Vibrant colours, lights, dance and music, maybe the prominent highlights of Navratri, but fasting during this time is of immense important to a large section of Indians. We find out more...
Padma Rajagopal, chairperson, FICCI:
During Navratri, though not many from the Telugu community fast, non-vegetarians abstain from eating meat. In fact, people don’t even eat eggs. I have been following certain rituals since years now. During the sixth day of the festival, I always visit the famous Kanaka Durga temple at Vijayawada. Every year, I get a sari woven for the Goddess and on that day, the idol is made to wear the sari I gift. Apart from that, our day starts very early during the festival. Since we have pujas every day, the prasadam is made as early as 4 am, with pujas from 7 am, which goes on till 10.30 am, every day. We make five prasadams every day and the pujari also gives us a list of the particular colours to be worn during this period.
Bunty Bajaj, entrepreneur:
During this period, there are restrictions with regard to our diet. We have only one meal during the day and I have my food after the puja in the evening. We don’t consume any grain during this period — the rotis we eat are made using flour such as kuttu ki atta (buckwheat). I also avoid salt during the festival. I usually make chappati stuffed with vegetables and have that with green chillies. On the eighth day, we have a huge havan, after which we give food to nine girls and one boy.
Mansi Malik, YFLO member:
I have been fasting during Navratri from the time I was 12, and it is not strenuous. In fact, everyone in my family used to fast, so it was fun to do it together. Now, even my children, Kriti, 13 and Pratham, 18, fast with me at least for two days. Our fast is broken on the eighth day with puri, channa and halwa. Our fasting diet is very simple — we usually eat fruits, milk and have one meal which includes root vegetables like potato, and roti made of singhara or kuttu atta. We don’t use onion, garlic or turmeric in our food during this time. On Ashtami, we invite young girls below 12, and since they are considered as Goddess Durga, we offer them food and gifts.
Bina Mehta, socialite:
Jains fast for many festivals throughout the year and Navratri is no different. We have one meal throughout the day, either in the morning or evening, after the puja. Another thing we practise is that during our meal, we do not get up until we finish the entire meal. If we do so, we cannot eat what is left.
Be well prepared:
It’s important to prepare one’s body for the fast. Many jump into fasting without giving it much thought, but experts say, the body needs time to prepare itself for a fast. Dr Gayathri, clinical dietician, Apollo Hospital, says, “It would be ideal if people prepare their bodies for a fast, months in advance. But if that is not possible, a week or two before the fast is ideal. They can go on a liquid diet for one or two days during this time and let the body get used to the diet. To prepare the body, people should not consume any sugar and can drink barley water, lemon juice, clear dals and coconut water.”
Post fasting, she urges people not to rush back to their regular food. “The body will need some time to get used to the old routine. So solid food needs to be eaten in small quantities. Avoid oily food, and instead, add more fibre rich vegetables and fruits to the diet.”
