Navratri recipes, a collection of 50+ south Indian navaratri naivedyam recipes and some snacks recipes to make during this festive season. Navratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated for 9 nights and 10 days. During this time Goddess DURGA or SHAKTI is worshiped in 9 different forms known as NAVADURGA. It is believed that worshiping the Godess during this period also called as sharadiya navratri brings in prosperity, wealth and wisdom to her devotees and destroys the evil. The 10th day is celebrated as “VIJAYADASHAMI” also known as “DUSSEHRA” or “DASARA”, a day of victory of the good over the evil.

This year navratri is celebrated from 17th October to 25th October 2020. Vijayadashami is celebrated on 26th October 2020.
Each state has their own way of celebrating the navratri, Offering different kinds of foods to the godess, fasting , decorating golu/kolu/koluvu , inviting friends and relatives is a part of the 10 day long festival celebrations.
The fasting that we ever did at my mum’s home was to consume 1 to 2 cups of milk or fruits during the day , abstaining from all other foods and break the fast after the evening puja, with a meal that was offered to the godess as naivedyam or prasadam.
As a family tradition, Devi Bhagavata puranam was recited with much devotion during the 9 days and late in the nights. Special naivedyam foods are prepared to please the goddess Durga and it is also a way of expressing our devotion.
I have compiled some common south Indian navaratri recipes which includes andhra recipes that are offered to the goddess as navratri naivedyam or prasadam during these 9 days. However these could differ from each family , community or region. I have also included some snacks that can be made during these 10 days.
Some people do not use sabudana or sago for naivedyam as they are processed heavily. I have used them for making payasam recipes in the past which are included in the list below, if you have a tradition of not using them, just skip it from the recipe.
Foods made for navratri naivedyam
Sweet pongal, ven pongal, rice payasam (made with cow’s milk & jaggery), curd rice (daddojanam), kesari, medhu vada / garelu, poornam burelu, black chana sundal, panakam, vadapappu and chalimidi are mainly offered to Goddess Durga during these 9 days as naivedyam.
Chilies, ginger & garlic are not used in any of the foods. Pepper corn can be used in vada, ven pongal and curd rice. These depends on family customs and beliefs.
Navratri recipes – pongal, payasam, panakam, kesari varieties
You may like to check these collections
50 Snacks recipes
20 Payasam recipes
34 Ladoo Recipes
21 Halwa recipes
17 Burfi Recipes
Fruit Juice recipes
Sundal – guggilu and ladoo recipes
For the peanut ladoo, i have used cornflakes, replace it with poha or skip it.
Navratri recipes – Snacks – deep fried food recipes
We don’t use green chili, onions and garlic for naivedyam foods. If you make mixed dal vada and alasanda vada, use your judgement whether to use or no..You can skip them from the recipes
Thachaini says
Hi ma’am , I’ve been referring to your recipe to serve god for this navarathiri and it gave me a wonderful outcome. I really appreciate that you could help beginner like me to cook very well . Thank you so much sister. May god bless you and your entire family.
swasthi says
Hi Thachaini
You are welcome! Happy to know the recipes are helping. Thank you so much for the wishes.
Happy Vijayadashmi
🙂
Graeme chick says
Hi There,
I made your pickle recipe, and it was delicious and steadily improved over a couple of months. However, now after about 4 months the remaining pickle in the jar, (about 2 kilos), is covered by a black hairy mould. Can i remove this mould and still eat the pickle, or must i throw it all away. Jar is airtight and would hold about 4 litres.
Your recipes are great, and easy to make. The only problem, here in the philippines, is the extreme difficulty in obtaining ingredients. I have been living here for 11 years and find all the local pilipino food to be very horrible. I wish that i had retired to India, which i have visited several times, mainly Karnataka, Maharastra and Goa. Wonderful people, food, country and history.
Kind regards, Graeme Chick.
swasthi says
Hi Graeme Chick,
Thank you so much! Yes India is wonderful to retire! I have posted 2 mango pickle recipes on the blog. Please let me know which of these you followed
Instant mango pickle
mango avakaya (traditional recipe).
I read one of your comments on my pickle post where you mentioned that you had kept the pickle in sun. We usually do not keep these kind of pickles in sun.
Sometimes salt gets accumulated on top of the pickles which look black in color. Just wondering if it is that. I can help you if you could mail me the closeup pictures of the pickle. You can find my email id in my about page. Will check your pictures and let you know.
ramya says
very nice recipes
Diane Ramesh says
Hi, I’m a Sri Lankan Sinhalese and married to a tamilian. I have become a big follower of your recipes and thank you very much for sharing them with us. God Bless You!!!
swasthi says
Hi Diane
Glad to know you. You are most welcome.
Thanks a lot for the wishes. They mean a lot to us.
🙂
vidya says
Great information. Thanks for sharing.
swasthi says
welcome Vidya
Ana says
No information about prasadam
swasthi says
Naivedyam and prasadam are same. Naivedyam turns to prasadam after offering to god
Delilah says
I was just searching for Indian food in google and I got your website,I have recently visited kerala and had payasam its just amazing yet I’ve not tried at home I’ll give a try. once.
swasthi says
Thank you
Devi says
Good and thanks amma
swasthi says
Welcome and thanks
SHAILA says
Can you please explain how to make PANAGAM with banana and jagry pleaseeee…
swasthi says
Hi Shaila,
are you referring to panagam / panakam drink made for godess durga. This is how it is made:
Ingredients
4 tbsp. powdered Jaggery
2 cups Water
1 large cardamom / elaichi powdered
Pinch of saunti / dry ginger powder
Pinch of pepper powder
Method.
Mix jaggery and water. stir until jaggery melts.Filter to remove impurities.
Add powdered cardamom, saunti and pepper
for a detailed post, check on this link below
chalimidi vadapappu
If you are referring to banana kesari or halwa, please click on this link
banana sheera
Hope this helps.
geeta malini says
the rescipes r awsome n i will try them when making prasadam n also the ones i made came out nice
thanks
swasthi says
Thanks Geetha, Iam glad they came out well.
🙂
manjula says
Wanted detaileinformation okinformation