As a child Shivratri always held a special place in my heart. The revelry in and around our home on this day was infectious. Some people started chanting mantras early in the morning while others loudly played bhajans on their tape-recorders for others’ benefit. Waking up early and accompanying our parents to the temple was a ritual. So was offering milk, flowers, prasad and belpatra to Shivji. The school holiday on an otherwise stressed March was an added bonus! 🙂
The loads of awesome fasting foods Mom made for us got us most excited though. A true foodie and an outstanding cook, Mom pampered us and our taste buds silly on Shivratri. Everything from sweet to spicy was made in ample quantities for our devouring all day long.
I’m sharing with you today some simple but tasty foods that you can have while fasting, or even when you aren’t. 😉 Digressing slightly from my usual healthy-eating route, this is an eclectic mix of indulgent and natural foods.
Upwas (fasting) Thalipeeth
One of my favourites, upwas thalipeeth is filling and delicious. You can make this using readymade bhajni flour available in the market. Else, you can make your own dough with rajgira flour. Add sabudana, mashed potato, crushed groundnut, finely-chopped coriander and spices. Have it with dahi or coconut chutney.
Rajgira Halwa/Sheera
Sweets are an integral part of fasting. I gorged on Rajgira halwa once a day while I was fasting for Navratri last year. Limiting its intake is prudent since it needs a good quantity of ghee during preparation. It is also quite high in calories. A good helping of dry fruits in it isn’t necessary but, well, advisable. 😀
Sabudana Khichdi
The most popular fasting recipe, my list would be incomplete without it. I’ve had most fun making it in umpteen numbers of ways. Adding potatoes, coconut slices, green chillies or red chilly powder, crushed groundnut powder or broken groundnuts, etc. the combinations are many. I like it best with dahi and baked potato chips. It can never go wrong!
Chikki
Chikkis are always stocked in my home since both my kids love them. I feel they’re a better option than chocolates and can be made at home too. Dry fruits, rajgira, groundnuts etc. there are quite a few options. They’re best for light sugar cravings and give you an instant energy kick.
Fruits/ Milk shakes
Not everything has to be laden with calories on a fasting day, right? This is a pleasant time of the year when all fruits from grapes to mangoes are available in the market. Seasonal fruits have good essential nutrients and are a must for our health too. Have a milk shake with high sugar fruits like chikoo, bananas or mangoes and you can skip a meal, no artificial sweeteners required.
Shivratri has assumed another importance for us now because on this very day we booked our flat too. Today we complete three years of its ownership, all because of the blessings of Shivji. As I ready myself to visit the temple today I feel humbled and indebted for the love he unconditionally bestows upon us. After all he’s Bholenath, innocent and simple. Om Namah Shivaay!
Hi Varsh,
Lovely post. I love the shakes, all kind of them. I like fruits as well though I must say I don’t like khichdi too much.
thanks for sharing, have a good day.
Shivratri is a major festival in Indian, Hinduism
I love Sabudana Khichdi and Rajgira Halwa/Sheera. Thank you for sharing this beautiful article
That’s a good list. Mom fasts for shivratri and she too makes sabudana khichdi and tikki. Fruits and shakes are the best for fasting.
Sabudana khichdi and milk shakes are our favorite during fast. We also eat lots of nuts. They give the required nutrients and give the keep us full.
I always fast nirjala (or drink water at last when I feel weak) on shivratri… But everyone else at home loves indulging in yummy foods! Will try making some of these for them next time!
My favourite is chikki because my mom makes various chikki at home. I love to keep mahashivrati fast because at this night I and my family visits to my favourite temple.
I do not fast on Shivratri but these foods look yummy. I like very sabudana khichdi and make it during navratri fast but I still have to try the others you mentioned.
you make me hungry and you know what these fasting food are more yummy then daily food. I love saboodana khichari a lot
That’s a good list of food items for people fasting on Shivratri. One of my all time favorite is Sabudana Khichdi.
I always prepare sabudana khichdi and rajghara ka sira during Shivratri. . Very nice list of fasting foods. ..
This post seriously made me feel hungry, chikki and sheera are something that are my personal favorite! If possible can you please share a recipe of thali peeth?
What a lovely post! Remembered my grandma when I read about these dishes. Indian food is so amazing. Mouthwatering indeed …
I am a huge fan of Sabudana Khichdi and chikki, my go to food when I am fasting. Congratulation of 3rd year of ownership.
This is a very helpful list for people who fasts. I don’t fast but I will share this with family and friends!
Wow these shake and dishes are so mouth watering. Fast or no fast, they are energetic and healthy and one can have them anytime day.
Wow, these are really so many options. Many times I eat “Rajgire ka sheera”.
But definitely so excited to try other recipes. Thanks for sharing ?
All my favorite foods in one post. Did you say ‘Fasting’? This is feasting!! Super list, Varsha!
May Shivji continue to bestow is blessings on you and your family.
I love sabudana khichdi the most. My fasting thali is also incomplete without this. And I like to take curd and fruits along with this.
I was really unaware of the different foods one can consume during Shivrstri fasts. My favourite has to be sabudana khichdi.
Fasting foods are always appetizing, I also observe MahaShivratri fast and we made Singhade atte ki poori with some sabudana khichdi.
I read this post of yours on Shivratri dear and it kicked me out of lethargy to try some of the above lovely dishes.
I don’t usually fast but I’ll share this with my friends who do.
I really loved your list of food …I am so love Shiv ji and this festival and my all time fav is sabudane ki khichidi!!
Though I have a complete fast without eating anything, still can share these ideas with people who take food during Shivratri.
My all time fav is sabudana khichadi. I also like rajgira thalipeeth for a day of fasting.
sabudana khichiri is my favorite food during any fasting. Thanks for sharing such useful recipes
Even though I am not a Hindu, u think this post will definitely helpful for me as we are having a 50 days lent now!