The nine manifestations of Goddess Durga are honoured during the Navratri celebration. One of the most revered fasting customs among Hindus is the Navratri fast. The Navratri fast also guarantees the believer a long and fruitful married life. 

A stringent fasting or partial fasting schedule is observed during the festival of Navratri. The guidelines for Navratri fasting are open to both men and women. Nevertheless, the total number of days a devotee can fast is flexible. For instance, some people merely observe the fast for three days, beginning on the first day after a two-day break. Only the first and last days of the fast are observed by certain believers.

Navratri Fasting Rules

1. People get up early, take a wash, and put on their best attire. 
2. After that, the devotee does ritualistic puja. On each day of Navratri until Dashmi, those who fast also light an akhanda deepak. But as an alternative, one can also conduct aarti every day until the festival is over in the morning and the evening.
3. Food must be cooked without onions and garlic because these components are thought to cause unpleasant vibrations during Navratri, and this guideline applies to all devotees who follow partial fasting. 
4.  Along with following a vegetarian diet during the fast, followers also adhere to ‘niyamas’, including sleeping on the floor, refraining from shaving or nail-cutting, and avoiding recreational activities.
5. The devotees find particular satisfaction in the virtuous deed of performing charity during this time.
6. The custom of breaking the Navratri fast on the eighth day (Ashtami) or the ninth day (Navami) varies among devotees. The process is doing “Kanya” or “Kanchika Pujan,” which involves worshipping and washing the feet of nine girls. Following this, they are given a spread of puri, halwa, and chana and a gift of a handkerchief, clothes, or money as a symbol of appreciation. The nine girls then bless the devotees, breaking the Navratri fast before they break their fast. 

Do’s And Dont’s Of Navratri Fasting Rules 

1. During these fasts, you cannot eat grains like wheat and rice, but you can eat substitutes like buckwheat flour, water chestnut flour, amaranth flour, barnyard millet, and sabudana.
2. During these fasts, you may eat any fruit or dry fruit. 
3.  You should substitute rock salt for regular table salt instead of using the latter. 
4. Use rock salt instead of table salt instead.
5. When fasting, some vegetables, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, arbi, kachalu, lemons, or pumpkin, are preferred more than others. You can also eat carrots, cucumber, spinach, tomatoes, bottle gourd, and cucumber.
6. Milk and dairy items, including curd, white butter, cottage cheese, ghee, and malai, are permitted during a fast.
7. Refined or seed-based oils should not be used when cooking. You can prepare your food using peanut oil and desi ghee.
8. Additionally, you can have makhanas, dishes made with coconut or coconut milk, Sonth ki Chutney, melon seeds, and peanuts. 
9. All foods associated with fasting must be made without onion or garlic. Lentils, legumes, rice flour, all-purpose flour, corn flour, whole wheat flour, and semolina (rava) must all be avoided if you are fasting. Additionally strictly prohibited are non-vegetarian meals, eggs, smoking, alcohol, and aerated beverages.

Conclusion

Fasting during Navratri is a significant part of Hindu culture, and when done with devotion and self-control, it can have positive spiritual effects. You can worship the deities while also maintaining your health and well-being during Navratri if you adhere to the fasting guidelines and eat the correct foods.
For more expert guidance on Navratri fast and puja, SmartPuja expert Vedic pandits can always assist you. Connect with the experts at 080-61160400.