the Goddess.

Devi Maa got here in my life a few years again. My previous life non secular practices together with this life’s austerities (tapasya) and penance and my good karmas, helped me to get Her blessings.

I’ve a lot to say, however I can not write all the pieces on this put up (a guide will probably be wanted). I solely have tears in my eyes once I bear in mind Her. I’ve no phrases to explain Maa.

Nobody can ever perceive Maa and Her leela. Maa is compassion, interval. She has helped me throughout many troublesome circumstances in my life.

Although I worship Maa on a regular basis, I at all times sit up for the Navratri competition yearly. It’s simple to invoke and join with Her as Maa may be very lively throughout these 9 nights.

You simply must name Her with an innocence of a kid and hold calling and pestering her, until she listens to your prayers. Innocence and a child-like high quality is essential.

You should have no deceit or cunningness in your thoughts or coronary heart. True and honest devotion is required.

Pray for the nicely being of your self, your loved ones, your folks and everybody. Don’t pray or do any sadhana (non secular apply) to hurt others as this creates destructive karma which is able to finally bounce upon you.

If you’re prayers are honest, earnest, optimistic and with a deep longing, they are going to be answered.

What’s Navratri?

Navratri actually means 9 nights and through this era, 9 types of the Mom Goddess or Shakti or Devi are worshiped all through India.

Out of 4 main Navratri taking place in a 12 months, solely two Navratri are celebrated. The primary ‘Chaitra Navratri‘ celebration is when summer time begins (March-April) and the second ‘Sharad Navratri’ is when winter begins (Oct-Nov).

The opposite two Navratri are generally known as Gupt Navratri. The Hindi language phrase ‘gupt’ means “secret” and other people into tantra apply used to comply with their non secular practices associated to shakti sadhana on this two gupt navratri.

These days many individuals hold quick and do non secular pooja and sadhana throughout gupt navratri additionally. Gupt navratri was not so well-liked with widespread individuals earlier than however it’s getting well-liked now. These are additionally spiritually charged days to worship and bear in mind the goddess as she is invoked by thousands and thousands of devotees.

In North and Western India, many individuals hold quick throughout Navratri. As it’s a superb time to make progress in your non secular apply or to invoke the power of the Mom Goddess or purify your body-mind.

Navratri fasting guidelines fluctuate little from neighborhood to neighborhood and area to area. The identical fasting guidelines apply for fasts throughout the Ekadashi, Janmashtami and Mahashivratri fasts.

You may examine this put up which shares 104 Navratri Recipes that covers North Indian in addition to South Indian Navratri competition recipes. You may also browse the whole assortment of Vrat Recipes right here.

Meals allowed for Navratri Vrat or Quick

Flours and grains allowed

1. Singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour) – You can also make Singhare ki poori, paratha, pakoras, halwa.
2. Kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) – You can also make Khichdi, Paratha, Pakoras, Poori, and Halwa.
3. Rajgira ka atta (amaranth flour) and rajgira (amaranth) – You can also make Poori, Vrat ka halwa, Vrat ki kadhi, Paratha and thalipeeth. Roasted rajgira may be had blended with fruits, porridge and even ladoo. From amaranth grains you too can make Rajgira kheer.
4. Sama ke chawal ka atta (barnyard millet flour) – It may be used to make Vrat ke uttapam, Vrat ki Idli, dosa, poori.
5. Vrat ke chawal (barnyard millet) – You can also make Pulao, Khichdi, Kheer, dalia, Idli, dosa, upma or simply plain steamed.
6. Arrowroot flour or paniphal flour – Used as a thickener and binding agent.

Spices and herbs allowed

1. Cumin or cumin powder ( jeera or jeera powder )– You may add them to your curry or veggie dishes or make Jeera Aloo.
2. Black pepper powder
3. Rock salt (sendha namak) – As a substitute of standard salt add rock salt in any dish you put together whereas conserving navratri vrat.
4. Spices like inexperienced cardamom (choti elaichi), cloves (laung), black peppercorns (saboot kali mirch), cinnamon (dalchini) and nutmeg (jaiphal)
5. Dry pomegranate seeds (anardana) – You can also make chutney or raita or use it as a souring agent.
6. Ginger – each recent root in addition to dry, together with dry ginger powder
7. Inexperienced chilli or hari mirch
8. Lemons or lime
9. Ajwain or carom seeds
10. *coriander (dhania) and mint leaves (pudina) and curry leaves (kadi patta) – some people embrace and a few don’t. So examine with your loved ones elders earlier than utilizing them.
11. *dry mango powder (amchur powder), chaat masala, purple chili powder – some people embrace and a few don’t
12. *black salt (kala namak) – some people embrace and a few don’t

