Navratri 2022: Dates, Diet, Dos and Don'ts; here's everything you need to know

Navratri is one of the most cherished Hindu festivals that's celebrated across the country for nine days. The lavish spirit and grandeur of Navratri celebrations across all the Indian states are certainly worth watching. The festive season marks its beginning with the Shardiya Navratri which is meant to celebrate and worship nine avatars of Maa Durga on nine different days. This year, the first day of the Shardiya Navratri will be on September 26, 2022, which marks the beginning of Navratri. As per the Hindu Calender, Shardiya Navratri begins on the Pratipada date of the Shukla Paksha of the Ashwin month. Also, Durga Puja and Dussehra will be celebrated after the nine days. Right from Navratri dates 2022, Navratri Diet to Navratri Dos and Don'ts, Ahead you will find everything you must know about Navratri 2022.

Navratri 2022 Dates

Navratri 2022 will start on September 26, 2022, Monday and will end on October 04, 2022, Tuesday with Dusshera or Vijaya Dasami celebration.

Durga Puja Dates

The final or last day of Navaratri is when the Durga Puja celebration begins. The day is marked with the submerging of the idol of Maa Durga into rivers as a token of her respect and devotion. Durga Puja 2022 will be celebrated from October 1 to October 5, this year.

Navratri 2022: Complete Calendar

Navratri 2022 Day 1 (September 26, 2022, Monday): On the first day of Navratri, Goddess Shailputri is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 2 (September 27, 2022, Tuesday): On the second day of Navratri, Goddess Brahmacharini Devi is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 3 (September 28, 2022, Wednesday): On the third day of Navratri, Goddess Chandraghanta is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 4 (September 29, 2022, Thursday): On the fourth day of Navratri, Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 5 (September 30, 2022, Friday): On the fifth day of Navratri, Goddess Skandamata is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 6 (October 1, 2022, Saturday): On the sixth day of Navratri, Goddess Katyayani is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 7 (October 2, 2022, Sunday): On the seventh day of Navratri, Goddess Kalratri is worshipped.

Navratri 2022 Day 8 (October 3, 2022, Monday): On the eighth day of Navratri, Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped as Durga Ashtami is celebrated.

Navratri 2022 Day 9 (October 4, 2022, Tuesday): On the ninth day of Navratri, the long fast is broken and Goddess Siddhidhatri is worshipped. The day is celebrated as Maha Navami 2022.

Navratri 2022 Day 10 (October 5, 2022, Wednesday): On the tenth day, all the idols of Goddess Durga are immersed in water and the day is marked as Dussehra 2022.

Navratri Colors 2022

Although Navratri celebrations are filled with many beautiful rituals, dedicating specific colors to each day has to be the most unique way of celebrating Navratri. Each day of Navratri has a special color dedicated day which affects the outfits and floral decorations of each day, here is the list.

Day 1 - September 26 - White

Day 2 - September 27 - Red

Day 3 - September 28 - Royal Blue

Day 4 - September 29 - Yellow

Day 5 - September 30 - Green

Day 6 - October 1 - Grey

Day 7 - October 2 - Orange

Day 8 - October 3 - Peacock Green

Day 9 - October 4 - Pink

Navratri 2022: The list of foods to eat and avoid during your Navratri Fast

26th of September 2022, Monday marks the beginning of Shardiya Navratri 2022 which will be the first day of fasting for all the Goddess Durga devotees across the country. Fasting and incorporating a satvik diet is one of the major parts of Navrati celebrations. So, what does a satvik diet include? Here is a list of foods you must eat and avoid during the Shardiya Navratri 2022 celebrations.

What to avoid? Food items to avoid during Navratri 2022

The satvik diet followed during Navratri is a simple vegetarian diet that refrains from vegetables like onion, garlic, okra, brinjal, and mushrooms. If you are fasting this Navratri season there are several vrat-friendly flours, vegetables, fruits, and spices you can consume however, you must steer clear from wheat, rice, semolina, maida, corn flour, legumes, and pulses. Here is a list of food items that are strictly prohibited during Navrati celebrations

1. Garlic and onion: Since Navratri celebrations are all about Satvik diet, it is advised to steer clear from tamasic foods like onion, garlic, mushrooms, leeks, and shallots.

2. Wheat, rice: While your daily diet might incorporate wheat, rice, refined flour, suji, and corn flour, along with legumes and pulses, they should be avoided if you are fasting during the Navratri season.

3. Salt: Spices like regular salt, turmeric, coriander powder, and mustard seeds are also avoided in Navratri fasts.

4. Alcohol, eggs, meat: Most importantly, whether you are fasting or not, Navrati celebrations strictly prohibits the consumption of alcohol, eggs, or any kind of meat.

What to eat? Vrat-friendly food items for Navratri

What to eat? Vrat-friendly food items for Navratri

Some devotees fast for the complete nine days while others observe their fasts for the first two and the last two days of the Navratri Celebration. The different food items that can be consumed during Navratri fasts include, samvat ke chawal (banyard millet), kuttu ka aata (buckwheat flour), sabudana or sago, rajgira, singhare ka aata (water chestnut flour) along with vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, bottle gourd, arbi, pumpkin, spinach, cucumber, and carrots.

Apart from these, here is an extensive list of food items you can eat during Navratri fast 2022.

1. Milk and milk products: During Navratri fasts, milk can be consumed in all its forms. You can go for milk-based shakes and smoothies or you can explore different types of milk products like curd, yogurt, buttermilk, or even different raitas recipes in your meals. The best part of milk and dairy-based products is they are probiotics and keep your energy levels high when you cut down on various food items you normally consume. Apart from that, you can also incorporate ghee and paneer into your diet to beat those little hunger pangs.

2. Vegetables and fruits: When it comes to vegetables and fruits, you can consume potatoes, sweet potato, bottle gourd, taro root (arbi), pumpkin, spinach, bottle gourd, cucumber, carrots, and all kinds of fruits to keep a regular dose of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in your diet.

3. Flours: When you are fasting during Navratris, you can consume a number of flours like Samvat ke chawal (banyard millet), kuttu ke aata (buckwheat flour), sabudana or sago, rajgira, and singhare ka aata (water chestnut flour.) All these flours can be easily used to make chapatis, pooris, or fritters.

4. Salts and spices: When you give up on regular salt and several spices, you can continue to consume sendha namak or rock salt along with common spices like cumin, clove, and cinnamon.

5. Nuts and dry fruits: Whether it's walnuts, almonds, dates, pistachios, and raisins you can incorporate everything into your Navratri diet. In fact, if you are fasting dry fruits serve as an important storehouse of proteins, vitamins as well as minerals.