Maha Shivratri 2025: Foods you can have while observing fast
What's the story
Maha Shivratri, a significant Hindu festival honoring Lord Shiva, falls in the month of Phagun. It is celebrated with fasting, meditation, and devotion. During this sacred occasion, it's crucial to maintain energy and nourishment without breaking the fast. Here are five foods that can help you stay energized and healthy while observing the fast, supporting both physical and spiritual well-being.
#1
Fruits and nuts
During Maha Shivratri fasting, fruits play an essential role, as they do in other pujas. You can enjoy a variety of fruit-based dishes like chaats, salads, and milkshakes, along with snacking on dry fruits such as almonds, walnuts, dates, cashews, raisins, and dried apricots for extra nourishment. The word phal, meaning fruits in Hindi/Sanskrit, highlights their significance during this time.
#2
Milk-based desserts and beverages
Lord Shiva is believed to have a special fondness for milk, and each year, devotees offer it to the Shiva lingam. During the fast, milk and milk-based beverages are commonly consumed. You can enjoy drinks like lassi ,thandai, badaam doodh (almond milk), and desserts such as makhane ki kheer, which are not only delicious but also help maintain energy and nourishment during the fast.
#3
Potato-bases dishes
Potato-based dishes are allowed during Maha Shivratri fasting, as long as they don't contain onion, garlic, ginger, or turmeric. You can enjoy potatoes in various forms like aloo kadhi, aloo tikki, aloo pakoda, aloo khichdi, sweet potato chaat, or even aloo halwa. Rock salt (sendha namak) can be used to enhance flavor, keeping the dishes fast-friendly and satisfying.
#4
Steamed vegetables
You can include steamed or boiled vegetables like pumpkin and carrots in your fasting meal. These vegetables are not only light and easy to digest but also provide essential nutrients. You can prepare them as simple curries or even enjoy them with rock salt and ghee for a satisfying and wholesome dish.
#5
Sabudana
Sabudana, or tapioca pearls, is a popular choice during Maha Shivratri fasting due to its lightness and ease of digestion. It offers a great source of carbohydrates, making it ideal for maintaining energy throughout the day. You can enjoy it in various forms like sabudana khichdi, sabudana kheer, pakoda, or vada, all providing satisfying meals that keep you nourished during the fast.