NAVRATRI PRASADAM RECIPES

Navratri is a holy Hindu festival where people across the country worship the different avatars of Goddess Durga for nine days. Throughout India, Navratri is celebrated twice a year. The first one is Chaitra Navratri which is celebrated around the onset of summers (March-April). The other one is the Sharad Navratri, which is celebrated around October-November. During the auspicious occasion of Navratri, people avoid indulging in garlic, meat and onion as they are considered to be unholy during these nine days.

The legend has it that “Mahishasura” the mighty demon was a devotee of Lord Shiva. At one point the demon became greedier because of his power, he started killing many innocent people. As a result the trinity gods – Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Lord Shiva joined hands together and created a female deity “Goddess Durga” to destroy Mahishasura for good.

When “Mahishasura” got glimpse of Goddess Durga, he was mesmerized completely by her beauty and approached her to marry him. But Goddess Durga struck a deal by asking him to fight over a battle to win her. The fight went for 9 days and on the 10th day, Goddess Durga Beheaded Mahishasura and washed away all the evil. Therefore the nine days were thus called as the Navratri and the 10th day came to be known as “Vijayadashami”.

Navratri is celebrated differently across India.  In South india, people have vegetarian meals without onion and garlic. And make some prasadams/naivedyam in evening for nine days. Here I am sharing some of the prasadams that we make in Navratri........

SUNDAL RECIPES: It is a South Indian delicacy with an amazing flavour of grated coconut, asafoetida, curry leaves and mustard seeds. Various sundals can be made with different lentils....

Black Chickpea Sundal

White Chickpea Sundal

Channa Dal Sundal

SWEET SUNDAL RECIPES: This is a sweet version of sundal and is made with cherupayar/greengram and vanpayar/ red cowpeas.

Cherupayar Sweet Sundal

Vanpayar Sweet Sundal

VADA RECIPES: It is a crispy deep fried snack usually made of lentils,whole grains,millets etc.

Mixed Dal Vada

Uzhunnuvada

Masoordal Vada

Parippu Vada

SWEET & HALWA RECIPES: 

Aval Nanachath

Channa Dal Halwa

Rava Kesari

Sooji Halwa

Sukhiyan

Rice Halbai

PAYASAM RECIPES:

Kaddummadura Payasam

Aval/Poha Payasam

Neipayasam

Paalpayasam

Pumkin Payasam

Barnyard Millet payasam

Banana Rasayanam