Thursday, 11 April 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Various factors like the desire to show off status, preference for variety and sometimes even laziness have led to an increase in the number of people opting for Navratri fast thali at restaurants during the nine-day festival.
During the Chaitra Navratri festival which began on April 9, many people belonging to the Hindu religion fast for nine days or two days, depending on their choice. However, the trend of eating Navratri fast thali at restaurants has been catching the fancy of the people over the years and this time this trend has become more discernible than earlier in the city. The thali offers many dishes that can be consumed on a fast and it does not have white salt, onion and garlic.
Asked to comment on this trend, a Dehradun resident Saloni Kapoor said that there are multiple factors leading to a surge in the number of people on fast thronging restaurants to consume Navratri Thali. “It is a convenient option,” she said.
Recounting her own experience of having Navratri thali at restaurants, she said, “It offers a variety of dishes on a single plate. The body weakens during fast with little energy left to cook a special dish befitting the occasion for nine days. In view of this, opting for Navratri fast thali at restaurants is a convenient option. Besides, restaurants often provide a variety of food, especially for those on fasting, something which is not available at home,” she added.
Sharing his experiences, a restaurant owner Krishna Narang said that the number of customers ordering Navratri thali at his restaurant has seen a surge in the last few years. “Earlier, those on Navratri fasting were seldom seen at my restaurant. They were perhaps sceptical about whether we would be able to provide the special food required during the fast. However, as time went by, people became aware of our Navratri fast special thali and they are now increasingly thronging restaurants like mine. Our restaurant offers three types of Navratri fast thali at different rates, offering varieties.”
Pandit Om Bhandari frowned upon the trend and ascribed this to people’s desire to show off their status coupled with laziness and convenience. ‘I can hardly support this trend. This is more in line with the Western preference for convenience than with the tradition that has been continuing for thousands of years with devotees fasting with religious sincerity on all the nine days of the festival. Besides, we do not consider the food served in restaurants as special thali as pure because these may contain onion and garlic among other items,” he said and added that the people opting for fasting should understand the true meaning of Navratri fasting and consume simple food prepared at home as per the tradition.
