Mahashivratri means the ‘great night of Bhagwan Shiv (Lord Shiva).’ Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped on this spiritually important night. Exclusive food is made and eaten that fall under Mahashivratri Vrat Recipes. Here’s my handmade collection of 51 Fasting Recipes for Mahashivratri. Go ahead, choose your favorite and plan the day.
Significance of Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri takes place once a year in the month of Falgun in the Hindu Lunar Calendar. It is one of the most auspicious nights in Hinduism along with Janmashtami which is celebrated as the birth of Lord Krishna. Most Hindus observe a fast on this day.
On this day, devotees perform a special ritual (puja) called ‘Rudrabhishek,’ the completion of which is known to grant their wishes. This puja is also regarded as one of the purest and sacred Hindu rituals.
Mahashivratri is celebrated in the months of February or March depending on the lunar calendar. It is common for Lord Shiva believers and followers to worship him along with Goddess Parvati all year round. This can be a part of Shivratri also referred to as ‘Masik Shivratri,’ which is often confused with Mahashivratri. However, there is a noteworthy difference between the two.
‘Shivratri’ occurs on the 14th night of every lunar month in the Hindu Calendar. Thus, summing up to a total of 12 Shivratris in a year, once every month. On the other hand, Mahashivratri is the most revered one of the 12 Shivratris and occurs once a year. Mahashivratri is also believed to be the day when Bhagwan Shiva and Mata Parvati got married.
According to ancient holy Hindu scriptures, Bhagwan Shiv is credited with blessing us with Yog (Yoga), Meditation, Tantra, Aghora, Dance, Music, Martial Arts etc. All these divine gifts are a way to raise your consciousness and get enlightened or have a samadhi experience.
The ‘Shivlinga’ or the symbolic representation of Lord Shiva represents a state of enlightened consciousness. On Mahashivratri, many devotees pour water on the Shivlinga with a lot of piousness and in a state of no consciousness (no thoughts). They also chant sacred Shiva mantras and indulge in fasting.
The idea is to connect the self with a deeper and higher state of pure mindfulness and inner divinity without any ego. Visiting a Shiva Temple, spending time in remembrance of Mahadev and mediating are also popular activities on this day. Many people believe Mahashivratri to be a great day for charity.
The spiritual practices conducted on the days and nights of Mahashivratri are extremely potent in raising the consciousness and achieving the experience of enlightenment. This year, Mahashivratri falls on February 18, 2023.
Legends of Mahashivratri
The festival of Mahashivratri is associated with many stories and legends. Read on to know some of them.
- Many believe that it was this night, when Lord Shiva or Mahadev performed the ‘Tandav’ dance which signifies the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution (going back to the source) of existence.
- According to Hindu mythology, Mahashivratri marks the day when Shiva drank the deadly poison ‘halahala’ during ‘Samudra Manthan’ or churning of the ocean. The ‘Neelkanth Mahadev Temple’ in the North Indian city of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand is associated with this event.
- Another popular tale associated with Mahashivratri is that Lord Shiva got married to Goddess Parvati on this day. Meaning, Shiva (consciousness) meeting Shakti (energy).
Mahashivratri Fasting Food (Vrat)
Shiva disciples or devotees observe the Mahashivratri fast (vrat) with great dedication and consume light religious food, which is essentially ‘satvik’ in nature. According to Ayurveda, satvik foods are vegetarian, made without onion, garlic and easy to digest. These are healthier, more nutritious and fresher which are meant to elevate energy, happiness and calmness in humans.
Cereals, lentils and grains are avoided, onion and garlic are not included and rock salt (sendha namak) is used instead of regular salt. To know more about fasting food, you can check this post of Navratri Fasting Rules.
The rules of fasting may differ from person to person, but majorly people fast completely or cook the unique dishes from Mahashivratri vrat recipes and have just one meal in a day. Some people who don’t fast make sure to prepare meals that have no onion, no garlic.