Greens Allowed in Navratri Quick

• Potatoes – You can also make Vrat ke aloo, Dahi aloo, Jeera aloo, Aloo tamatar ki sabzi, Vrat ke aloo palak or you can also make snacks like Aloo tuk, Farali pattice, simple Vrat ki Aloo chaat. You may also make halwa or add them to raita.
• Pumpkin – You can also make Kaddu ki sabzi, Halwa, Khatta meetha kaddu sabzi or Pakoras.
• Candy potato – You can also make Shakarkandi halwa, Tikki or chaat.
• Colocasia (arbi or kachalu) – You can also make many dishes from arbi like Sukhi arbi, Dahi arbi, Arbi tikki, Arbi cutlet.
• Yam (suran or jimkand or common yam or purple yam) – You can also make Suran chips, suran ki sabzi.
• Plantain or Unripe Banana – You can also make sabzi, banana fries and Banana chips.
• Unripe or semi ripe papaya – You can also make Papaya halwa and salad from uncooked papaya.
• *Tomatoes – Typically tomatoes are added to curries or sabzi. Tomato sauce and chutney can be made. However some individuals don’t use tomatoes too.
• *Veggies – Some people additionally use spinach (palak), bottle gourd (lauki), cucumber (kheera) and carrots (gajar). Kindly examine with your loved ones elders or priest to verify whether or not in your loved ones these veggies are used throughout navratri quick or not?

Different meals or elements allowed

1. Sabudana (sago or tapioca pearls) – sabudana is favourite throughout fasting. You can also make Sabudana khichdi, Sabudana vada, Thalipeeth, Pakora, Ladoo, Tikki, Bhel and Kheer.
2. Makhana or phool makhana – You can also make Makhana kheer, Roasted makhana, Aloo makhana, rotis or a easy makhana sabzi.
3. All nuts & dry fruits – You can also make Dry fruits milkshake or Dry fruits ladoo or Badam pista barfi or add them to halwas or different dishes.
4. All fruits – Make Fruit chaat, fruit salad, Fruit raita, combine Fruit lassi or fruit juices like Musk melon juice, Jackfruit shake, Pineapple juice, Apple milkshake, Guava juice or have them uncooked.
5. All milk merchandise like paneer, Curd, white butter, cream, ghee, Khoya, malai, condensed milk. However some individuals make Paneer at home (use lemon juice or curd for curdling the milk) and don’t use the paneer introduced from market. With do-it-yourself paneer you can also make Kalakand, Paneer kheer, Aloo paneer kofta and Paneer Barfi.
6. Sugar, honey, or jaggery
7. Tamarind (imli), kokum, lemon juice, yogurt – these can be utilized as souring brokers.
8. Coconut and coconut milk – You need to use coconut in your dishes, make Coconut ladoo, Coconut barfi or use Coconut milk  in Milkshakes.
9. Melon seeds (magaz), cucumber, peanuts, groundnut oil
10. Tea is allowed.

Meals to be averted throughout Navratri

• Onion and garlic are strictly averted. For those who discover any recipe on my weblog or another meals weblog or youtube chaneel that has onion and garlic then skip including them. Often ginger is added is most vrat recipes.
• No lentils and legumes
• Frequent salt will not be used and as a substitute rock salt or sendha namak additionally referred to as as upvaas ka namak is used.
• Spices like turmeric (haldi), asafoetida (hing), mustard (sarson or rai), fenugreek seeds (methi dana), garam masala and dhania powder (coriander powder) will not be allowed.
• Alcohol, non-vegetarian meals, eggs and smoking is strictly NO throughout this holy interval.
• Espresso will not be allowed. Do-it-yourself ice cream may be consumed. However keep away from shopping for from exterior as they may have lot of preservatives.
• Corn, corn starch, corn flour, oats, flaxseeds, chia seeds not allowed.
• Fat like peanut oil or groundnut oil and ghee can be utilized for frying objective. Don’t use any oil made out of seeds like sunflower oil.

