An extremely popular fasting sweet dish, sabudana kheer is made using tapioca pearls, which are sweetened and flavoured by mixing in milk and sugar, cardamom, garnished with nuts like almonds and saffron, and is very light on the stomach yet can provide good energy, which explains why it has been such a favourite for those observing fasts during Navratri. Only a hint of sweetness, sabudana kheer is a creamy delight loved throughout the festival.
Makhana, or fox nuts, is a powerhouse of nutrients. With milk sugar, makhana kheer is enriched with cardamom and saffron flavours, along with a handful of dry fruits, such as almonds and cashews. This sweet dish is light yet fulfilling; it’s apt for fast days and indeed symbolises the peace and prosperity that devotees seek during Navratri.
One of the most common fasting recipes is made using Singhare (water chestnut) flour, and that is Singhare Ke Laddoo. Prepared with singhare atta, ghee, sugar, and a touch of cardamom, these laddoos make an essential light yet delicious sweet available to the devotees on the Navratri fasting day. The nutty flavour of singhare flour, along with that richness of ghee and sugar, makes this laddoo an excellent sweet during the fasting day of Navratri.
Rajgira is popularly known as amaranth. It is a gluten-free grain that is mostly consumed during fasting. Preparation of Rajgira laddoos involves puffed amaranth, jaggery, and ghee. These ladoos are not only a delight but contain loads of calcium and proteins, among other nutrients. The calorie intake would suffice to keep you going through the day. Sprinkling saffron gives them a better flavour as well.
Shakarkandi, or sweet potato, forms an integral part of all the Navratri fasts. Shakarkandi ka halwa is one of the interestingly sweet dishes to indulge in during the festival. Boiled, mashed sweet potatoes are cooked with ghee and sugar and garnished with nuts flavoured with cardamom. The sweet potato sweetness is perfectly offset by the richness of ghee, making this halwa a comfort dessert during the festival.
Coconut is associated with auspicious occasions, and coconut barfi is one of the easiest sweets to make for Navratri. It is usually made by mixing the grated coconut with sugar and infusing it with the flavour of cardamom, then forming soft and chewy barfis. This sweet is a favorite among devotees and symbolises purity and is consumed toward the end of Navratri days.
Adding saffron (kesar) to the traditional Rajgira laddoo elevates its flavour and gives it a beautiful golden colour. Saffron is considered a luxury spice and adds not only taste but also auspiciousness to the ladoos. Made with popped amaranth seeds, jaggery, and ghee, these ladoos are perfect for the fasting period and are believed to symbolise strength and vitality during the nine days of Navratri.
Samak rice, otherwise known as barnyard millet, is a grain used extensively in fasts. Samak rice phirni is again one of the smooth pudding recipes which make use of cooking the rice with milk, sugar and cardamom. This smooth, velvety dessert can be offered to the goddess during Navratri and also served to comfort your stomach during your fast.
Badam halwa is a rich and luxurious sweet preparation made using ground almonds, sugar, and ghee. Flavoured with cardamom and saffron, with slivers of almonds at the top, It is a fitting dessert to end the Navratri festivities on the last day. People consider it a hallmark that can bring them a prosperous life, so people always want to have it at the end of the celebration.
Each of these sweets not only brings joy to the table but also provides nourishment and energy, making them ideal for fasting and feasting alike during Navratri. By indulging in these traditional sweets, you can celebrate the festival with flavours that honour both devotion and health.