Festivals8 min readMarch 12, 2026

Navratri 2026 Fasting Guide for NRIs: What to Eat, What to Avoid & Where to Buy

Navratri 2026 Dates

Chaitra Navratri 2026 begins March 22 and ends March 30. For NRIs in the USA and UK, the biggest challenge isn't fasting itself — it's finding the right ingredients.


What You CAN Eat During Navratri Fasting

Grains & Flours (Vrat-Friendly)

  • Kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) — for rotis and puris
  • Sabudana (tapioca pearls) — for khichdi, vada, kheer
  • Singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour) — for puris
  • Rajgira (amaranth) — flour or puffed

Fruits, Vegetables & Dairy

  • All fruits (especially banana, apple, pomegranate)
  • Potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, raw banana, arbi (colocasia)
  • Milk, curd, paneer, ghee, butter
  • Dry fruits: almonds, cashews, raisins, makhana (fox nuts)

Salt & Sweeteners

  • Sendha namak (rock salt) — the ONLY salt allowed during vrat
  • Desi khand, jaggery, sugar

Spices

  • Cumin (jeera), black pepper, green cardamom, cinnamon
  • Ginger, green chilli, lemon juice

What to AVOID

  • Regular table salt (use only sendha namak)
  • Rice, wheat, maida
  • Onion, garlic
  • Regular lentils and pulses (rajma, chana, moong)
  • Non-vegetarian food, eggs, alcohol
  • Store-bought spice mixes (may contain restricted ingredients)

Where to Buy Navratri Fasting Essentials in the USA

Finding sabudana, sendha namak, and kuttu atta in regular US grocery stores is nearly impossible. Here's what's available at PGM Distributors:

Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls) → — MAI RASOI brand, perfect for khichdi and vada

Himalayan Rock Salt (Sendha Namak) → — Natural Tattva, 1kg pack

Healthy Nutmix → — Almonds, cashews, raisins, cranberries, dates

Date Bites → — Farmley dates barfi with ghee, pistachios, almonds (sugar-free!)

Browse All Navratri Essentials →


Quick Navratri Recipes

Sabudana Khichdi

1. Soak sabudana overnight in just enough water 2. Heat ghee, add cumin seeds, curry leaves, green chilli 3. Add boiled cubed potatoes, roasted peanuts 4. Add soaked sabudana, sendha namak, sugar to taste 5. Cook on medium heat 5-7 minutes until translucent

Kuttu Ki Puri

1. Mix kuttu atta with boiled mashed potato, sendha namak, green chilli 2. Knead into soft dough 3. Roll small puris and deep fry in ghee until golden

Makhana (Fox Nut) Snack

1. Dry roast makhana in ghee on low heat until crispy 2. Add sendha namak, black pepper, and a pinch of sugar 3. The perfect fasting snack — high protein, low calorie


Order by March 20 for Navratri Delivery

Don't wait until the last day. Shop Navratri essentials now → and get everything delivered before the fast begins.

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