Chaitra Navratri 2020: List of food items that you can eat and that you must avoid during this auspicious time of year

Chaitra Navratri is a propitious festival that is commemorated with significant passion and spirit across the nation. This nine-day long festivity is celebrated in the lunar month of Chaitra that comes about between March and April.

This year, Chaitra Navratri will commence on 25th March and will end on 2nd April. During this time, followers worship Goddess Durga, prepare thrditional food and sing bhajans to seek the blessings of goddess. It is believed that goddess fulfils wishes of those who keep fast during this time.

But observing fast for nine back-to-back days is tough. There are precise traditions, practice and food rules that you need to abide. You are not supposed to eat anything and every thing during this auspicious time.

Here is a list of food items that you can eat and items you cannot:

You can consume Rajgira atta (Amaranth flour), Singhara atta (Water Chestnut flour), Kuttu atta (Buckwheat flour), and Arrowroot flour. Among herbs and spices, cumin seeds, curry leaves, black salt, green chilly, and dry mango powder are considered good. Vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, raw banana, and arbi can be consumed. You can also eat dry fruits, coconut, sabudana, and jaggery during Navratri.

If you are fasting, you need to stay away from eating regular table salt. Also, make your food only using ghee or peanut oil. Consuming Tamasic food in the time of Navratri is not allowed. Which means, you cannot consume onion and garlic. In order to make tortilla, you must use buckwheat flour, Singhare Ka Atta or water chestnut flour. Consuming white rice in the time of fast is also not allowed. You can use its alternatives including millet and Sabudana. Moreover, you should stay away from non-vegetarian food, aerated drinks, and alcohol during Navratri.

Also Read: Chaitra Navratri 2020: Know how to perform Maa Durga Puja during coronavirus lockdown