Flours and grains not allowed in Navratri

1. Rice and rice flour
2. Wheat flour or atta
3. Maida (all-purpose flour)
4. Sooji (rava or semolina)
5. Besan (chickpea flour or gram flour)

Observe:
1. If you wish to make roti, poori or paratha for fasting then use above talked about fasting flours like singhare ka atta, kuttu ka atta and rajgira ka atta. For making rice primarily based dishes, kindly use sama ke chawal.

2. You may browse the whole assortment of 160 Vrat Recipes right here. You may also examine these collections of 11 Sabudana Recipes.

Navratri Vrat Vidhi (Process or Pointers)

How Navratri vrat pooja is noticed at my in legal guidelines place? It could be adopted in barely totally different manner in your loved ones. So you should utilize it as a reference.

• Cleansing home and residential temple: To begin with if potential, clear the home as you’re inviting the Goddess Mom in your home. You may specifically clear your home temple and sprinkle Ganga water in it.
• Avoiding onions and garlic: My mother-in-law doesn’t use any onion and garlic in any recipe, regardless of different individuals are conserving quick or not. So attempt to use all of the onions and garlic earlier than the quick is beginning.
• Fasting: Many devotees hold quick on all 9 days. My mother-in-law has stored quick on all 9 days by out her life. However now due to outdated age and falling well being, she hold quick on in the future. If by some means, its not potential so that you can hold quick on all 9 days then you’ll be able to attempt that on every day one individual of your loved ones is conserving quick in the home.
• Fasting for final two days: Some individuals hold quick on the primary and final day (my mother-in-law used to do that for previous few years). This 12 months one brahmin woman advised her that it’s higher to maintain quick on final 2 days. As after the primary day quick you’ve gotten began consuming once more after which you’re conserving quick on the final day. Based on this brahmin woman, it’s higher to maintain quick on final 2 days than on conserving quick on first and final day of Navratri.
• Potting Barley seeds: Many individuals develop ‘Khetri’ or Barley seeds throughout this era. For this they accumulate, clear mud from an auspicious or clear place. This mud is put in a earthen pot.

  Clear and wash the barley to take away any bugs or impurities and soak them in water for 15 to half-hour after which put these barley or ‘jau’ on the highest of mud.

  Make a skinny layer of mud on high of barley, in order to cowl it. Don’t put an excessive amount of mud in any other case barley is not going to develop and put simply sufficient water to soak the barley. One purple colour string (mauli) of mata rani is tied to khetri pot.

• Khetri colour: The progress of ‘khetri’ or barley is noticed very keenly by the devotee and it’s believed that the longer they develop in peak, the higher it’s for your loved ones’s fortune and nicely being. It’s also associated to the blessings or happiness of the Goddess on you.

  Few individuals consider that as a substitute of observing the peak of khetri, we should always take a look at the colour of khetri. Yellow colour khetri will not be good whereas inexperienced colour khetri is taken into account good.

  On the final day of Navratri, the khetri is immersed in transferring water physique like river or perhaps a pond. If there is no such thing as a water physique close by to your home then you’ll be able to put the khetri below pipal tree in a temple.

Navratri Pooja and Gadgets

1. Mata rani ka shingar (cosmetics) – My mother-in-law hold them in the home temple and every time (any day of Navratri) she go to a metropolis temple dedicated to goddess then she provide these shingar merchandise within the temple. The shingar gadgets embrace purple bangles, purple chunri, purple lipstick, bindi, mehendi, kajal, nail polish, anklets, mirror and sindhur.
2. Akhand diya: One diya or lamp is burned by out the 9 days and care should be taken that there’s sufficient ghee or oil within the diya on a regular basis. It’s Akhand jyoti (burning continuous on a regular basis for 9 days). This akhand jyoti will destroy all of the negativity in your home.

   Be certain that the lamp/diya retains on burning non cease. It shouldn’t extinguish in between. If it does then it gained’t be thought-about Akhand. Nice significance is paid to guarantee that the diya has sufficient ghee and wick on a regular basis.

3. Chunri: Together with this one purple colour chunri or material and one mature coconut is stored in the home temple. The skinny fringe of coconut must be in the direction of the temple.
4. Kalash: One kalash (earthen or copper pot) is full of water, 5 betel nuts or suparis, sugar, rice and a clear 5 rupees coin and is stored with all these pooja gadgets. Within the kalash, purple colour string of mata rani is tied and this kalash water is sprinkled in your home after the kanjak pooja on eighth or ninth day. You may also drink this water. This water is taken into account as charanamrit and is holy.
5. Pooja: After taking tub within the morning, aarti is finished for Devi Maa and bhog is given to Maa within the type of dry fruits and nuts (5 sorts), milk, bananas, mishri or different fruits. You may also provide recent flowers. After doing the aarti or pooja solely, my mother-in-law takes the meals.

