Fashion and Fasting during Navaratri! Tips to stay healthy and look attractive

Navratri is among the most auspicious. For some it is the reflection of spirituality and fasting, where as for others it is a great time to come together with their loved ones for dancing and rejoicing. So Navratri is best time to flaunt your playful angle in the most gorgeous way. The vibrant and bright Navratri costumes, can attract even the ones who are unaware of Garba moves, and inspire them to groove at the beats of Garba.

Significance of Navratri

Navratri is a famous Hindu festival, celebrated by Hindus all over the world. This festival is celebrated in the honour of Goddess Durga, over the span of nine days. People of all age groups are engrossed enthusiastically in the festivity. For some these are the nine days of dancing, feasting and frolic, whereas for others these are the holy days for spirituality and fasting. Extensively fasting is a customary practice during these holy days. Some devotees follow strict nine days of fasting while some keep fast for the first two or last two days of Navaratri.



Fasting @Navaratri?

Fasting during Navaratri is a conventional practice, as this festivity takes place in the period of transition in the seasons. This change makes our body vulnerable to fall prey of numerous seasonal diseases. 

Fasting enhances the immune system, detoxifies the body, hence fasting during this period has health benefits ofcourse along with its traditional and spiritual value.

Earlier fasting was related only with religious or cultural reasons but nowadays fasting is gaining popularity among health enthusiasts, as it has several health benefits too.



Benefits of fasting?

Apart from celebrating during festivals, fasting also has health benefits –

1. Fasting slow down aging
2. Promote weight loss
3. Reduces inflammation
4. Improves overall fitness
5. Decreases the risk of metabolic diseases
6. Leads to a stronger immune system.

Fasting is therapeutic for the body as it acts as a detox and keeps you healthy. So it is crucial to select the right type of food while on fasting, as the body becomes deficient in important nutrients. Because of that you may experience weakness and water retention. While on fasting, eating only limited things, sometimes upset the sodium levels in the body which leads to water retention.

During fasting you are restricted to consume wheat, rice and legumes or lentils, which are energy giving carbohydrates, and as a result you feel weakness.

Avoiding carbs during fasting is not good, as they provide energy to the brain and muscles, without that you can’t survive productively throughout the day. So to prevent feeling low, maintaining blood glucose levels, don’t starve, eat small meals with the right kind of carbs.

Here I am suggesting a list of superfoods to keep in consideration while on fasting during these festivity. As they’re loaded with antioxidants, energy boosting and improving the immune system.

Step out in most glamour way to show your dance moves

1. YOUR LOOK MUST BE GLAMOURS YET HASSLE FREE

Choose cotton printed lehenga over the heavy embroidered velvet lehengas. As during these super energetic nine days, you dance a lot, and as a result sweat a lot, your heavy outfits create hindrance in your dance moves and also makes you uncomfortable.
Natural fabric lehenga choli will allow your skin to breathe.

2. BRING VARIATION IN YOUR FESTIVE LOOKS

Certainly traditional lehenga-choli looks quite stunning on garba nights but you can create distinct looks to bring variation in your festive look, like besides lehenga-choli you can deck yourself up in Anarkali suits and  you can go for bright maxi dressor bohemian skirts. 
These skirts give you ample comfort to lose yourself on the dance floor without losing on your style quotient. Pair it up with colour coordinated and well fitted fashion tops.

3. INCORPOTATE SHRUG OR JACKET INTO YOUR FORMAL OUTFITS

Sometimes it happens that you set foot in the garba/dandiya party straight from the office or your workplace. You don’t have time or facility to change your outfit for the occasion. In such a scenario you can create a festive twist with your office wear, by adding a bright embroidered or mirror worked shrug or jacket and dupattas. You can complete your look with some jewelry
Select the right kind of dupatta, my suggestion would be to pick up the traditional designs like bandhej print, shell and mirror work dupatta. By these simple add-ons you are ready to rock in a dazzling and classy way.

