Navratri snacks need a bit of planning when you are celebrating in the UK. Nine nights of garba, late dinners, aarti at the mandir, and a kitchen that has to feed fasting aunties, hungry teenagers and guests who drop in without warning. You can’t always pop to a farsan shop at the end of the road, so the cupboard has to be ready before the first night.
This guide covers the Navratri snacks worth keeping at home for all nine days: food for those keeping vrat, snacks for garba nights, and the Dussehra morning plate every Gujarati household looks forward to. Everything here comes from our own range of Indian snacks, nuts and dried fruits, made in the UK by our family since 1985.
Navratri snacks for fasting days
Fasting rules differ from family to family. Some homes avoid grains and pulses completely, others give up onion and garlic, and many people eat one farali meal a day. So check what your own household follows before you shop. If you are new to it, our farali snacks guide explains what is usually allowed and what is not.
Our Farali Chevda is made for fasting days and is the pack most customers reach for first. A small bowl with a cup of chai gets you through the long gap between lunch and the evening aarti.
Nuts do most of the heavy lifting during vrat. A handful of whole almonds in the morning keeps you going for hours, and cashew nuts are easy to roast in a little ghee with rock salt (sendha namak). For something sweet without reaching for mithai, dried fruits such as raisins and prunes give you natural sugar and a bit of energy before garba.
Many families also add pumpkin and sunflower seeds to fruit bowls or yoghurt on fasting days. Again, go by your own family’s custom.
Navratri snacks for garba nights
Garba finishes late, and nobody wants to cook at midnight. This is where a tin of dry Navratri snacks earns its place. They keep well, they don’t need heating, and they can go in a bag to the hall for the children and anyone who isn’t fasting.
Our Gujarati snacks are made to the same family recipes we have used for 40 years: chakri, papdi, para, sev and more. Put three or four in bowls and you have a spread ready in two minutes. Crunchy gathiya is always the first bowl to empty, especially with a few fried chillies on the side and hot masala chai.
If friends are coming back to yours after garba, add a bowl of mixed nuts to the table. It balances the fried snacks and gives fasting guests something they can eat too.
Dry snacks are also useful during the day. Not everyone in the house fasts, and a small box of chakri or para in a school bag or on the office desk saves a lot of last-minute cooking when your evenings are already full.
Dussehra morning: fafda and jalebi
Ask any Gujarati what Dussehra tastes like and you will get the same answer. Fafda and jalebi, eaten for breakfast, usually standing up in the kitchen. Sweet shops in Wembley and Leicester have queues out of the door that morning.
You can skip the queue. Our crispy fafda comes sealed in a 175g pack, so it stays crisp until you open it. Serve it with jalebi, green chutney and fried chillies. One pack is about right for two people, so order a few if the family is gathering.
Navratri snacks shopping list
- For fasting: Farali Chevda, almonds, cashews, raisins, prunes
- For garba nights: gathiya, chakri, papdi, sev, para
- For Dussehra: fafda, plus jalebi from your local sweet shop
- For guests: a nut bowl and two or three savoury snacks
If you are buying for the whole family, our multi-buy snack combos work out better value than single packs.
Ordering Navratri snacks online in the UK
Delivery takes up to 4 business days across mainland UK, so order your Navratri snacks before the first night rather than halfway through. Shipping is a flat £4.99, and free on orders over £40. Most Navratri baskets pass that easily once the nuts are in.
Keep unopened packs in a cool, dry cupboard. Once opened, move snacks to an airtight tin so they hold their crunch through all nine nights.
From Navratri straight into Diwali
Navratri ends and the Diwali countdown begins almost the next day. Many of the same snacks carry over, so it is worth ordering a little extra now. When you are ready to plan the next spread, read our guide to the Gujarati Diwali thali.
Until then, enjoy the garba, look after those keeping fast, and keep the snack tin full. Happy Navratri from all of us at Chandra Foods.
Navratri Snacks: Frequently Asked Questions
- Which Navratri snacks can you eat while fasting?
- It depends on your family’s custom. Common farali foods include farali chevda, nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruit and dairy. Grains, pulses, onion and garlic are usually avoided.
- Is fafda eaten during Navratri fasting?
- No. Fafda is made with gram flour, so it is not a fasting food. It is traditionally eaten with jalebi on Dussehra morning, once the nine nights of Navratri are over.
- Can I order Navratri snacks online in the UK?
- Yes. Chandra Foods delivers across mainland UK in up to 4 business days. Shipping is £4.99 and free on orders over £40.
- How should I store Navratri snacks?
- Keep sealed packs in a cool, dry cupboard. After opening, move them to an airtight container so they stay crisp.
