Pune restaurants adapt menus for Navratri fasting
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Restaurants in Pune, India are modifying their menus to serve traditional fasting food during the nine-day Navratri festival.
Several establishments, including Aai Cafe Pure Veg, Peshwai Dining Hall, Dish-Wish The Home Food Cafe, and Mantri Upahar Gruha, have expanded their offerings to include dishes like sabudana khichadi, varai bhat, and special Jain preparations that omit ingredients like onion, garlic, potatoes, and carrots.
These restaurants began adjusting their menus as the festival approached, with some offering dedicated Navratri menus for over a decade, while others resumed after pausing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Owners are focusing on customization to accommodate the dietary needs of different communities, like Jain and Gujarati people, and reduce food waste by preparing meals to order.
Peshwai Dining Hall also incorporates traditional practices by serving meals on banana leaves, aiming to connect younger customers with cultural customs and appeal to foreign visitors interested in Indian traditions. Beyond standard fried and starch-based options, some cafes like Dish-Wish are also providing lighter alternatives like fruit and vegetable salads during the festival. These changes allow people observing Navratri fasts to enjoy festive meals without cooking at home and provide businesses with an opportunity to broaden their regular menus.
