According to Hinduism, Bhagwan Ram is considered as the 7th avatar of Lord Vishnu, the supreme being. Thus, Shri Ram Navami is one of the most important Hindu festivals in India which celebrates the birthday of Bhagwan Ram. This festival is usually observed by people by keeping fasts or vrats. Thus, my collection of 30 Ram Navami Festival Recipes will help you with some delicious treats for this day.
Sri Ram Navami is also a significant festival that is a part of the Chaitra Navratri festivities in the spring season. So, this day dedicated to Lord Ram primarily takes place in March or April months, according to the Gregorian Calendar. In 2023, this it falls on March 30.
Significance of Ram Navami
Diwali celebrates Lord Ram’s victorious return to Ayodhya. This was along with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman after killing demon king Ravana in Lanka.
This day happens to end the grand festival of Sharada Navratri, of which even Dussehra festival is a part of. Dussehra is the day when Lord Ram had executed the 10-headed demon king Ravana. Thus, signifying the victory of good and truth over evil.
Just like this, the significance of Shri Ram Navami also is related to a similar reason. The day marks the celebration of victory of good over evil. With ‘dharma’ or ‘righteousness or morality’ being established to finish ‘adharma’ or ‘unrighteousness or immorality.’
One popular tradition on Sri Ram Navami is to offer ‘jal (water)’ to Surya, the sun God, at the break of the dawn. This is considered as auspicious because it is believed that Bhagwan Ram’s ancestors were the descendants of Surya.
Many typical dishes are consumed on this day, as a part of the fasting ritual observed by many people. These classic dishes may have variations across the Indian subcontinent.
For instance, some North Indian halwas and kheers may become kesaris and payasams in South India, etc. Here, I have shared a list of popular, tasty and easy Ram Navami Festival Recipes.
Bhagwan Ram: The Perfect Man
Lord Ram has always been looked up to as ‘Maryada Purushottam’ or the ‘perfect man.’ Thus, Sri Ram Navami becomes the ideal day to know about the attributes, a man should possess to be impeccable. Just like Bhagwan Ram. Here’s what they are:
- Dutiful: Lord Ram sacrificed everything, just to keep the promise given to his father. He was extremely dedicated and obedient in keeping his words.
- Responsible and loving: Lord Ram was always a responsible brother. Even being elder to Lakshman, he treated his brother as his equal. He gave him love, and was never envious or jealous of his brother’s achievements.
- Supportive: Lord Ram respected Sita’s choice to join him on his exile and gave her equal decision-making power and authority. Also, during the exile, Lord Ram took great care of her.
- Knowledgeable and noble: Lord Ram had exceptional administration skills, was clever and was a principled king. He was also well-versed with the Vedas, scriptures and warfare skills and techniques.
Ram Navami Celebrations
Vrats, remembering Bhagwan Ram, reciting bhajans and his ‘katha’ (stories) from the Hindu epic Ramayana are features of this festival. Ram Navami is also a good day for involving in some charity work.
Since the last 3 years had been tough and locked down due to the Covid pandemic, online charities like the PM Cares Fund were quite active, especially during the festival.
You can even do so today or return back to the normal ways of charity, which involves physically present at a trusted NGO or similar organization and donate whatever or how much ever you can.
Doing charity is never dependent on how much money you gave. It is the noble act and the conscious of willing to do something for the needy, no matter how small or big, that always matters.
Charity can also be done in the form of taking part as a ‘sevak’ in ‘langars’ at gurudwaras or any other place of worship, where community meals are organized on this day.
Another way of celebrating the day is to read other spiritual books like Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas or even watching the serial Ramayana on television.
The city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, North India celebrates Ram Navami with much grandeur and fanfare. Chariot processions of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman called ‘rathayatras’ take place at several locations within the city.
A lot of Ram bhakts or devotees also consider taking a dip in the Sarayu River and then visiting a Ram temple as sacred.
Shri Ram Navami Recipes
Since no Indian festival is ever complete without mentioning and also preparing special food that range from one course to the other, the same is applicable for the festival of Shri Ram Navami as well.
Here, I have shared a signature collection of 30 Ram Navami Festival Recipes that are usually made during this day. The list includes dishes from North Indian cuisine as well as South Indian cuisine.
In South India, panakam, kosambaris, neer mor and many varieties of sundals and payasams are popularly made during this festival, as an offering to the deities.
Sundal variations like Sweet Corn Sundal, Rajma Sundal, Green Peas Sundal and Chana Dal Sundal are also common during Ganesh Chaturthi or Navratri festivals.
North Indians usually break their Chaitra Navratri Fasts during Ashtami or Navami, with a special combination of kala chana, Poori and Suji Ka Halwa after the rituals of ‘kanjak pooja.’
However, some people continue the fasts during Rama Navami or many devotees of Lord Ram keep fast specially for Rama Navami.
It is a very holy day and it is believed that keeping fast on Rama Navami and remembering Bhagwan Ram with total devotion can wipe out many of your negative karma.
The fasting food prepared does not use onion, garlic, rice, wheat flour, turmeric, etc. I have shared a detailed post on Navratri Fasting Rules which covers most of the important details about food and ingredients guidelines followed during fasting this time.
Important inclusions in the list of Ram Navami Festival Recipes especially meant for fasting are also Curd (dahi or Indian yogurt) and some sweets, all of which can be prepared at home without any fuss.
Also, other than whatever is mentioned here in this 30 Ram Navami Festival Recipes list, you can refer to this category of Ladoo Recipes and Halwa Recipes for more varieties.
Please refrain from adding garlic or onion from any of the recipes listed below.
