Navratri 2025: Fasting Rules, Do’s And Don’ts To Follow During Shardiya Navratri

Last Updated:September 18, 2025, 09:15 IST

Navratri 2025 Fasting Rules: Navratri 2025 will be observed from September 22 to October 2, marking ten days of devotion, fasting, and celebration of Goddess Durga’s divine energy.

Many devotees participate in cultural events like Garba and Dandiya dances in Gujarat during the 9-day Navratri festival. (AI generated image)

Navratri Fasting Rules: Navratri, or Shardiya Navratri, is a vibrant and spiritually significant Hindu festival that celebrates the divine feminine energy, Shakti, embodied in the Goddess Durga. This nine-night and ten-day celebration symbolises the victory of good over evil, marking Goddess Durga’s defeat of Mahishasura. Shardiya Navratri, observed in autumn, is more prominent than Chaitra Navratri in spring. This year, Navratri begins on September 22, 2025, and concludes on October 2, 2025, with Dussehra.

ALSO READ: Navratri 2025 Fasting: Rules, Spiritual Benefits, Foods To Eat And Avoid

Navratri 2025: Fasting Rules

1. During Navratri, many devotees abstain from grains and legumes, like wheat and rice.
2. They follow the “Phalahar Vrat,” which allows fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy.
3. A special meal, or “Prasad,” prepared with Sabudana (Tapioca pearls) and “Kuttu” flour (buckwheat), is offered to those who are fasting.
4. Some devotees observe “Nirjala Vrat,” abstaining from water.
5. The fast is broken on the final day of Navratri, after sunset, following Kanya Pujan, where a Kanjak meal of Puri, Halwa, and Chana is served.
6. Fasting is seen as a purification of body and mind, enhancing spiritual connection.
7. Pregnant women, children and those suffering from serious ailments, should avoid fasting.

Navratri 2025: Do’s And Don’ts

1. Devotees should rise early, bathe, and wear clean, non-leather clothes on all nine days.
2. One should wear colours associated with each day of Navratri to boost spiritual vibrations.
3. It is advised to follow a sattvic diet, avoiding grains, onions, garlic, non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco, and processed foods. Devotees can use ghee or peanut oil, and sendha namak or rock salt.
4. Daily puja rituals must be offered to the nine forms of Goddess Durga on each day.
5. One must avoid cutting hair or trimming nails, and refrain from sleeping during the day.
6. Chaste thoughts and celibacy, avoidance of physical intimacy are advised during this period.
7. One must focus on positive and devotional thoughts, and steer clear of negative thoughts and arguments.
8. Home and puja space must be clean and tidy to attract positive energy and divine blessings.
9. On the eighth or ninth day, Kanya Puja should be performed in which nine young girls are worshipped as pure embodiments of the divine.
10. Those interested should participate in cultural events like Garba and Dandiya dances in Gujarat and Maharashtra, or Dhunuchi Naach and Sindoor Khela in West Bengal. Such activities keep native traditions alive.

About the Author

Nibandh Vinod

Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with nearly three decades of experience, known for his in-depth coverage of events and festivals, as well as his expertise in SEO-driven content at News18.com. A tech-savv…Read More

Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with nearly three decades of experience, known for his in-depth coverage of events and festivals, as well as his expertise in SEO-driven content at News18.com. A tech-savv… Read More

Go to Source
Author: News18