If you are also planning to fast or keep a vrat on this special day, then this collection of fasting recipes for Mahashivratri will definitely help you in deciding the menu.
Fasting Recipes for Mahashivratri
This collection of 51 Fasting Recipes for Mahashivratri is divided into the following categories:
- Breakfast or Snacks
- Lunch and Dinner (Main course)
- Sweets or Desserts
- Beverages
The one meal that you choose to consume on Mahashivratri is completely your choice. I preferably have some fruits on this day, which is followed by one light meal for dinner. In addition to this, I do meditate and chant Shiva mantras as well, and try to be awake the whole night.
Note
Make sure to use edible and food grade rock salt in place of regular salt or black salt in the recipes listed below. You can also skip the ground spices or add fewer spices.
Do take into consideration your age, body and health factors while planning to fast. Drinking enough water or fresh fruit juices to keep the body hydrated is always advisable.
I am also sharing a special Thandai recipe in section below which can be consumed after the Mahashivratri fast is over.
1. Breakfast or Snacks
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.
9 hrs 10 mins
Vrat ki idli recipe – idli made without rice which you can make for fasting or for regular days too.
25 mins
These Vrat ke uttapam are made from sama ke chawal or vrat ke chawal flour (barnyard millet flour).
Moderate
1 hr
Farali pattice is an easy snack of crispy and tasty patties made with potatoes and stuffed with a sweet filling of coconut, nuts and raisins. This dish is from the Gujarati cuisine that is made during fast or upvas.
Moderate
5 hrs 30 mins
Sabudana Vada is a popular savory deep fried snack made during Hindu fasting days, featuring tapioca pearls (sago), potatoes, peanuts and herbs. They are naturally gluten-free and vegan. This fool proof sabudana vada recipe gives you a super delicious crispy vada with a soft and light interior.
Easy
30 mins
This Delhi style tasty fruit chaat is spiced, savory, sweet and tangy. Fruit chaat is made of a mix of fresh seasonal fruits and tubers like potatoes and sweet potatoes.
40 mins
arbi tikki
Arbi patties recipe is a simple fasting recipe made with colocasia roots.
40 mins
Farali batata vada is a delicious snack of potato vadas or potato bonda made for fasting or vrat.
50 mins
Vrat ke pakore or kuttu pakoras – deep fried fritters made with buckwheat flour and mashed potatoes, roasted peanuts and dry pomegranate powder.
40 mins
Kaddu pakora or pumpkin fritters made for fasting or religious vrat.
Moderate
8 hrs 30 mins
Sabudana thalipeeth are crisp and soft pancakes made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes, ground peanuts and spices. They are also called as Upvasache Thalipeeth in Marathi language and can also be referred to as Sabudana roti.
Easy
5 hrs 20 mins
Sabudana tikki also known as sabudana cutlet are pan-fried thin patties made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes and spices. These crispy patties make for a delicious snack that will get over in no time.
4 hrs 15 mins
This sabudana bhel is an easy and quick recipe for religious fasting days. All you need are boiled potatoes, roasted peanuts and cashews.
2. Lunch and Dinner Fasting Recipes for Mahashivratri
1 hr 35 mins
Samvat rice khichdi recipe – savory porridge made with barnyard millet and potatoes.
Moderate
45 mins
Vrat ke chawal ka pulao or samvat pulao is a simple and easy pulao made for fasting days.
Moderate
30 mins
Buckwheat Khichdi is easy to prepare khichdi with buckwheat groats (kuttu), potatoes and peanuts for Navratri fasting. Wholesome super food.
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.
Moderate
50 mins
Rajgira poori or amaranth poori is fried puffed breads made from amaranth flour & boiled mashed potatoes.
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.
30 mins
Kuttu ke atte ki puri are crisp and tasty Indian fry bread made with buckwheat flour for religious fasting or vrat.
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.
3. Curries and Sides
Easy
30 mins
Vrat wale aloo is a fasting dish made with potatoes, tomatoes, spices and herbs.
