Vrat ki Thali is a thali where a number of dishes are served together and enjoyed while a person is fasting.
This week I have chosen Fasting Food as my theme and the previous two thalis were a Fariyali Thali and a Mini Fariyali Thali. Vrat or Upvas is the same as fasting, and I have yet another Fasting Food Thali for the theme Thali and Platter Festival.
This is a Thali that has been partly prepared by me and partly by one of my friends. We had a get-together and since one of the friends was fasting we had fasting food for her, which made a great Vrat ki Thali.
We have specific foods when it comes to a fasting menu. Grains and cereals are avoided. Strictly vegetarian meals without any garlic or onions are prepared and people steer clear of alcoholic drinks. One has to abstain from vegetables too, but roots like Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Varieties of Yam are allowed. All dairy products and nuts are allowed. There’s a restriction where spices are concerned. To begin with, rock salt which is called Sendha Namak is used, turmeric and red chilly are forbidden, but cumin seeds and black peppers can be consumed.
People fast for Ekadashi. Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day each of the two lunar phase occur in a Hindu calendar month. It is considered a spiritual day and is usually observed by partial fast. Vegetable and grains are not consumed as they are believed to be contaminated by sin. You can read more on this here.
So for this Vrat ki Thali, the menu is –
Santra ( Orange)
Baked Ratalu ane Bateka nu Handvo
(Purple yam and Potato savoury baked cake )
Sabudana Khichadi
( tapioca and peanut khichadi )
Pattice
(savoury potato cakes )
Lauki ki Sabzi
( bottle gourd curry, cooked with salt and green chilly and in pure ghee )
Singhade ki Poori
(chestnut flour pooris – an Indian flatbread )
Moriyo
(soft khichadi made from sama rice – which is the fasting rice. Moriyo is the Gujarati name for Sama Rice )
Hari Chutney
(coriander chutney )
Singdana Chikki
( peanut brittle )
For today I shall be sharing the recipe for Baked Ratalu ane Bateka nu Handvo, The rest shall follow later.
Day 6 Parathe wali Gali ki Thali
Day 6 Kaddu ki Khatti Meethi Sabzi
Day 7 Sindhi Meal
Day 7 Sev ka Raita
Day 8 A Meal from Kerela
Day 8 Nadan Urulaizhangu Curry
Day 9 Chettinad Wedding Spread
Day 9 Potato Masala
Day 10 Bengali Vegetarian Thali
Day 10 Anarosher Chutney
Week 3
Platters
Day 11 Gujarati Farsan Platter
Day 11 Dudhi na Muthiya
Day 12 Pakora Platter
Day 12 Stuffed Whole Onion Pakora
Day 13 Chatpati Chaat Platter
Day 13 Chatpati Chole ki Chaat
Day 14 Sindhi Breads
Day 14 Aatey jo Chilro
Day 15 Udupi Tiffin Recipes
Day 15 Rava Masala Idli
Day 16 Marashtrian Mix Platter
Day 16 Matar ki Karanji
Week 4
Flatbread Special Thalis
Day 17 Maharashtrian Rustic Thali
Day 17 Jowar ki Roti
Day 18 Himachal Pradesh Thali
Day 18 Babru
Day 19 North Indian Thali
Day 19 Ajwain ka Paratha
Day 20 Rajasthan ki Thali
Day 20 Biscuit Bakhri
Day 21 Uttar Pradesh Thali
Day 21 Beetroot Poori
Day 22 Saurashtra Lunch Thali
Day 22 Gujarati Bakhri
Week 5
Theme Special Thalis – Theme – Fasting Food
Day 23 Fariyali Thali
Day 24 Sabudana Vada
Day 25 Mini Fariyali Thali
Day 25 Fariyali Fajeto
I am really surprised at the variety of fasting dishes and as you said, yours look like a perfect thaali. Are millets not considered as grains while fasting? I always see little millet being used. This is informative post, Vaishali. K keep reading about the rules of vrat ka khaana and keep forgetting. I would have thought not allowing root vegetables would have made sense, going by the Jain customs but what would I know? 🙂
This is yet another wonderful post with information to read for people like me who have zero knowledge about fasting. However, I seriously wish somebody cooks for me all these dishes if I ever fast…heheh
As I keep repeating I don’t have to fast to eat such elaborate food. I wish the thali can miraculously appear for tomorrow’s lunch for me 🙂 I find it very difficult to do this vrat ka thali as I am always confused with the rules – do’s and don’ts.
I always assumed fasting meant not eating, so I am always surprised by the different takes on it. You have a great plate there and I hope your friend enjoyed it.
Good to know about the different fasting recipes. These are amazing and as Harini says, I don’t need to fast for this feast. Absolutely delicious and inviting.
Wow you are giving so many options with your vrat ki thalis, this looks delicious and I am curious for the recipe of that handvo.
So much information about different fasting recipes and whole platter looks so inviting. I can fast to eat this feast.