Lighter Navaratra fare draws health buffs too

NEW DELHI: Vivek Mehta starts his day with a homemade fruit juice, snacks on roasted makahana (foxnuts), and finally picks up a packaged thali from a convenience store—his only meal of the day during Navaratra.
This young entrepreneur has started observing a fast for nine days to keep off the ubiquitous fast food. The ready Navaratra fare also comes in handy if you’re pressed for time.Vivek is not the only one. The myriad options have almost changed the flavour of the festive season. You need not give up on your favourite dishes or stuff yourself with potato chips; there are substitutes enough to retain the taste of the original recipe.
His wife, Pallavi Mehta, turns to kuttu (buckwheat flour) dimsums, which are readily available, while their 4-year-old daughter, Sayesha, polishes off stir-fried samak rice (barnyard millet) to satiate their craving for Southeast Asian cuisine. Almost every eatery in the city is dishing out festive fare to cash in on the ever-growing demand. Chef Jayesh Karande of ITC Maurya says it’s no longer enough to present simple thalis as more and more people are choosing to keep a fast without giving up entirely on their favourite cuisines. The ones not observing the rituals are also gravitating towards the low-calorie and less spicy Navaratra food. “They also look at this meal as a great detoxification option,” he says. Jayesh has based one thali on organic ingredients and another on local produce to turn a simple meal into a healthy feast.
Five-star eateries such as Baywatch at WelcomHotel Sheraton are offering Benaras bhog; standalone restaurants at markets on Pandara Road are serving special thalis; temple complexes have special Navaratra fare, and even convenience stores such as Twenty Four Seven have their shelves lined up with ready-to-eat packed meals.
Laghu Radha from Russia, a volunteer at Govinda’s restaurant at the Iskcon temple complex, has seen festive fare steadily gain popularity in the 10 years she has been here. She mentions the special sattvik buffet replete with starters, followed by the main course and capped by dainty desserts.

Food experts and nutritionists are, however, quick to warn against binging. Since grains are forbidden, feasting on items with too much starch and less fibre can be unhealthy. “Potato, sweet potato, water chestnut, pumpkin and bottlegourd preparations should be roasted and not fried. Stick to fruits for natural sugars and opt for sugar-free desserts,” advises food expert Baharti Sanghi.
Nutritionist Jia Singh too insists on treating the fast as an opportunity to give the digestive system a complete break from fried and gluten food. “Opt for yoghurt smoothies, have more of fresh fruits and juices over the canned ones while avoiding packaged fried wafers. Roasted salads made with permitted ingredients are a good option.”