Sharad Navratri, one of the biggest festivals for Hindus, began yesterday (September 26), with devotees set to worship Goddess Durga and her nine incarnations with devotion. The nine-day extravaganza will culminate with Vijayadashami on October 5. Until then, worshippers across India will perform many different rituals. After all, Navratri is celebrated in several ways around the country. While many people in North India observe fast or eat Sattvik food during these nine days, in the western parts of the nation, the festival is synonymous with garba (a popular dance form) and the east comes alive with Durga Puja celebrations and feasts.
But did you know that each day of Navratri is known for a specific colour and is associated with one form of Goddess Durga? In many parts of India, those who observe Navratri every day individually prepare food of the specific colour of the day and offer it for bhog too. If you too are planning to follow this traditional Navratri ritual, we have listed day-wise colours and food suggestions that you can consider this season.
Day 1
The first day is dedicated to Goddess Shailputri, and the day is associated with white colour. It is synonymous with purity and innocence. On this day, you can prepare kheer and other food items made with milk, sugar, as well as vrat-friendly foods like makhana and sabudana.
Day 2
This day is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini and the colour of the day is red, which symbolises passion and love. So, it’s a good opportunity to detox your body with juices made with beetroot, pomegranate, or carrot. Besides, you can also prepare beetroot tikkis, tomato soup, or salads.
Day 3
Goddess Chandraghanta is worshipped on this day and the colour is royal blue, representing tranquillity. The colour tends to bring an unmatched elegance and grace, besides a sense of richness and serenity. So, you can go big in refreshing fruits like blueberries, or prunes.
Day 4
Offer your prayers to Goddess Kushmanda. You can celebrate this day dressed in yellow, and prepare vrat-friendly delicacies like sabudana khichdi and aloo halwa, as well as dishes made with kesar, including kheer. Yellow colour denotes joy and enthusiasm, and brings cheer to the festivity.
Day 5
Goddess Skandamata is worshipped on this day and the colour associated is green. Representing new beginnings in life, green colour symbolises nature and evokes a sense of growth, fertility, peace, and serenity. So, you can make dishes with raw bananas (or kaccha kela). So, barfis or vrat-friendly tikki, which is made with raw banana pulp, can be a great option.
Day 6
The day is dedicated to Goddess Katyayini and the colour of the day is grey. The colour brings with it balanced emotions, intended to keep the person down-to-earth. You may think that there are limited options for this day, but that’s when kuttu atta comes to rescue. From kuttu pakora and cheela to puri can be made on the sixth day of Navratri.
Day 7
The seventh day of Navratri festival is dedicated to Devi Kalaratri, with the colour being orange - representing warmth, exuberance, and positive energy. So, everything from pumpkin halwa and motichoor laddoo to sweet potatoes and apricots are there for you to enjoy.
Day 8
On the eighth day, devotees worship Goddess Mahagauri, keeping the colour peacock green in mind. The colour brings uniqueness and individuality, it is a colour of compassion and freshness. You can prepare foods with leafy greens on this day. However, if you are fasting, you can make raw banana recipes.
Day 9
Pink is the colour of this day which is dedicated to Devi Siddhidaatri. Pink denotes universal kindness, affection, and harmony. So, you can prepare rose phirni, gulab halwa, and other such desserts to mark the day.
Happy Sharad Navratri 2022!
