9 Dry Fruits to Eat in Navratri Fast 2026 (Full List)

Dry fruits are a staple in almost every Indian Hindu family, and many eat them during Navratri fasting. Common dry fruit and nut choices for vrat include almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, dates, and pistachios.

Always choose plain dry fruits without added salt, sugar, or spices. Vrat rules can differ by region and tradition, so always ask your elders for advice.

Across Gujarat, food allowed during a fast is called farali. In North India, it is called phalahar. All Hindu Indian homes keep a small dabba of dry fruits close at hand during the nine days of Navratri.

This blog covers which dry fruits are allowed during vrat, how to choose them, what amount is enough, and how the rules change from one vrat to another. These same tips also apply to Chaitra Navratri and many other fasts.

What You'll Learn From This Blog

• Which dry fruits Indians commonly eat during Navratri vrat.

• Which to pick: plain vs salted, roasted, or sugar- or chocolate-coated

• How much dry fruits you should eat in a day

• How fasting rules change for every vrat.

• 6 easy ways to include dry fruits in vrat cuisine.

• How to check if your dry fruits are fresh or stale.

Can You Eat Dry Fruits During Navratri Fasting?

Yes. Many Hindu traditions allow dry fruits during Navratri fasting. They pair easily with any farali or phalahar diet. Here is why nuts suit fasting days so well:

• No grains: Almost every Navratri fast skips wheat, rice, and pulses. Dry fruits contain none of these.

• No cooking: You can eat them like snacks, straight from the container. So they are best for busy puja days.

• Easy to carry: A small dabba of nuts can easily fit in your bag for garba nights or temple visits.

• Naturally sweet: Dates and raisins help with a sweet craving without excess sugar.

Make sure you pick plain dry fruits. Salted, spiced, sugar-coated, or chocolate-coated nuts contain regular salt or other ingredients that aren’t allowed during vrat.

Also, dry fruits are energy-dense, so a small handful at a time is enough. 

Which Dry Fruits Are Best for Navratri Fast?

Here is a quick list of dry fruits you can eat during your Navratri fast. Use this as your shopping list before Navratri starts.

Peanuts are a legume, so many families avoid them. Makhana is a seed, not a dry fruit, but most families pair it with dry fruits.

Dry Fruits to Eat During Navratri Fast: A Closer Look

Before we look at each one in brief, here’s how a small handful compares. Nuts are rich in protein, while dates and raisins are rich in natural sugar.

The values mentioned here are for unroasted, raw, unsalted dry fruits. For more details, explore our guides on dry fruit benefits and high-protein dry fruits.

Almonds (Badam):

Can I eat almonds on Navratri fast? Yes. Almonds are one of the widely used vrat dry fruits across India.

Many households have a habit of eating almonds every day; they soak 5 or 6 almonds overnight and peel them in the morning. 

Soaked almonds turn softer and easier to chew, which helps elders and young kids.

Pro Tip: Always soak almonds in fresh drinking water and eat them the next morning without water.

Buying note: Purchase whole, unbroken, plain almonds with no roasting and no sugar or salt.

Walnuts (Akhrot):

Yes, you can definitely eat walnuts during Navratri fasting. They have a soft, slightly bitter taste that pairs well with something sweet, like a date or raisins of your choice.

Walnuts contain more oil than most nuts, so they turn stale quickly. Old and stale walnuts taste strong and bitter. You need to check every walnut pack before purchasing:

• Colour: Check for light golden kernels, not dark brown.

• Aroma: Gentle and nutty, never stale or like old oil.

• Flavours: A mild bitterness is normal. Strong bitterness means your walnuts are old.

• How to store: Transfer to an airtight jar. Keep the jar in a cool, dry place; the fridge is best.

Cashews (Kaju)

Yes. Raw, plain cashews are a common nut choice during Navratri fast. Many families grind soaked kaju into a smooth paste and use it in gravies and kheer.

The only problem with cashews is that most packs aren’t plain. Here is what to check:

Farali tip: Soak a few plain cashews in warm water for 20 minutes. Then blend to a smooth paste. Use the paste in farali aloo sabzi for a rich, creamy gravy.

Raisins (Kishmish)

Yes. Raisins are fruits, and dried ones are widely eaten during Navratri. Gujarati households add them to rajgira halwa, sabudana kheer, and farali chevdo.

Check the label: Some raisins may have a thin oil coating to prevent them from sticking together. Make sure the ingredients list only contains raisins.

Buying note: Purchase green raisins for cooking purposes and black raisins for soaking.

Dates (Khajur)

Yes, dates are one of the most commonly eaten items in Navratri fasts to satisfy sweet cravings. In many households, a piece of date with a glass of water or milk is the first bite after a long day of fasting.

Dates are sweet because they mostly contain natural sugar. 1-2 pieces at a time are usually enough. Check these out while buying:

• Avoid dates rolled in sugar or syrup.

• Don’t buy dates stuffed with chocolate or masala fillings for vrat.

• If the packs are sticky and smell sour, they're old.

Seedless dates are a good choice if you’re buying for children and elders. 

Pistachios (Pista)

Yes, but make sure they’re unsalted and raw. They are bright green in colour which makes your shrikhand, kheer, and basundi look festive on the pooja meal thali.

Did You Know? Most in-shell pistachios are roasted with regular salt. If you’re buying these nuts for vrat, always choose shelled, raw pista, or check that the pack mentions no salt.