   The identical aarti is finished in night time (sandhya kaal) too. Burning incense, dhoop and so forth is a part of morning and night pooja. Please chorus from tasting the meals elements for bhog, whereas assembling or getting ready the bhog.

Navratri Bhog or Prasad Ideas

The beneath data is about bhog or prashad on every day and my mother-in-law follows this.

• 1st day of Navratri (dedicated to Shailaputri Maa) – Desi ghee (made out of cow’s milk) is the bhog. It can deliver good well being in your life and can hold the illnesses away. In pooja or rituals solely cow ghee is used as it’s satvic. Don’t use ghee manufactured from buffalo milk as it’s tamasic.
• 2nd day of Navratri (dedicated to Bharmacharini Maa) – sugar and fruits are provided as bhog. It can enhance the longevity of your loved ones members
• third day of Navratri (dedicated to Chandraghanta Maa) – milk (doodk ka bhog) or you’ll be able to provide sweets or kheer. It can deliver reduction from ache and distress. After providing milk to ma it may be donated to brahmins.
• 4th day of Navratri (dedicated to Kushmanda Maa) – Malpua or Puda (skip including fennel seeds or saunf). After giving this bhog to Mata, the puda or pua may be hold beneath the pipal tree. It will increase the mind and energy of discrimination and determination making potential.
• fifth day of Navratri (dedicated to Skandamata) – banana or kela ka bhog. It retains you bodily wholesome.
• sixth day of Navratri (dedicated to Katyayani Maa) – honey ka bhog. You may also make donation to a pandit on this present day. This will increase well being and wonder.
• seventh day of Navratri (dedicated to Kaalratri Maa)– jaggery or gur ka bhog. It removes all sorrows and evil out of your life. Protects you from sudden calamity.
• eighth day of Navratri (dedicated to Maha Gauri Maa) – mature coconut as bhog. Removes sorrow out of your life and offer you success. Childless couple are blessed with youngster.
• ninth day of Navratri (dedicated to Siddhidatri Maa) – til ka bhog (sesame seeds). She is the Goddess of all siddhis.

Observe – Again house, this bhog is afterward provided to close by Devi Maa temple or given to any small woman (kanjak) or provided to any brahmin who conducts pooja service at your own home. Final choice is to eat the bhog with devotion. Additionally be sure that these meals gadgets provided as bhog are recent.

Chanting, Mantras and Bhav

Attempt to hold your physique and thoughts clear. Preserve your ideas targeted on Maa or the Goddess whereas doing all of your family work. You are able to do some particular pooja or havan in your home.

You may chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ or learn Durga Saptashati or Sri Lalita Sahasranama. You may also learn Srimad Devi Bhagwatam, Devi Mahatmyam or Kunjika Stotram.

You may also chant the Nivaran mantra “Aaim hreem kleem chamundayai vichche” – 108 occasions or as many extra occasions as you need. You may also chant 1 mala within the morning and one mala within the night. Celibacy is strictly noticed on all 9 days of Navratri.

You may also go to Devi temples throughout today or can play devotional songs or mata ke bhajan in your home to assist your thoughts to remain linked with Maa.

Fasting Meals – There isn’t a repair rule and it varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. Some individuals eat just one flour primarily based food plan in a day and remainder of the day they take milk, tea, fruits and so forth.

Those that cannot go for such strict food plan take 2 flour primarily based meals. In my place, we additionally purchase ‘seel ki patti or laddu’ – made out of popped amaranth seeds, from the grocery shops and have it throughout the fasting.

Usually, there may be at all times leisure for outdated or sick individuals, even for nursing moms or for individuals who cannot comply with rigorous fasting guidelines. However non-veg meals, eggs and alcohol shouldn’t be allowed in the home until Navratri is over. Irrespective of you’re conserving Navratri quick or not. Additionally keep away from utilizing onions and garlic in your meals.

Navratri Kanjak Pooja (Kanya Poojan)

Many households additionally do kanya puja on eighth or ninth day. My dad and mom stand up early within the morning, take tub and put on recent garments to start out the pooja preparation. Within the kanya puja, 9 women who haven’t reached the puberty stage are worshiped.

For the devotee these 9 women symbolize 9 types of Goddess Durga. The younger women who sit for kanya pooja take tub within the morning and put on new garments.