Popular Recipes
Easy
10 mins
Panakam Recipe for Ram Navami
Panakam is a cooling drink made with lemon juice, jaggery, ginger powder, cardamom powder and black pepper and is especially made during Ram Navami Festival.
Moderate
15 mins
Kosambari is a simple and easy to assemble South Indian salad variant from the state of Karnataka. This tempered Moong Dal Salad, is made with moong lentils, cucumber, coconut, lemon juice, herbs with a tempering of basic South Indian spices and curry leaves.
Moderate
10 mins
Majjiga or Sambaram or Neer Mor a.k.a Neer Moru or Neer Majjige is a delicious variant of a spiced and salty buttermilk well-known across South India. This recipe variant is made with curd (yogurt) and water, which is later spiced and then tempered. It makes for an equally refreshing summer drink with digestive properties.
Easy
35 mins
Sabudana kheer is a sweet pudding made with tapioca pearls or sabudana, milk and sugar.
Moderate
8 hrs 35 mins
Black Channa Sundal also known as Kondakadalai Sundal is a South Indian recipe of a sautéed dry dish made with black chickpeas, herbs, spices and coconut.
Sweets Recipes
Moderate
25 mins
Rava kesari is a delicious melt in the mouth sweet made with rava or suji (semolina), ghee, dry fruits and saffron. It is a popular South Indian sweet and can be easily made in less time.
Moderate
1 hr 25 mins
This Coconut Burfi is a delish, melt in the mouth fudge made with sweetened condensed milk, milk, and desiccated coconut.
Easy
20 mins
This two-ingredient, super fast recipe for Kalakand (a.k.a. Indian Milk Cake) comes together in just 15 minutes thanks to the help of a can of sweetened condensed milk.
Moderate
1 hr
Paal Payasam is a simple South Indian variant of a slow cooked rice pudding made with only 4 ingredients. This recipe is of a typical Tamil style Rice Payasam that is creamy and delicious.
Moderate
15 mins
Make coconut ladoo with three recipes. The first one is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, milkmaid and cardamom powder. The second recipe has 2 ingredients – desiccated coconut and condensed milk. The third recipe is made with desiccated coconut and sugar.
Moderate
1 hr 5 mins
Badam ka halwa is a rich, luxuruous and popular South Indian style delicious halwa made with blanched almonds, ghee and sugar. This recipe gives you one of best almond halwa that you can make.
Moderate
2 hrs
Puran Poli is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling made from hulled and spilt bengal gram/chana dal, jaggery and ground spices. This traditional recipe is from the Maharashtrian cuisine.
Moderate
20 mins
Delicious creamy moong dal payasam made with yellow moong lentils, jaggery and coconut milk.
Moderate
1 hr 30 mins
Bobbatlu or Holige or obbattu are sweet flat breads made with chana dal stuffing or tuvar dal stuffing. This bobbatlu recipe is one of the best bobbatlu made with a spiced chana dal stuffing.
Moderate
30 mins
7 cup burfi is a easy and delicious South Indian sweet made with gram flour, ghee, fresh coconut, milk and sugar. It is also known as 7 cup cake or 7 cups sweet as it is made with 7 measures of ingredients.
20 mins
Delicious poha kheer or payasam made with flattened rice, ghee and milk.
Ram Navami Fasting Recipes
Moderate
25 mins
Sabudana ki khichdi is a delicious dish of tapioca pearls (sago) made with potatoes, peanuts and usually had during Hindu fasting days like Navratri, Ekadashi, mahashivratri. It is also a gluten free recipe. In this recipe post, you will get many tips and suggestions to make the best non-sticky sabudana khichdi.
Moderate
40 mins
Rajgira roti or rajgira paratha is a healthy gluten-free flatbread made with rajgira atta or amaranth flour for Hindu fasting days.
1 hr 35 mins
Samvat rice khichdi recipe – savory porridge made with barnyard millet and potatoes.
Moderate
30 mins
Aloo ki Sabji or Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji is an easy to make lightly spiced gravy featuring potatoes, tomatoes, a few spices and herbs. A satvik recipe made without onion and garlic.
Moderate
30 mins
Buckwheat Khichdi is easy to prepare khichdi with buckwheat groats (kuttu), potatoes and peanuts for Navratri fasting. Wholesome super food.
Easy
30 mins
Vrat wale aloo is a fasting dish made with potatoes, tomatoes, spices and herbs.
Difficult
50 mins
Singhare ki poori is a delicious Indian fry made with water chestnut flour, mashed potatoes, edible rock salt and a few spices.
Moderate
35 mins
Makhane ki kheer is a sweet dessert pudding made with Makhana (foxnuts), milk, ghee, sugar and dry fruits. This is an easy and popular sweet that is often made during Hindu fasting days.
9 hrs 10 mins
Vrat ki idli recipe – idli made without rice which you can make for fasting or for regular days too.
Moderate
40 mins
Kuttu ki roti or paratha are gluten free flatbreads made with buckwheat flour and mashed potatoes. These healthy flatbreads are usually made during the Navratri fasting period in India.
Moderate
15 mins
Easy and quick to prepare rajgira kadhi for Navratri fasting or upwas.
Easy
25 mins
Paneer kheer recipe is a quick and easy Indian cottage cheese kheer for the festive season. Ready in less than 25 minutes.
Easy
15 mins
Shrikhand is a delicious and simple dessert recipe made with thick yogurt flavored with sugar, saffron and cardamom. Get two ways of making shrikhand recipe with hung curd as well as greek yogurt.
Easy
20 mins
Easy Dry fruits laddu recipe without any added sugar or fats like ghee or oil. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. Dry fruit laddu recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
This collection of Shri Ram Navami recipes from the archives, originally published in April 2017 has been updated and republished on February 2023.
