While prayers and vigils go on throughout the night of Mahashivratri, what also makes the festival special is its fasting or the Mahashivratri Vrat. The Hindus around the country are gearing to please their beloved deity Lord Shiva and seek his divine blessings.
Mahashivratri is one of the most significant and widely celebrated Hindu festivals. It is celebrated in the honor of Lord Shiva. Mahashivratri falls in the Hindu month of Phalgun.
There are several people who opt for the 'Nirjala' Vrat, i.e. where people consume no water or food throughout the day. However, most of the people cannot pull off this tough form of fasting, hence devotees observe a fast where they can have fruits, milk and certain vegetables and non-grain items.
Here are some foods that you can still have during your fast, if you are planning to observe a Sivaratri fast this year -
Potatoes: aloo kadhi, aloo tikki, aloo khichdi ...And more
Potato based dishes are of no harm during fast provided it has no onion, garlic, ginger or turmeric. Having sendha namak or rock salt during your Vrat is always permitted. You can have potatoes in different forms like aloo kadhi, aloo tikki, aloo pakoda, aloo khichdi, and sweet potato chaat and aloo ka halwa too!
Non-cereal dishes
All the non-cereal dishes made of sabudana (tapioca pearls), buckwheat or ragi are permitted during the Vrat. Sabudana (tapioca) khichdi, sabudana pakora, sabudana vada, kuttu singhare ki puri are some popular dishes consumed by devotees during their fast.
Milk-based beverages and desserts
Milk is also consumed widely during the Vrat as it is said that Lord Shiva is very fond of milk. You can have thandai, badaam doodh (almond milk) makhane ki kheer, sabudana kheer during fasting.
Pakodas and vadas
Aloo pakoda, raw banana vadas, singhada flour pakoda are among the most famous snacks consumed during fasts. As far as spices are concerned, experts say that one may use cumin or cumin powder, black pepper powder, green cardamom, cinnamon, ajwain, black peppercorn.
Fruits and dry fruits
Devotees who can't observe the nirjala vrat, take a meal containing fruits, milk and water, called phallar. Fruits are an integral part of every puja or fasting and sivaratri is no different. You can have fruit chaats, fruit salads and fruit milkshakes. In addition to fruits, you can also munch on a wide variety of dry fruits like almonds, walnuts, dates, cashews, raisins and dried apricots.
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