Navratri isn’t just a festival—it’s a feeling. It is a time to honour devotion, tradition and community. People all over India come together for nine nights and ten days to celebrate the goddess Durga in all her forms. Food is also very important to the celebrations, along with dance, prayer, and fasting.
But this isn’t your typical festival meal. Navratri food is different because it’s sattvic, meaning it’s pure, vegetarian, and free from onions and garlic. Fasting doesn’t mean not eating; it means eating with a purpose. And what’s interesting is that each region adds its own touch to the Navratri table.
Let’s take a tasty walk through the different kinds of Navratri food that people in India like to eat.
Sabudana Specials (Maharashtra, Gujarat and North India)
Tapioca pearls, or sabudana, are one of the most popular foods to eat during Navratri fasting. You can find it in many forms, but sabudana khichdi, which is made with peanuts, potatoes, and spices, is the most popular. Sabudana vada is another dish you can try out. It’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is best with green chutney. These dishes are light, filling and full of texture. They are popular during Navratri in many states.
Kuttu and Singhara Delights (North India)
Since wheat and rice are typically avoided, people turn to kuttu (buckwheat flour) and singhara (water chestnut flour). These are used to make puris, parathas, and even dosas during fasting. Pair a kuttu puri with a spicy vrat wale aloo curry, and you won’t miss your regular rotis one bit.
Pan-India Fruit Chaat and Vrat Wale Snacks
Fresh fruits are very important during Navratri. Fruit chaat, which is often spiced with rock salt and lemon juice, makes a light and refreshing lunch. You can also get a lot of vrat-friendly snacks, like aloo tikki, banana chips, and makhana (fox nuts) roasted with ghee and spices. These are great for when you’re fasting but still want something tasty.
Dishes with Rajgira and Sama (Central and West India)
Rajgira, or amaranth, is another popular food for fasting. It can be used to make rajgira rotis, laddoos, and even kheer. Like rice, sama ke chawal (barnyard millet) is another option, it is often cooked and served with potato curry. It tastes a lot like what you normally eat, but it’s great for fasting.
Navratri Thali (North India)
When you can’t decide what to eat, the Navratri thali comes to the rescue. It usually includes sabudana khichdi, kuttu puris, vrat aloo, cucumber raita and a sweet dish like lauki halwa or makhana kheer. Balanced, satisfying, and festive—it’s like a little celebration on a plate.
South Indian Touches
Navratri food in South India leans a little different but is just as flavorful. You’ll find dishes like sundal—a dry preparation of boiled chickpeas or green gram with coconut and curry leaves—and payasam, a sweet milk-based pudding. And don’t miss panakam, a refreshing jaggery-lemon drink which is offered during prayers.
Sweet Endings (That Fit the Fast)
Of course, no festival meal is complete without something sweet. Navratri favourites include sabudana kheer, lauki halwa, rajgira laddoos and dry fruit barfis made with ghee and jaggery. They’re rich, satisfying, and vrat-friendly—all without breaking the rules.
Craving Navratri Food Without the Prep?
You don’t have to cook everything yourself if you’re fasting, eating a sattvic diet, or just love the tastes of Navratri. You can order a variety of Navratri thalis, vrat snacks, and sweets that are good for fasting from nearby restaurants that you can trust, using apps like Zomato. No garlic or onions—just clean, delicious holiday food brought right to your door.