Navratri 2025 in the UAE: How the Indian Community Celebrates with Devotion and Color
The Indian community in the UAE makes up a major portion of expatriates in the region. The Navratri Festival is very important to Indians. Wherever they are away from their land, they wish to celebrate this festival with a whole heart to refresh their inner soul. The Navaratri arrived now in 2025 from September 22nd and lasts until October 2nd. With different colors, pooja and fasting people celebrate Navratri.
The UAE is the second home for millions of Indian expatriates. The nine sacred nights give a colorful festive atmosphere in the northern part of Dubai and Sharjah. Especially Burdubai, Karama, Deira, and Mankool Area in Dubai, we can see people filled with a special kind of energy- this is a spiritual and joyful celebration. Sharjah is another favourite home place of Indians in the UAE.
The Indian community undergoes a reset process in physical and spiritual form during these nine festive days. It's really an important pause and reset process to come back into work with a new enlightenment for the mind and body. This is a very important break for the fast-paced life, offering a chance to reconnect with the Divine and the traditions of home. In this foreign land, every aspect of celebration is observed with deep respect for the host government’s laws.
The food tradition is very important for this occasion. The Navratri fast, or vrat, is at the core of this renewal, and its special cuisine is the delicious way to cleanse the soul and refresh the body.
The Science Behind the Vrat: Why Fasting Food Matters
The special diet followed during Navratri is not just a religious rule; it is a wise, ancient health plan rooted in Ayurveda. Navratri falls during a time when the season is changing—from the heat of the summer or monsoon to the cooler months. Our bodies naturally need to adjust, and the digestive system becomes weaker.
The food chosen for this occasion is very important and is to help detox the body. This fast is about switching from heavy, processed, and stimulating foods (tamasic and rajasic foods) to pure, light, and easy-to-digest food (sattvic food). Giving up grains, onions, and garlic for nine days allows the digestive system to rest and cleanse, leading to a calmer mind and more focused energy—something every expat balancing a demanding work life truly needs.
Navratri Special Recipes: A Simple and Delicious Guide to Fasting Food and Festive Flavors
The key to the Navratri diet is a simple list of ingredients that provide essential nutrients without burdening the body. This is a look at the simple, yet powerful, foods that fill Indian kitchens across the UAE during this time:
Vrat-Friendly Flours: The Energy Boosters
Kuttu ka Atta (Buckwheat Flour): A popular substitute for wheat flour, it's rich in protein and fibre. It’s used to make crispy puris (fried bread) and soft rotis (flatbreads), giving sustained energy for those long working days and late-night Garba dances.
Singhare ka Atta (Water Chestnut Flour): Lighter than other flours, this is used for savoury pakoras (fritters) and sweet halwa. It is easy to digest, which is perfect for a quick lunch between work calls.
Rajgira ka Atta (Amaranth Flour): This is a powerhouse of nutrients, often used for making puris and delicious sweets.
The Go-To Grains: Light and Filling
Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls): This is a staple for a reason! High in carbohydrates, it gives quick energy. Whether it’s in a Savory Sabudana Khichdi (tapioca and peanut stir-fry) or crunchy Sabudana Vada (fried patties), it’s a filling and satisfying meal.
Samak ke Chawal (Barnyard Millet): Often called "fasting rice," this tiny grain is used to make pulao or kheer. It’s much easier on the stomach than regular rice, giving that homely feeling of a rice dish without breaking the fast.
Hydration and Power Snacks
Fruits and Nuts: All fresh fruits are allowed and highly encouraged! Fruit chaat (mixed fruit salad) is a favorite for maintaining vitamin and mineral levels. Nuts like almonds and cashews, along with Makhana (Fox Nuts), provide protein and healthy fats, acting as a perfect, easy snack to keep energy up during a busy workday.
Dairy: Milk, dahi (yogurt), and buttermilk are essential. They provide probiotics for gut health and keep the body cool and hydrated—especially important in the UAE's climate.
Simple Kitchen, Peaceful Soul: Finding Joy in Everyday Cooking and Life in the UAE
The food preparation is a very sacred act for Indian expatriates. The grocery stores in the UAE are well stocked for this season to give every Indian ingredient. Finding sendha namak (rock salt, which replaces regular salt), kuttu, and sabudana is easy. The supply system in the UAE is very good to help Indian communities get all the necessary kitchen items for this season, for Indians to prepare homemade food.
The sattvic diet helps calm the mind, making it easier to manage stress and stay focused. When they gather for Garba and Dandiya nights, the energy they find comes not just from the music, but also from the mindful nourishment the vrat has provided.
In essence, the Navratri fasting food in the UAE is a celebration of both culture and consciousness. It shows respect for the ancient traditions while perfectly fitting into a modern, demanding lifestyle, ensuring that the Indian community finds spiritual refreshment and physical well-being in their second home. It’s a simple, powerful reminder that what we choose to eat can truly nourish our souls.
All the festival acts are being done with full respect to the UAE government without disturbing any other communities in the UAE. If you want to know the detailed recipe, you can read our blog Fasting Made Delicious: Prepare Easy Navratri Meals.
FAQs
1. What’s the main reason the Navratri diet is so different? Is it just for religious reasons?
It’s actually a very smart, ancient health plan! Navratri happens when the season is changing (like shifting from summer/monsoon to cooler weather), which can weaken our digestion. The special diet is about helping the body naturally detox. By avoiding heavy foods like grains, onions, and garlic, they eat sattvic (pure, light) foods to cleanse the system and gain a calmer, more focused mind.
2. What are the key foods that Indians in the UAE eat during this fast, and where do they find them?
They eat special "fasting-friendly" items that provide energy without being heavy. The stars are special flours like Kuttu (buckwheat) and Singhara (water chestnut), and Sabudana (tapioca pearls), which they make into things like puris and khichdi. Thankfully, the UAE's excellent supply system means local grocery stores are always well-stocked with all these specific ingredients, like sendha namak (rock salt), making it easy to cook authentic meals at home.
3. How do Indian expats ensure their celebrations, especially with food, respect the laws of the UAE?
Indians in the UAE have deep respect for the host government. They manage their celebrations by keeping all activities, including food preparation and large gatherings, in designated community areas, strictly within legal regulations. The local availability of all necessary ingredients also allows them to maintain their traditions authentically at home without disturbing the broader, diverse community.
By Chithra Sooraj (Performist's Digital Marketing Executive who loves to write.)
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