Giriraj Poudel Celebrating Navaratree 2018 With Prasad

 Delhi is the city of festival and I asked Mr.Giriraj Poudel,the food blogger and fashion blogger what  he is doing during Navaratree ,why is so interested in this festival ,he answers one by one with the details which I just made a list for written form as a single note.It is really interesting to know the facts of Navaratree .

Millions of Hindus consider Navaratri the year’s central festival, the one they most deeply connect to. These nine days dedicated to Shakti, the Goddess, in her incarnations as Durga, Lakshmi and Saravati, provide an opportunity to seek blessings and commune with their own divinity. It is a time for sacred gatherings, austerities, selfless acts and intimate prayers. It also includes joyous worship, festivities, plays, feasting and dance—all venerating God as the loving Mother Spirit that gives life to everything.

The prominent story associated with Navratri is the battle that took place between goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura, who represents egotism. All the nine days of the festival are dedicated to each distinct avatar of the goddess; and each of these days has a significant colour attached to it, which devotees are expected to wear while taking part in the festivities. So, we've tried to break it down in easier terms for you:

The nine avatars of Durga and the colours of each avatar:

1. Day 1: SHAILPUTRI: She is the embodiment of the collective power of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It is in this form that the goddess was worshipped as the consort of Shiva. The colour of the first day is red--it depicts action and vigour.
2. Day 2: BRAHMCHARINI: The one who practices devout austerity. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation or moksha. The colour of the second day is royal blue, since it's synonymous with a calm-yet-powerful energy.
3. Day 3: CHANDRAGHANTA: She represents beauty and grace and is worshipped on the third day for peace, tranquillity and prosperity in life. She is the apostle of bravery and possesses great strength. The colour of the day is yellow.
4. Day 4: KUSHMUNDA: She is considered the creator of the universe. It is believed that Kushmunda created the universe through a bout of laughter and made it verdant with vegetation. Hence, the colour of the day is green.
5. Day 5: SKAND MATA: She is the mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya, who was chosen by the gods as their commander-in-chief in the war against the demons. She is accompanied by Skanda in his infant form. The colour of the day is grey, as it indicates the vulnerability of a mother who can turn into a storm cloud when the need arises to protect her child.
6. Day 6: KATYAYANI: Katyayani was born to the great sage, Kata, as an avatar of Durga. Dressed in orange, she exhibits immense courage. Hence, the colour of the day is orange.
7. Day 7: KALRATRI: She has a dark complexion, dishevelled hair and a fearless posture. She has three eyes that shine bright, with flames emanating from her breath. She is black like the goddess Kali. She is the most fierce form of goddess Durga, and she is dressed in white, a colour that represents peace and prayer. Thus, the colour of the day is white.
8. Day 8: MAHA GAURI: Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. It is said that due to her long austerities in the deep forests of the Himalayas, her colour transformed from white to back. However, later, when Shiva cleaned her with the waters of the Ganga, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which means extremely white. The colour of the day is pink, denoting hope and a fresh start.
9. Day 9: SIDDHIDATRI: She has supernatural healing powers. She has four arms and is always in a happy state of mind. She blesses all gods, saints, yogis, tantriks and all devotees as a manifestation of the mother goddess. The goddess is shown to be in a blissful state, just like the sky on a clear day. Thus, the colour of the day is sky blue, representing wonderment about the beauty of nature.

Celebrated twice a year, the first Navratri that falls in the month of March or April is known as Chaitra Navratri. Most devotees of goddess Durga observe a fast for nine days, though some observe it for only two days. During the fast, one is meant to abstain from everyday grains like wheat, but can consume fruits, milk, tea, coffee, potatoes and one meal of sago food preparations--such as kuttu (singhada) atta and special rice. Instead of regular table salt, sendha (sea) salt is used for cooking.

Food eaten during Navratri:

• * Fried or boiled potatoes
• * Kadhi prepared with kuttu atta and sea salt
• * Aloo tikki
• * Banana chips
• * Makhane ki sabzi
• * Fruits and fruit juices
• * Sabudana kheer
• * Curd
• * Lassi
• * Kuttu atta roti with kaddu sabzi or aloo sabzi

Navratri Prasad – Kala Chana Ingredients:Recipes by Giriraj Poudel as Navaratree Prasad

 

Brown chickpea or Kala Chana – 1 and 1/2 cups

Water for boiling brown chickpeas or Kala Chana – 4 cups

Turmeric (Haldi) powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Salt – As per taste

Clarified butter or Ghee – 2 tablespoons

Cumin seeds (Jeera) – 1 teaspoon

Asafoetida (Hing) powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Ginger (Adrak) – Around 2-inch cube, cleaned, peeled and finely chopped

Green chilies – 3, cleaned and roughly chopped

Coriander (Dhania) powder – 1 tablespoon

Dry mango (Amchoor) powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Chat Masala – 1 teaspoon

Fresh green coriander (Hara Dhania) – A bunch, cleaned and roughly chopped

Navratri Prasad – Kala Chana Method:

1. Soak brown chickpeas or Kala Chana overnight so that they can be used for cooking. Generally, size and amount of brown chickpeas (Kala Chana) get doubled after soaking them. Strain the water in which brown chickpeas were soaked and wash them one more time in running water.

2. Now for 1 and 1/2 cup of soaked brown chickpeas, take around 4 cups or more of water and put both things together in a pressure cooker. Add salt as per taste and turmeric (Haldi) powder into it and mix all things well. Switch on the flame to high and put the pressure lid with a whistle in it. Cook it on high flame till you hear the first whistle. Now turn the flame to medium-low and wait till you hear 5-6 more whistles. Switch off the flame and allow the pressure to subside down completely.

