Sharad Navratri 2026: Day-Wise Vrat Recipes for NRIs

Sharad Navratri 2026 Dates: October 11 (Sunday) to October 20 (Tuesday), 2026 Ghatasthapana: October 11, 2026 Vijayadashami / Dussehra: October 20, 2026

Jai Mata Di! Navratri is a time of immense devotion, fasting, and seeking the blessings of Maa Durga. For NRI Hindus living abroad, balancing work, family, and vrat can be challenging. This guide brings you simple, tasty, and authentic vrat recipes using ingredients easily available at Indian grocery stores (Patel Brothers, Apna Bazaar, Iqbal Foods, Nations Fresh, etc.) or on Amazon.

All recipes use sendha namak (rock salt), avoid onion, garlic, and regular grains. Ghee is preferred for cooking.

Day 1 – October 11, Sunday | Maa Shailputri | Colour: Yellow

Sabudana Khichdi – Light & filling vrat breakfast Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

• 1 cup sabudana (soaked 4–6 hours)
• ½ cup roasted peanuts (coarsely crushed)
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 green chillies (slit)
• ½ tsp sendha namak
• 1 potato (boiled & cubed)
• Fresh coriander & lemon

Method

1. Drain sabudana well and spread on a plate for 30 minutes to separate grains.
2. Heat ghee; add cumin and green chillies.
3. Add potato cubes, sauté 2 minutes.
4. Add sabudana and peanuts; stir on medium flame 5–7 minutes until translucent.
5. Season with sendha namak, lemon juice, and coriander.

NRI Tip: Sabudana is available everywhere. Soak overnight for busy mornings.

Day 2 – October 12, Monday | Maa Brahmacharini | Colour: Green

Kuttu Ki Puri with Aloo Sabzi – Hearty meal to last the day Ingredients

• 1 cup kuttu (buckwheat) flour
• ½ cup boiled mashed potato
• Sendha namak to taste
• Ghee/oil for frying
• 3 potatoes (boiled, cubed) + cumin, red chilli powder, amchur for sabzi

Method

1. Knead kuttu flour with mashed potato and sendha namak into firm dough (no water needed).
2. Roll into puris and deep-fry until golden.
3. For sabzi: Heat ghee, splutter cumin, add potatoes, spices, and sendha namak. Simmer 5 minutes.

NRI Tip: Kuttu flour is widely stocked in Indian stores. Keep dough covered to prevent drying.

Day 3 – October 13, Tuesday | Maa Chandraghanta | Colour: Grey

Sama Rice Pulao – Light vrat lunch Ingredients

• 1 cup sama rice (barnyard millet)
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 6–8 cashews
• 1 green chilli
• Sendha namak
• Fresh coriander

Method

1. Soak sama rice 20 minutes.
2. Heat ghee, fry cashews, remove. Splutter cumin & chilli.
3. Add sama rice, sauté, then add 2 cups water + sendha namak.
4. Cook covered on low 12–15 minutes. Garnish with cashews.

NRI Tip: Sama rice (varagu/samai) is easily available and cooks faster than regular rice.

Day 4 – October 14, Wednesday | Maa Kushmanda | Colour: Orange

Kaddu Ki Sabzi with Singhara Roti Ingredients

• 400g pumpkin (kaddu), cubed
• 1 tsp fenugreek seeds, red chilli powder, amchur, ghee, sendha namak
• 1 cup singhara (water chestnut) flour for rotis

Method

1. Make soft dough with singhara flour + sendha namak + warm water. Roll & cook rotis on tawa with ghee.
2. Heat ghee, splutter fenugreek, add pumpkin, cover & cook 15 min. Add spices and lightly mash.

NRI Tip: Singhara flour (singoda) is common during fasting seasons in most Indian stores.

Day 5 – October 15, Thursday | Maa Skandamata | Colour: White

Makhane Ki Kheer – Rich, soothing dessert Ingredients

• 1 cup makhana (foxnuts)
• 750 ml full-fat milk
• 3 tbsp sugar
• Cardamom, saffron, ghee, chopped nuts

Method

1. Roast makhana in ghee 8–10 min. Crush half lightly.
2. Simmer in boiling milk 20–25 min. Add sugar, saffron, cardamom.
3. Garnish with nuts. Serve warm or chilled.

NRI Tip: Makhana (foxnuts) is readily available and stores well.

Day 6 – October 16, Friday | Maa Katyayani | Colour: Red

Aloo Jeera (Vrat Style) – Quick 15-minute dish Ingredients

• 4 medium potatoes (boiled, cubed)
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1½ tsp cumin seeds
• Dried red chillies, red chilli powder, sendha namak, coriander & lemon

Method Heat ghee, splutter cumin & chillies, add potatoes, spices, and cook until golden. Finish with lemon & coriander.

Day 7 – October 17, Saturday | Maa Kalaratri | Colour: Royal Blue

Sabudana Vada – Crispy snack with chutney

Method (Brief) Mix soaked sabudana, mashed potato, crushed peanuts, green chillies, cumin & sendha namak. Form patties and shallow/deep fry. Serve with coriander chutney (coriander + green chilli + lemon + sendha namak).

Day 8 – October 18, Sunday | Maa Mahagauri | Colour: Pink

Kuttu Ka Cheela – Savoury buckwheat pancakes

Method (Brief) Mix kuttu flour with curd, green chilli, cumin, sendha namak & coriander into dosa-like batter. Cook on tawa with ghee on low-medium flame.

Day 9 – October 19, Monday | Maa Siddhidatri | Colour: Purple

Singhara Halwa – Fragrant closing sweet

Method (Brief) Roast singhara flour in ghee until nutty. Add hot sugar syrup (with cardamom & saffron), stir until thickened. Garnish with nuts.

Day 10 – October 20, Tuesday | Vijayadashami / Dussehra | Colour: Peacock Green

Puri Halwa Prasad (Parana – Breaking the Fast)

Method (Brief) Prepare suji halwa in ghee with sugar syrup and cardamom. Make whole wheat puris. Offer as bhog to Maa Durga, then enjoy with family.

Vrat Kitchen Rules for NRIs (All 10 Days)

• Use only sendha namak (rock salt) — available in Indian stores.
• Strictly avoid onion, garlic, regular salt, grains (except sama rice), and non-veg.
• Permitted: Sabudana, makhana, kuttu, singhara, sama rice, potatoes, fruits, milk, curd, nuts, ghee.
• Stay hydrated with water, milk, coconut water, or fresh fruit juices.

NRI Shopping Tips Most ingredients (sabudana, kuttu flour, singhara flour, makhana, sendha namak, peanuts) are stocked year-round in Indian grocery stores across the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. Order in advance for Shravan or Navratri. Ghee is easily available; use olive/avocado oil sparingly for frying if needed.

NRI Time-Saving Tips

• Prep sabudana & potatoes the previous night.
• Make larger batches of halwa or kheer for quick snacks.
• Use instant pot or microwave for faster cooking on busy weekdays.
• Many NRIs perform evening puja after work and break the fast then — Maa Durga understands sincere devotion.

Jai Mata Di! May Maa Durga bless every NRI family with health, strength, prosperity, and protection this Sharad Navratri 2026. Share these simple recipes with your family and friends abroad.

Last updated: April 2026. Recipes are sattvic and traditional. Adjust spices according to taste and health needs. Always confirm Navratri dates with your local Panchang.