Navratri 2021: Here are some ideas to help you plan your meals while you fast

Every year, Navratri is celebrated with great fervour across the country. Devotees celebrate the nine-day festival, also known as Sharad Navratri, by worshipping Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. During this period, many people follow strict restrictions on food, foregoing  garlic, onion and non-vegetarian items  in their food; some fast during the period. As the first day of Navratri begins today, 7 October, here are a few dishes you can try at home: Buckwheat khichdi: An easy recipe to prepare, it involves buckwheat groats, also known as sabut kuttu, being mixed with peanuts and potatoes to create a wholesome meal. Sabudana Khichdi: Made from tapioca pearls, peanuts and potatoes, this recipe is an ideal meal if you are fasting. Considered gluten-free, this dish can be consumed at any time in the day. Uttapam: Uttapam is made from sama ke chawal, also known as vrat ke chawal flour, during Navratri. Vrat ke Aloo: Several potato recipes are common during Navratri, including jeera aloo, crumbled potato, dahi aloo and others. Sabudana Thalipeeth: Crisp and soft pancakes made from tapioca pearls, mashed potatos, spices and ground peanuts are a favourite during the festive season. Also called sabudana roti in some parts, this dish is referred to as upvasache thalipeeth in Marathi. Rajgira Roti: A healthy gluten-free flatbread, rajgira roti or rajgira paratha, is a great accompaniment to any vegetable dish. Kuttu ka Paratha: Another gluten-free flatbread, this dish is made from mashed potatoes and buckwheat flour. Taro root: Also called arbi in Hindi, this is a common ingredient in several Navratri-special dishes. People also eat kheer, sweet potato and banana chips during Navratri. This year, Sharad Navratri is set to be celebrated from 7 to 15 October . Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, according to the Hindu calendar, the festival honours Goddess Durga for her victory over the demon king Mahishasura in a 10-day battle.