Navratri 2023: A Time for Religious Reflection and Festive Celebration.
As the month of March approaches, Hindus across India gear up to celebrate Navratri with utmost enthusiasm. This nine-day festival is one of the biggest Hindu celebrations of the year, and people eagerly await it to celebrate in various ways. Let’s take a closer look at the significance of Navratri and the various ways in which it is celebrated.
The Significance of Navratri
Navratri is a festival that celebrates the nine forms of Goddess Durga, with each day of the festival dedicated to one of her nine incarnations. It is believed that during this period, the goddess fought and conquered the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Navratri is also celebrated as a time of reflection, fasting, and prayer, with devotees seeking blessings and paying respect to the goddess.
Navratri Celebrations
During Navratri, devotees throng temples and organize pujas at home to seek blessings and pay respect to Goddess Durga and all her nine incarnations. Many people also observe fasts or eat sattvik food during the nine days of the festival. Some special foods that are usually eaten during Navratri fasts include grains such as Samak or flours such as Kuttu. Some people also celebrate this time by dancing and indulging in unique cuisines.
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Fasting Traditions During Navratri
While a strict vegetarian diet is a given for those who observe Navratri, meals without onion and garlic are also one of the common fasting traditions for devotees in some homes during Navratri. Fasting is believed to cleanse the body and mind and bring devotees closer to the goddess.
Sweet Treats During Navratri
However, like every Indian festival, the celebration of Navratri is incomplete without some sweet treats to nosh upon. If you too are someone who thinks of sweets as soon as festivities begin, we’ve got you sorted with a decadent dessert recipe right here.
Decadent Dessert Recipe: Strawberry Coconut Ladoos
Give your Navratri fasting meal a sweet flair with this traditional Strawberry Coconut Ladoos recipe which comes with a hint of strawberry flavor and is a complete delight. Exclusively curated by Chef Ranveer Brar, these ladoos are sure to make your festival of glory and grandeur extra special.
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Strawberry Coconut Ladoos: Ingredients
- 2 cups of shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup of Hershey’s strawberry syrup
- 1/2 cup of condensed milk
- 1/2 cup of milk powder
- 1/2 cup of finely chopped almonds
- 1/2 cup of ghee
Equipment
- 1 non-stick saucepan
- 1 non-stick spoon
- 1 ladle
- 2 glasses
Instructions:
- In a pan, add ghee and shredded coconut and cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes.
- Add the condensed milk and cook until the mixture thickens.
- Add the Hershey’s strawberry syrup and mix well.
- Add the milk powder and chopped almonds and mix well.
- Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool.
- Once cooled, form small ladoos with the mixture.
- Store in an airtight container.
Conclusion
Navratri is a time for reflection and celebration, with people coming together to seek blessings and pay respect to the goddess. Whether you choose to fast or indulge in unique cuisines, there’s no denying that the celebration of this festival is incomplete without some sweet treats to nosh upon. So, try out this delicious Strawberry Coconut Ladoos recipe and make your Navratri celebration extra special.