Last Updated:April 05, 2025, 07:13 IST

Navratri 2025 Day 8: Celebrate the divine grace of Maa Mahagauri this Ashtami with easy, healthy vrat recipes that nourish the body and uplift the spirit.

Navratri 2025 Day 8: The eighth day of Chaitra Navratri, also known as Ashtami or Durga Ashtami, is dedicated to Maa Mahagauri, the eighth form of Goddess Durga. It is one of the most auspicious days of Navratri, marked by fasting, prayers, and the revered Kanya Pujan ritual—where young girls (symbolizing the divine feminine) are worshipped and offered meals and gifts.

Significance of Maa Mahagauri Ashtami

Maa Mahagauri represents purity, serenity, and compassion. Her name means “the extremely fair one,” and she is depicted wearing white clothes, riding a white bull, and holding a trident and a damaru (small drum). Devotees believe that worshipping her can cleanse past sins, bring peace, and help one attain spiritual progress.

She is also associated with the planet Rahu, and her blessings are thought to remove negative energies and bestow mental clarity.

3 Easy and Healthy Vrat Recipes for Ashtami

If you’re fasting on this sacred day, here are three simple, nourishing, and sattvic recipes that are perfect for the vrat (fast):

Samak Rice Khichdi (Barnyard Millet Khichdi)

Light, gluten-free, and rich in fiber

Ingredients:

1 cup samak rice (barnyard millet)

1 medium potato, chopped

1-2 green chilies, chopped (optional)

1 tsp cumin seeds

Rock salt (sendha namak) to taste

1 tbsp ghee or oil

Fresh coriander leaves

Method:

Rinse the samak rice thoroughly and soak for 20 minutes.

Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds and green chilies.

Add potatoes and sauté for a few minutes.

Add the soaked samak rice and 2 cups of water.

Season with rock salt and cook on a medium flame until soft.

Garnish with coriander and serve with curd or vrat-friendly raita.

Kuttu Chilla (Buckwheat Flour Pancakes)

High in protein, quick to make, and great for breakfast or lunch

Ingredients:

1 cup kuttu (buckwheat) flour

1 boiled potato, mashed

1-2 green chilies, chopped

Fresh coriander

Rock salt to taste

Water as needed

Ghee for cooking

Method:

In a bowl, mix kuttu flour, mashed potato, chilies, coriander, and rock salt.

Add water slowly to make a thick batter.

Heat a tawa, grease with a little ghee, and pour a ladle of batter.

Spread gently like a pancake and cook both sides until golden.

Serve with plain yogurt or mint chutney.

Fruit & Nut Yogurt Bowl

A refreshing and energy-boosting option for a light meal

Ingredients:

1 cup chilled plain yogurt (dahi)

1 banana, sliced

1 apple, chopped

1 tbsp chopped dates or raisins

A few almonds and walnuts

A drizzle of honey (optional)

A pinch of cardamom powder

Method

Whisk the yogurt until smooth.

Add fruits, nuts, and honey (if using).

Sprinkle with cardamom for a fragrant touch.

Chill and serve as a wholesome snack or post-puja treat.

These recipes not only align with the fasting guidelines of Chaitra Navratri but also keep you energized throughout the day. As you honor Maa Mahagauri on Ashtami, let your plate reflect her purity and your devotion.