I’ve seen this kanjak puja many occasions. First the toes of the women are washed with water by the household elders. One mauli (purple colour string) is tied on their fingers and tilak is placed on the brow.

Then they’re worshiped and blessings are taken from them. After the customary Navratri kanya pooja, small women are provided prasadam which is often Puri, Dry Black Chana and Halwa.

The coconut which is stored in the home temple can be damaged throughout this event and is a part of the prasad. Some households additionally worship one small boy within the type of Bhairav however most households solely worship the women. Many individuals insist that solely women ought to sit for kanjak pooja.

Minimal two women ought to sit for kanjak pooja. No restriction on doing pooja with greater than 2 women however minimal two women, older than one 12 months of age is a should. If in your locality, 9 women can sit for kanjak pooja then superb. You may worship them as 9 types of the Goddess.

Together with the prasadam and eatables (in a single plate puri, dry black chickpeas and sooji halwa is given), presents, fruits and cash is given to the women (these days many individuals give presents gadgets like chocolate, frooti, biscuits and so forth). Fruits are a should to be given.

Guarantee that the women eat a part of poori, chana and halwa earlier than going to a different home for pooja. They gained’t have the ability to eat a lot as they’ve to go to different properties additionally who’re doing kanjak pooja. So only one chew can be sufficient and takes blessings from them which they’ll give by gently patting in your head.

With the tilak on head and a lot consideration, love, and devotion obtained, these small women actually look divine and they’re actually wanted on kanjak pooja day. Raksha Bandhan and kanjak pooja are two huge days for small women !!!

Observe: When you’ve got adopted the rituals accurately throughout 9 days and the worship of 9 women is finished with actual devotion then Goddess will probably be there inside the women when you’re worshiping them. It’s all as much as your devotion and religion in Maa. For those who can name Maa with actual devotion then she’s going to come for certain.

Secondly, for those who keep exterior India and you cannot organize two women for kanjak pooja or there is no such thing as a devi ma temple close to by. Then you’ll be able to comply with this process on the final day pooja – in your home put together poori, halwa and dry kala chana as prasad.

Make as many plates of prasad (poori, halwa, kala chan) as there are members in your home (you’ll be able to embrace your son or daughter who may be staying else the place).

Provide these prasad plates to devi ma and after a while as soon as you are feeling that maa has taken the prasad then eat it instantly with devotion. Prasad ought to at all times be eaten first earlier than consuming another meals and have it as quickly as potential.

When Navratri quick is damaged

On the day, kanjak pooja is finished, the Navratri quick is damaged in my home. Some individuals do kanjak pooja on eighth day (Ashtami) and a few do it on ninth day (Navami) and few individuals do it on Dussehra (tenth). Largely it’s executed on eighth or ninth day. 

The day kanjak pooja is finished, on that day in our home we do the immersion of khetri together with purple material (chunri) in transferring water (e.g. River) or it may be stored below pippal tree in a temple.

Usually, in our home pooja is accomplished early morning itself. For those who additionally wish to do kanjak pooja on ninth then hold quick on eighth (ashtami) as many individuals hold quick on 1st and final day of Navratri and a few individuals recommend to maintain quick on final 2 days for those who solely wish to quick for two days.

Please don’t take this above navrati vrat process or pointers as a thumb rule. I’m simply sharing the process which is noticed at my in legislation’s place and it’s simply in your reference and assist. Navratri vrat guidelines are versatile and fluctuate from household to household. I’ve additionally seen, some households who’ve began rising khetri of their house seeing my mother-in-law doing it.

Most essential factor in non secular quick or acts is your devotion and purity of coronary heart. If by some means you miss any rule or make a mistake, don’t fear. Mom goddess is at all times form to her kids and is forgiving.

Simply guarantee that your coronary heart is clear or with out malice for anybody and your energies are dedicated to righteous actions. As a substitute of regretting the error which occurred unknowingly, attempt to bear in mind maa on a regular basis. Preserve your ideas on maa and don’t waste in mundane issues.

Disclaimer: The above compiled checklist and data are primarily based upon the meals elements that we embrace for Navratri fasting in our household and inputs from mates. If unsure, then please seek the advice of your loved ones elders.

For those who discover this put up useful, then do share it along with your family and friends members. 

Jai Mata Di

This Navratri Vrat Guidelines put up from the archives (September 2013) has been republished and up to date on February 2023.