Moderate
35 mins
Kaddu ki sabji is an easy and delicious vegan pumpkin recipe made with yellow pumpkin, whole spices and herbs. This is a satvik recipe made without onions and garlic.
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
15 mins
Easy and quick to prepare rajgira kadhi for Navratri fasting or upwas.
40 mins
Aloo palak recipe for fasting or vrat. This is a no onion no garlic spinach potato curry made for Navratri fasts.
28 mins
This Dahi aloo for Navratri fasting is a light curry made from potatoes and yogurt
10 mins
A no onion no garlic coconut chutney made simple and easy with just three ingredients.
5 mins
Phalahari chutney recipe is a green chutney made for fasting or vrat with coriander leaves.
4. Sweets or Desserts Recipes
Easy
35 mins
Sabudana kheer is a sweet pudding made with tapioca pearls or sabudana, milk and sugar.
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.
1 hr 30 mins
vrat ke chawal ki kheer
vrat ke chawal ka kheer – a creamy kheer made with samvat rice or barnyard millet.
20 mins
Rajgira kheer is a simple easy dessert pudding made with amaranth grains. Navratri recipe.
Moderate
40 mins
Kaddu ki kheer is a flavorsome, easy to prepare, traditional sweet dish with pumpkin, milk, ghee, sugar and nuts.
25 mins
Swang ke chawal ka halwa or vrat ka halwa recipe – a delicious halwa made with sama ke chawal (barnyard millet) which can be had during any fasting occasion like Navratri, Ekadashi, mahashivratri and chaturthi.
30 mins
Delicious kheer made with bottle gourd or opo squash.
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
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.
Moderate
25 mins
Sweet, chewy, and irresistible, this Dry Fruit Burfi (also referred to as Dry Fruit Halwa or Date Rolls) is a simple, quick and easy sweet you can make during Diwali or any festive season. My simple vegan recipe for Dry Fruit Barfi is made without any added sugar, making it a totally guilt-free treat!
Moderate
40 mins
Sweet Potato Halwa also called Shakarkandi ka Halwa in Hindi is a delicious Indian sweet made with boiled and mashed sweet potatoes and scented with cardamom, saffron.
Moderate
40 mins
Kashi Halwa also called Dumroot Halwa is a unique, tasty and rich halwa made from ash gourd or white pumpkin, sugar, nuts, ghee, raisins and flavored with saffron.
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.
5. Beverage Recipes
Moderate
15 mins
Sweet, tart and vibrantly refreshing, my homemade fresh Pomegranate Juice recipe will change your life for the better this summer. Also known as Anar Juice, this healthy beverage is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants to help restore your body after a day in the sun.
Easy
20 mins
Refreshing, healthy and cooling Watermelon Juice to quench your thirst on a hot summery day. Learn to make three different versions of this healthy, all natural drink recipe.
Easy
15 mins
This easy recipe for making Musk Melon Juice (a.k.a. Cantaloupe Juice) for a sweet, refreshing warm-weather beverage that you’re sure to love.
Easy
10 mins
Refreshing and energizing pear juice recipe to beat the summer heat.
Easy
10 mins
The best homemade mango juice recipe uses organic alphonso mangoes for a terrifically sweet, nectar-like drink that’s perfect for enjoying by the glassful or including in any number of juice-based beverage recipes.
Moderate
15 mins
This pineapple juice is a refreshing juice made from fresh pineapple and flavored with black salt and roasted cumin powder.
Easy
10 mins
Lassi is a cooling, refreshing, probiotic drink perfect for the warm summer months. Popular in Punjab and North India, there are many variations of this sweet lassi recipe. Find three easy, energizing and flavorful lassi recipe variations.
5 mins
shikanji recipe
Shikanji or shikanjvi is a cooling Indian drink made during summers
Easy
1 hr 30 mins
Thandai is a traditional cooling drink, popular in the northern parts of India. It is made with a mix of nuts, seeds and a few spices.
This Mahashivratri Vrat post from the archives first published in February 2020 has been updated and republished on 17 February 2023.