This is one of my favorite festivals – I love the variety of recipes and prasadams that I get to make for DeviPrasadam – and also because the energy is so palpable. The Divine feminine or Shakti or the all powerful Goddess is invoked within and around and you can truly feel it.
Navaratri in 2020 is unique – bereft of all the social gatherings, golu hopping, gifts, catering/cooking for the social gathering. I will miss the lively meet and greets, the laughter, garba, and the festive ambiance that has become synonymous with Navaratri.
But I am also looking forward to celebrating Navaratri just for what it is – without all the social frills, and to celebrate within, how festivals are supposed to be celebrated. There is still the golu (albeit a miniature version this year), the daily puja, the daily neivedhyam or #DeviPrasadam that I have so come to enjoy making every year, the daily raagams to be sung/heard – the celebration to the Devi within us is the same – without the social elements. I take it as a much-needed break amongst the frenzy of it all – yes, frenzy – which at times the festive season can turn into, if not balanced well. And I have been guilty of feeling that way too, at times with too many commitments and an inability to say No.
So just like everything else 2020 has brought, it is a time for introspection – an inner festive celebration, with those closest to you, you self and your family.
I thought I would consolidate all the recipes of the past into one post – and share my different versions of the Navaratri planner. I did share earlier in a post that the planner has been inspired by my mil who taught me that planning ahead for this festival was key and it could easily get overwhelming if I didn’t. There has also been some amount of research that has gone into this over the years, a collaboration with my dear friend Niv or madetolovemagic (her Instagram handle) for the Devi invocations, to bring it to where it is today.
Below is the planner for this year. The column marked “Annapurni bowl” is one added by my mil which I have been following as a tradition – she places a silver or other metal bowl and fills it with a daily offering of grains or seeds – and over this is a picture or form of Goddess Annapurni – the bestower of food. I change out the bowl every day while offering the grains and invoking her.
The post The Navaratri Planner – 9 Recipes for 9 Days appeared first on The Mindful Veggie.
