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Navratra f(e)asting a fast changing concept

Navratra f(e)asting a fast changing concept

Author: Rati Chaudhary/TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 12, 2005

The age-old popular concept of religious fasting during navratras is increasingly turning into 'feasting'. Whether one fasts for just a couple of days or for the entire nine days, the time for strictly adhering to a fruit diet or consuming just one glass of milk for the entire day is long gone. Fasting now is a style statement.

Even that rebelliously dressed, carefree, collegegoer thinks it is either cool to be fasting or just another way of cutting out those extra calories. With the city restaurants coming up with special navratra thalis and a whole range of 'navratra' food items one wonders whether one can actually stick to the traditional abstinence.

Now fasting simply implies that either one stops eating rice or abstains from consuming ordinary salt.

Munching on endless potato chips, saboodaba namkeen and guzzling pitchers of coke is seen as the alternative to the dal roti diet.

Keeping these trends in mind, several restaurants are introducing 'satvik bhojan' during the navratras. Bukhara restaurant in Maurya Sheraton Hotel has flagged off the auspicious period with a special Navratri thali, available from October 4 for lunch and dinner. Costing Rs 795 plus taxes, the thali is a treat with the mouth-watering 'satvik' offerings of dry paneer, aloo jeera, kuttu puri, yoghourt, saboodana kheer and papad.

Meanwhile, Nirula's is offering a changed menu with tempting dishes like kashiphal masala, dahi aloo curry, arbi masala, raita, navratra rice and desserts like phool makhana kheer, saboodana kheer and rice kheer, all for Rs 120.

Dhaba at Hotel Claridges also presents a special Navratra Thali for the occasion. The thali includes delicacies like phaldari seekh, daal mewar ki, paneer aur papad ki bhujiya, dahi ke aloo, arbi ke pakode and the equally tasty kuttu ki roti and saboodane ki kheer. The guests can savour these delicacies during both lunch and dinner times for Rs 550 plus taxes. The famous joint for foodies, Gulati's at Pandara Road, has also been bitten by, the trend bug. Says Kishan Malik of Gulati's: "The Navratra festival spells partial fasting for many Hindus. Keeping in mind the sentiments of people, we are providing, a gamut of enticing Navratra delicacies. The thali offers a host of palate-tickling dishes like Hariyali paneer, khatte mithe aloo, sanwak rice, kheer, raita and phirni at Rs 185 plus taxes."

And it is just not about the main course. For those who think chaat is God's gift to them, they need not worry Special chaat is available at places like Eatopia at India Habitat Centre for Rs 45 made of sand namak and shakarkandi ki chaat for Rs 95.

So if you thought fasting was not meant for you think again because the variety of food available for the people who 'f(e)asting' is no less than what is available for you.


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