3. Open the lid and check whether brown chickpeas or Kala Chana are cooked perfectly. Check this by pressing a chickpea between your index finger and thumb.

4. If it is pressing easily then your brown chickpeas are cooked.

5. If you want to achieve black color in the final dish then you must saute and cook brown chickpeas in Iron wok (Lohe ki Kadahi). Iron wok or pan will make chickpeas blackish in color. Cooking this dish in Iron wok is a traditional way of making this amazing dish. If you don’t have Iron wok then you can use normal wok also, but the color of the dish will not be blackish. Add clarified butter or Ghee into the heated iron wok or Kadahi on medium flame.

6. Add cumin seeds (Jeera) into it and allow them to splutter for 10 seconds on medium flame.

7. Add asafoetida (Hing) powder into it.

8. Add chopped ginger and roughly diced green chilies into it and cook it for 20 seconds on medium flame.

9. Now add coriander (Dhania) powder into it and mix it well for 10 seconds.

10. Now add boiled brown chickpeas (Kala or Black Chana) along with the water in which they were boiled, into the wok and mix all things well.

11. Cook the mixture on high flame, stirring occasionally till water in the mixture starts boiling. Switch the flame to low and cook the brown chickpeas till all the water content is evaporated, stirring occasionally.

12. Add dry mango (Amchoor) powder and Chat masala powder into it. Mix all things well and cook for about a minute on low flame.

13. Finally, add cleaned and chopped green coriander (Hara Dhania) into it and mix all things. Switch off the flame after 10 seconds.

Yummy Sookha Kala Chana is ready to be served to Kanjaks along with Halwa and Pooris. This easy recipe can be made anytime and tastes great with Parantha or Poori. It’s a good nutritious and healthy breakfast option.

Navratri Prasad – Sooji/Suji Halwa Ingredients:

Semolina or Sooji/Suji – 1/2 cup
Clarified butter or Ghee – 1/4th cup
Water – 2 cups
Granulated sugar – 1/2 cup
Green cardamom (Elaichi) – 4, which will amount to 1/2 teaspoon of Elaichi powder
Almonds (Badam) – 1/4th cup, finely chopped

Navratri Prasad – Sooji/Suji Halwa Method:

1. Heat clarified butter or ghee in a heavy bottomed pan.
2. Add semolina ( Sooji/Suji) in it and mix it well.
3. Cook semolina (Sooji/Suji) on a low flame, stirring continuously till semolina color changes to golden brown.
4. Add water into the roasted semolina, mix it well.
5. Add sugar into it.
6.  Cook it on high flame till mixture starts forming bubbles.
7.  Switch the flame to low and add cardamom or Elaichi powder along with chopped almonds (Badam) into the Halwa mixture on low flame. Mix all things well.
8. Keep the Halwa mixture on low flame, stirring continuously till mixtures start thickening and forming a lump. Switch off the flame and allow Halwa to get cool down completely. While cooling, Halwa will become thicker in texture.

How to Make Poori (Puri)

1.Mix all the ingredients and work it into hard dough.

2.Knead for a few minutes and rest the dough for 30 minutes.

3.Divide the dough into portions of 25 grams each and form into balls.

4.Roll out the balls into circles with a rolling pin.

5.In a deep skillet heat oil.

6.When the oil is hot drop in a poori and spoon hot oil on it continually until it puffs up.

7.Then gently turn it upside down and let it fry till golden brown.

 

or this, one has to follow certain rules of Do's and don't. First, the Do's are important but don't are more important. If you are not able to do the Do's it may not give any negative effect. But if you do not abstain then you can land yourself in serious trouble.

Do's: Fasting Rules Navratri 2018

1. Daily having a bath in the morning preferably at 9.00 AM.
2. Eat only Satvic Food, only once.
3. Give some homemade bhog to Gods every day; if not possible then milk and fruits should be offered.
4. Go to the temple or do puja to Maa daily in the morning and evening by lighting lamp and offering flower and doing arti.
5. Try to give a gift to at least 2 small girl children, every day preferably in the evening.
6. After bath always wear fresh cloth do not use the
discarded cloth.
7. Recite the mantras and slokas of Maa every available minute with you.
8. Earnestly pray to the Goddess Mother to cleanse your Past Karmaas and bring happiness and prosperity to your life.

Don'ts: Fasting Rules Navratri 2018

1. Do not cut your nails for all these days till Ekadashi.
2. Do not have a haircut also during this period.
3. Do not stitch or knit during this period.
4. Do not gossip, tell lies or use harsh words/curse others.
5. Do not leave the Jyot to burn it out. After puja you should, with some flowers put to rest the Agni which stood as the witness to your puja and offering.
6. Do not dust your home or at least in the Puja Room/Place and in Kitchen.
7. Do not wear slipper in the house if possible for all these 9 days or avoid getting into the puja room wearing one
8. Do not study anything on the 9th day; instead, you should keep all your books and other modern gadgets near MAA and seek her blessing on this day.

Follow these simple rules and you will benefit. Getting Durga Saptashati or Devi Mahatmiyam parayanam done on any one day can bring excellent progress, prosperity and success in your life. If you are not able to follow above rules due to any reason, the prayaschittam will be to get Devi Durga Saptashati Parayanam done in your name on any of the 9 days will ensure good happiness and unhindered progress in life.Today is Panchami  23 rd of March 2018 and this navaratree may bring happiness to all.Giriraj Poudel is busy in Temple visiting nearby Girinagar named Shiva Temple where he is busy with his God and Goddessh.