Puja Gokarn
With the festival season well underway, kitchens and wardrobes are likely the two busiest places in your home. As Navratri approaches, those closet hangers must be groaning under the weight of heavy ghagras and the nine colours to wear to work. This year, spice up your Navratri by letting those nine colors make their way to your dining table too. Here’s how:
Also Read: Delicious Navratri Special Foods to Enjoy During Fasting
Day One – Ghatasthapana: On this first day of worshipping Maa Durga in her ‘Shailputri’ form, representing the daughter of the Himalayas, everyone wears yellow. Celebrate with a simple yet flavorful saffron and turmeric rice, paired with a warm, homely yellow Thai curry full of crunchy vegetables.
Day Two – Dwitiya: On the second day, the ‘Brahmacharini’ form of the Goddess, symbolising penance, is worshipped. Everyone wears green. Delight your taste buds with warm, comforting pesto pasta. If you prefer something more Indian, make fragrant spicy palak rice with a cooling pudina raita, and top it off with homemade pistachio ice cream.
Day Three – Tritiya: Worshipping ‘Chandraghanta’, the form representing beauty and bravery, may not immediately bring the colour grey to mind, but grey is the shade proudly worn today. Celebrate by exploring an exotic Hawaiian dish like poi, or keep it simple with bajre ki bhakri and mushroom keema. A nourishing mushroom soup is also a great option, and for dessert, earthy bajre ki kheer is ideal.
Day Four – Chaturthi: The fourth day honors Goddess Kushmanda, the creator of the universe, with devotees wearing orange. Let this vibrant colour splash across your plate with theplas, pumpkin or squash subzi, or a paneer gravy (for those hesitant about pumpkin and squash), along with carrot salad and jalebis or boondi, motichoor laddoos.
Day Five – Panchami: On the fifth day, the fierce Skanda Mata, mother of Skanda, the chief warrior of the gods, is worshipped. People dress in pure white. Treat yourself to fluffy basmati pulao with malai kofta in creamy white gravy, and for dessert, indulge in sevai kheer or a cheesy pasta followed by a white forest cake.
Day Six – Shashti: The sixth day is dedicated to the worship of Katyayani, a form of Durga with three eyes and four hands. Red is the colour of the day. Let the rich flavours of Veg Kolhapuri with traditional Gujarati chunda pickle flood your plate, followed by a decadent gajar ka halwa or arrabbiata pasta with tomato salad and a sinful red velvet cake.
Day Seven – Saptami: On this day, Kaalratri, the form of the Mother Goddess who grants fearlessness and freedom from evil, is worshipped. Blue is worn today. Though it’s challenging to find an exact shade of blue in food without artificial colouring, you can bring shades of the sky to your table with baingan ka bharta and blueberry phirni.
Day Eight – Ashtami: Maha Gauri, symbolising calmness and wisdom, is worshipped on Ashtami. She cleanses her devotees of their sins. Pink is worn today, and the soft hue can be celebrated with creamy beetroot curry and zesty strawberry halwa. You could also enjoy pasta in pink sauce and wash it down with a strawberry smoothie.
Day Nine – Navami: On the final day, Goddess Siddhidaatri, the form of Durga associated with granting the eight siddhis, is worshipped by all the Rishis and Yogis. Purple is worn on this day. Savour this intense hue with yummy suran ki sabzi and a blackberry pie or a simpler, homestyle blackcurrant shrikhand.
This year, add the twists and twirls of Navratri dances to your taste buds with the nine colours of the festive days. Enjoy, and feel free to share any suggestions or additions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!