4. YOUR MAKEUP SHOULD ENHANCE YOUR FESTIVE LOOK

Get your makeup also ready. Festive time is the best time to show off your gorgeous looks. During Navaratri time, go for metallic colours for eye makeup and red or neutral for lips, as these colours go well with traditional dresses and Indian skin tones.  
The colour of the lipstick depends on the colour of the outfit. If the outfit is multicolored or bright than go for neutral lips and when the outfit is neutral, choose red lipstick. This will enhance your overall look. 

5. OXIDISED JEWELLERY IS INSEPARABLE PART OF NAVRATRI LOOK

Black metal or oxidised jewellery is mandatory to complete the Navaratri look. Navaratri outfits are incomplete without trendy oxidised jewellery.
Oxidised jhumkas and necklaces go well with mirror worked blouse and dupattas. If you are eager to experiment with your looks, you can blend golden jewellery with oxidised jewellery. Kamar bandh gives an impactful festive look

spellbound, bring radiant glow and glory this Navaratri. Have a Happy Navratri to you all.

Foods which can consumed to stay healthy during fasting

1. Rajgira

It is nutritious and gluten free, also a good source of carbs, dietary fiber, protein and minerals like calcium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus. It’s a superfood for fasting, just mix rajgira grains with melted jaggery in appropriate proportion to bind them together and make Chikki or laddus. These laddus are energy giving and a rich source of iron. Rajgira or Amaranth has so many health benefits along with increased weight loss, such as it reduces inflammation, lower cholesterol levels etc.

2. Seasonal fruits

Including seasonal fruits in your meal during fasting is always a good option as they help to overcome the body’s natural nutritional needs. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and high in water content which is beneficial during fasting.

3. Sabudana

It is a quintessential superfood for fasting in India. As not a single fast is completed in our country without sabudana. Sabudana khichdi, tikki and kheer are popular dishes during fasting. It is high in carbs that’s why a fast energy booster. It improves digestion and relieves problems related to constipation, as it has starch which functions like fibre in the digestive system and improves gut health. Sabudana is gluten free, promotes strong bones, it has minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

4. Singhara

It is indeed a superfood for fasting as it gives enough nutrients to your body as a fasting meal. It is rich in antioxidants and minerals like zinc, iron, potassium, and manganese. Along with that it provides energy giving carbs so that you can have lots of energy throughout the day while on fasting. Singhara is rich in potassium and low in sodium, this balance helps water retention in the body. It is the major reason why it’s a superfood for fasting people.

5. Kuttu

it is another superfood for fasting, which is gluten free, a good source of dietary fiber, antioxidants, protein and minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. It improves blood sugar control and heart health.

6. Samak rice

It is known as fasting rice(vrat ke chawal) but actually it’s not rice. It is a nutritious seed which is gluten free, rich in fibre and a great source of energy. It is truly a superfood for fasting as it is super easy to digest, a good source of B-complex vitamins and minerals like iron and magnesium.You can make khichdi or kheer whatever you like, with it.

7. Sendha namak

Eating sendha namak during fasting is a good option, as not eating salt at all has adverse health effects of low sodium levels. It causes poor sleep and seizures. So adding rock salt in your fasting meal is good to avoid low sodium levels.

Rock salt is better than table salt, as it has less sodium and trace levels of several minerals like iron, zinc, cobalt, nickel and manganese. It is good for blood pressure, and it helps in absorption of minerals better than table salt.

8. Fruit juices or any fluids

keeping yourself hydrated during fasting is needed. You can have lemon water, coconut water, buttermilk etc. to stay away from dehydration and flushing out toxins from the body.

Conclusion

The prayers, chanting performed during Navratri pooja uplifts you spiritually, and detoxify your mind and soul from negative thoughts. These nine auspicious days provide you an opportunity to rectify negativity and give a fresh start to yourself.

Lets celebrate this Navratri in an Stylish and Healthy way.



Disclaimer – Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.