Chandraghanta, the goddess of peace and prosperity, is honoured by Makhana kheer. (Image: Shutterstock)
Celebrate this Navratri with Bengali special Singhare ke Laddoo, makhana kheer and more.
The most auspicious festival of the Hindu community, Shardiya Navratri, is around the corner. Devotees of Maa Durga are excited to kick-start the 9-day-long festive season with tremendous joy and enthusiasm. During these days of Navratri, nine different avatars of Goddess Durga will be worshipped across the country.
This year, the festival will commence on October 3 and culminate on the tenth day with Dussehra (Vijayadashami), i.e. October 12. No Indian festival is complete without sweets, so to enhance your celebrations, we present a selection of delectable sweets you can prepare and serve.
Celebrate this Navratri with Bengali special Singhare ke Laddoo, sabudana kheer and more. Let’s embark on a delightful culinary journey and explore nine lip-smackingly healthy dessert options for nine days.
Navratri 2024: Sweet Recipes You Must Try
- Ghee LaddooOn the first day of Navratri, treat yourself to ghee laddoos as an offering to Goddess Shailaputri. These sweet, golden delights not only represent devotion but are sure to leave you craving more once you’ve tasted their rich, buttery flavour.
- Singhare ke LaddooThis sweet is used to honour goddess Brahmacharini, the deity of patience and the pursuit of spiritual knowledge. Made with chestnut flour (singhare ke atta), ghee, and sugar, these laddoos are delicious and perfect for fasting days.
- Makhana KheerChandraghanta, the goddess of peace and prosperity, is honoured by Makhana kheer. It is a milk-based creamy dessert that’s perfect for the Navratri celebrations. Made with thickened milk, makhana and sugar, this kheer is a delightful blend of rich flavours and smooth textures. The sprinkling of cardamom powder and saffron gives it an aromatic boost, making it a comforting treat for the family.
- Rabdi MalpuaDo you know Malpua is dedicated to the universe’s founder, Maa Kushmanda? This traditional dish that combines the crispy texture of malpuas with the creamy sweetness of rabdi is a must-try. Made from a batter of flour, milk, and yoghurt, malpuas are small pancakes that are deep-fried to golden perfection. They are then soaked in sugar syrup and topped with a generous amount of thick, sweetened rabdi.
- Banana HalwaThe mother of the war god Kartikeya, Skandamata, is served a delectable banana halwa on the fifth day. To make this recipe, you just need 5-6 ripe bananas, jiggery, ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, and cardamom powder. Roast all the ingredients on low flame until the halwa thickens, and garnish it with dried fruits for added crunch.
- Rajgira LadooPacked with the goodness of amaranth seeds, Kesar Rajgira Ladoo is a nutritious sweet offered to goddess Katyayani. These ladoos are made with puffed rajgira (amaranth seeds), ghee, and jaggery, flavoured with a pinch of saffron. Add these laddoos to your Navratri sweet platter for a healthy and energy-boosting option for fasting days.
- Roasted Dry FruitsFor the seventh day of Navratri, roast a variety of dried fruits like raisins, cashews, almonds, makhana, pistachios, etc. with ghee. The goddess Kalratri, in her deadliest avatar, is honoured with this combination.
- Coconut BarfiTry these quick and easy no-bake healthy coconut laddoos that are just right for Navratri. It is a simple yet delightful Indian dessert made by combining desiccated coconut with some jaggery, condensed milk and cardamom powder to form a dough. Then, shape the mixture into small balls and roll them in desiccated coconut to make this delightful dish. Offer this sweet to Goddess Mahagauri on the eighth day of the festival to seek her blessings.
- Badam HalwaHow can we miss out on this popular and traditional sweet? The ninth day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Siddhidatri. To mark the occasion and seek the blessings of the goddess, Badam halwa is offered to the goddess. Trust us, this lip-smacking dessert made with almonds, desi ghee, and sugar, flavoured with cardamom, and topped with pistachios or almonds will make you go gaga. It is a favourite option for special occasions and offerings.
Enjoy these mouth-watering homemade creations with your friends and family this Navratri and make it even more special!
