Guest Nhaagxi

I live in Vadodara and every year I see foreigners joining Garba at the famous United Way ground. Hotels, restaurants, and handicraft sellers get huge business during this time. Rajasthan’s Jaipur and Udaipur temples also see more devotees and tourists, so Navratri really boosts the local economy.

I have seen my grandmother read Durga Saptashati every Navratri. She says it keeps the home atmosphere positive and brings blessings of Goddess Durga. Even listening to the recitation gives mental peace and confidence.

In Bengal’s Durga Puja, bhog usually has khichdi, mixed vegetables, chutney, and sweets like rasgulla. In Gujarat, people offer laddoos, dry fruits, and makhana kheer. So offerings differ by region but the main idea is purity and devotion.

Common offerings include coconut, pomegranate, bananas, sugarcane, and seasonal fruits. For flowers, people mostly offer marigold, lotus, and hibiscus. In prasad, halwa-puri, kheer, sabudana dishes, and jaggery sweets are considered auspicious. Always offer what is pure, fresh, and made with devotion.

The fast is usually broken with Kanya Pujan. Invite 7–9 young girls (Kanya) and one boy (Laddu Gopal form). Wash their feet, offer food like puri, chana, and halwa, and give gifts. After feeding them, devotees can break their own fast. It is considered the most auspicious way to end Navratri vrat on Ashtami or Navami.

For Navratri, the best rangoli designs include:- Durga face rangoli with red and yellow colors. - Lotus flower patterns symbolizing purity. - Kalash design rangoli for prosperity. - Geometric and floral patterns with diyas around. Using natural colors like turmeric, kumkum, and rice powder makes the rangoli more auspicious.

The Vidhi for Ghatasthapana is as follows:1. Choose an auspicious muhurat (Pratipada tithi morning). 2. Take a clay pot and fill it with soil. Sow barley seeds. 3. Place a kalash filled with water on it. Put mango leaves at the mouth of the kalash. 4. Tie a red cloth and place a coconut on top. 5. Keep this in the puja area facing east. 6. Light a diya and worship Goddess Durga with flowers, incense, and mantras. This kalash is considered the symbol of Maa Durga, and it should be worshipped every day during Navratri.

I enjoy cooking during Navratri, and in 2025, I plan to make sabudana vada, rajgira paratha, and lauki halwa. These are easy to prepare and tasty. My favorite is makhana curry, which goes well with singhara poori. Instead of oily food, I try baking or shallow frying to keep it healthy. Also, smoothies made with banana, milk, and dates can be a good option. Vrat recipes don’t have to be boring; with some creativity, they can be nutritious and delicious at the same time.