No onion and garlic does maketh a great meal

Now you don't need to worry about what to cook and eat during those long hours of Navratri fasting. City restaurants have geared up to provide special Vrat food to your dinner tables keeping stringent fasting guidelines in mind

Its time take out your dandiya sticks, put on glitzy lehenga cholis and head to a Navratri festival for the next few days.u00a0 The nine days of Navratri means lots of prayers, dancing and of course fasting. But what is some fasting without a bit of feasting thrown in for good measure? The Guide brings you a round up of eateries that are planning to go all out to cater to the city's fasting population post sunset.

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Fasting cuisine from the four southern states
At South Indies, this year the focus is on introducing patrons to the Navratri cuisine from the four states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. According to South Indies chef Suresh Pandian, the spotlight is on the cuisine that is eaten duringu00a0 Navratri by the Palakkad Brahmins from Kerala, Vaishnavs from Andhra Pradesh, Udipi Brahmins from Karnataka and Iyengars and Iyers from Tamil Nadu. No garlic or onion is used and usually the food consists of lentils and vegetables like brinjals, gourd, pumpkin and ladies finger served in yoghurt, gram flour or tamarind based sauces with hints of jaggery and spices.

As part of the Navratri spread, you can start with the Palakkad Brahmin speciality Taritupittu, steamed starters made out of lentils and broken rice and shaped like a rice cakes or the Chintty Burulu, a small bonda made of rice flour, wheat flour and yoghurt and usually served as a quick evening snack You can tuck intou00a0 Kothmir Vounkai, a fresh coriander and baby brinjal curry from Vijaywada, Mukkala Pulusu, a ladies finger, drumsticks, brinjal and bottle gourd dish in a besan gravy.

All this can be moped up with neer, kale and miapaattu (a non oily steamed version) dosas or steamed rice. Don't forget to try Krukkukalan, a yoghurt based curry made of yam and raw banana. For dessert you can sample Tapesaaram Kaza, deep fried rolls of refined flour doused in sugar syrup all the way from Andhra Pradesh or the Udipi-style Hayaguruva Matti, a Bengal gram dal, jaggery and coconut halwa.

At South Indies, 100 feet Road Indiranagar and Infantry Road
On from October 8 to 16, 7 pm onwards
Call 4163 6363/ 4163 6362
For Rs 444 plus taxes

Celebrate Navratri the organic way with nine menus
Nine days, nine menus and also nine traditional sweets to boot; what more could you ask for this Navratri? Sample 25 kinds of dishes as part of the Royal Wodeyar Thali that will be served on October 17 or Vijayadashami.

This thali is being offered as part of the celebrations of the 400th year of the Dasara performed by the Royal Family of Mysore: The Wodeyars. Feast onu00a0 everything from Mysore Masala Dosa to Mysore Mallige Idli, to Bise Bele Bath to Mysore Pak and Coconut Holige.
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Modak will also introduce several kinds of planet friendly rice that is grown in arid areas into their cuisine such as Indrani, Ghandasala, Jeera Sanna, Rajbog, Mysore Mallige, Red Rice and Rajamudi. Don't forget dessert here which comprises ghee soaked modaks, gulab jamuns and honey and fig ice cream along with other sweet goodies.u00a0u00a0

At Modak, Koramangala
On from October 8 to 17
Call 99725 72309

A North Indian take to the traditional fasting cuisine
Craving something simple yet spicy and full of flavour after a long day of fasting? Look no further than the special north Indian style Navratri Vrat food served up by Umerkot restaurant. You can start off with Singhade Ke Atte Ka Pakoda, fried fritters made out of water chestnut flour or spicy Kachalu or Arbi Ki Chaat. Once your craving multiplies, tuck into mains like Lauki Ki Sabzi, Samak Rice (a special kind of fasting rice) or Kuttu (buckwheat flour) Ke Atte Ki Puri. Finish off your meal with Sabudane Ki Kheer.

At Umerkot, Koramangala
On from October 8 to 17, 7 pm to 11.30 pmu00a0
Call 2550 0426

Tuck into a budget Vrat style thali after sunset
Break your fast with snacks like Arbi Kurkuri and Kuttu kiu00a0 Pakodiu00a0 sprinkled with Sendha Namak (a special kind of rock salt used to flavour Vrat food).u00a0Then move on to Kele Ki Chaat, a spicy concoction of green bananas, spices and chutney. Quench your thirst with Masala Chaas before you move onto Kuttu Ki Puri, Aloo Ki Subzee and Raita. Finish your meal with a sweet. This entire Vrat food is available as part of a set meal combo.