Continuing from my previous posts on Navratri …….
On the days of Indian rituals and religious festivals, vegetarian food is prepared at home. There are households who do not have onions and garlic. Thus, the choice becomes limited about what to cook.
The most common dishes for Navaratri are:
- Sabudana puris and vadas which are made of tapioca
- Sabudana kheer- Pudding made of tapioca
- Sabudana khichdi- Made from tapioca
- Vrat ke chawal- The rice that is made during fasting
- Singhare ka halwa- Water chestnut pudding.
- Lauki halwa- Pudding made from Bottle gourd
- Vegetable rice cutlets- cutlets made of mixed vegetables and rice.
Below are videos where Manjula shows how to prepare these dishes for Navratri in her kitchen
Tomorrow shall mark the tenth day of Ashwin in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The first nine days being celebrated as Navaratri. This Hindu festival is celebrated across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Dussehra or Vijayadashami marks the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur, the demon. Durga Puja ends on this day with the immersion of idols. People visit each other’s house and exchange gifts. The saffron-colored Marigold are particularly associated with this festival and sold in abundance during this festive period. They are used for worship and decorating workplaces and homes.
In northern India, mainly Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and western Bihar, there is a tradition to plant barley seeds in earthen pots on the first day of Navratri. The sprouts on the tenth day, Dussehra, are used as symbols of luck. Many plays and dramas based on Ramayana are performed during this period known as ‘Ramlila’. The effigies of Ravana filled with firecrackers containing phosphorus are burned on Dussehra. The ceremonial burning of effigies of Ravana celebrates the victory of Rama. Dussehra is a festival of victory of Good over Evil.
Wish u all a Happy Dusshera
