Food for Fast (Vrat ka Khana / Upwas Recipes)

Fasting is a common tradition in India, typically observed during religious festivals such as Mahashivratri, Navratri, or Kali Puja. Only certain foods or ingredients are allowed during fasting, such as fruits, milk and dairy products, sabudana, and specific grains like buckwheat. The foods or ingredients not allowed in preparing the vrat/fasting food are common grains like wheat and rice, meat, eggs, onion, garlic, etc.

Navratri is an Indian festival that translates to "nine nights" and is dedicated to celebrating the nine Goddesses. During this period, people who observe Navratri fast refrain from consuming meat, onions, garlic, and grains for nine days. Instead, they consume food called "vrat ka khana," which is made with grain-free flours such as singhara (water chestnut), kuttu (buckwheat), rajgira (amaranth), sabudana (tapioca pearls), and sama (barnyard millet).

The type of food consumed during a fast can vary depending on the region. Some common dishes made during fasting are sabudana khichdi, aloo sabzi, makhana namkeen, rajgira or kuttu ki poori, and sabudana kheer.