Buying note: Plain pistachios suit well as a kheer topping and a snack.

Can You Eat Dry Fruits in Other Hindu Fasts?

Vrat rules change from vrat to vrat, and from region to region. This table shows the common rules of many traditions. These aren’t fixed rules.

A nirjala vrat means no food and no water. You’re not allowed to eat dry fruits during a nirjala fast. If you are unsure which dry fruit you should eat or which fast you’re keeping, ask your elders.

How Do Dry Fruits Compare with Other Navratri Fasting Foods?

Dry fruits are a part of almost every vrat dish, not the whole plate. Here is how they fit with other common farali foods.

How to Choose Dry Fruits for Fasting

A good vrat-friendly pack is simple: 1 ingredient, nothing added. Use this quick checklist before purchasing.

3 tests you can do at home to check freshness:

1. Snap: If your nuts are fresh, they’ll break cleanly. Old nuts bend or feel rubbery.

2. Smell: Fresh nuts have a mild and nutty smell. If they smell bitter or like old oil, it means they’re past their best.

3. Look: If there are visible broken bits, dust, or tiny holes, avoid them. 

During humid seasons, store dry fruits in an airtight steel or glass container. Keep the container away from the stove, direct sunlight, or moisture. Refrigerating walnuts and pistachios helps them stay fresh longer.

If you don’t like spending time reading labels, choose plain dry fruits without added salt or sugar; they come in sealed packs.

How Much Dry Fruit Should You Eat During Fasting?

Usually, a small handful of mixed nuts and dry fruits is enough. Dry fruits are high in calories, so eating a little extra can add up quickly.

Example (not medical advice): Many healthy adults can eat about 20-30 g of dry fruits a day. It roughly means 8 almonds and 1 tsp of raisins.

Please consult your doctor first if you:

• Are on diabetic medication.

• Have any nut allergy.

• Are breastfeeding or pregnant 

Dry fruits make you feel fuller when you eat them with any fruit or a glass of warm milk. Explore our guides on dry fruits for weight loss and dry fruits for weight gain for more specific portion information.

What Are Some Easy Ways to Eat Dry Fruits On Vrat Days?

1. Soaked almonds and dried figs in the morning

Soaking almonds and dried figs overnight is a long-standing habit. Soak 5 almonds and 2 figs in separate bowls before bed. 

In the morning, remove the almond skins and eat them with the soft figs. This is the best way for elders and kids to eat dry fruits, as they become gentler on their teeth.

2. Dates with walnuts

Cut a seedless date in half and press half a walnut into it. Both of these work perfectly as a quick sweet bite between pooja and garba.

3. Roasted makhana with sendha namak (rock salt)

Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a thick kadhai. Roast 1 cup puffed makhana over low heat for 5-7 minutes, until they become crunchy. Sprinkle a pinch of sendha namak and other allowed spices according to your family’s rituals.

4. Hot or cold dry fruit milk with green cardamom

Chop or crush a few almonds and cashews. Take a glass of hot or cold milk, then add 1 tsp of the nut mix, 4 or 5 raisins, and a tiny pinch of roughly crushed green cardamom. Let the milk simmer for 2 minutes, then serve hot or cold.

5. Fruit and yogurt bowl with nuts

If yogurt is allowed in your traditions, mix a small bowl of yogurt or thick curd with chopped banana and apple. Top with chopped nuts of your choice and a few raisins.

6. No-cook dry fruit laddoo

Heat ghee in a pan and roast 10 seedless dates until they form a paste. Combine the paste with ½ cup chopped almonds, cashews, and walnuts. You can also add more ghee if you prefer. Roll them into small laddoos.

Check with elders for your own vrat traditions for milk, yogurt, and masalas. For more vrat meals made with rajgira and dry fruits, visit More Farali Recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I eat dry fruits during Navratri vrat?

Yes. Many Hindu rituals allow dry fruits during Navratri vrat and other fasting days because they don’t contain grains or beans and need no cooking.

It is recommended to eat plain dry fruits without added salt, sugar, or spices. These fasting rules can differ by family, region, and tradition, so follow your elders' advice.

Which dry fruits are commonly eaten during Navratri?

Almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, dates, and pistachios are allowed during the Navratri fast. Many Indian households also eat dried figs, dried apricots, and makhana. If you are searching for "vrat mein kaun se dry fruits kha sakte hain," these plain dry fruits are the usual answer.

Can we eat cashews during Navratri fast?

Yes, plain cashews or unsalted roasted cashews are commonly eaten during Navratri fast. Avoid salted or masala cashews, because they might contain regular salt, masalas, or garlic powder.

Should I eat salted or roasted dry fruits on fasting or vrat days?

Many Indian traditions don’t allow regular salt during vrat days, so many families generally avoid eating salted dry fruits. You can eat unsalted roasted nuts. Check the ingredients list first, and avoid it if the pack mentions masala or salt.

Can we eat dates during Navratri fast?

Yes. Dates are allowed during Navratri fast. Many Indian households generally break their fast with 1-2 dates, water, or milk. 

Avoid eating date sweets rolled in sugar or stuffed with chocolate or other masala.

Is makhana a dry fruit, and can we eat it in fast?

Yes. Makhana is actually a seed, not a dry fruit, but many families often pair it with dry fruits. You can roast plain puffed makhana in a little ghee with rock salt (sendha namak) for a crunchy, farali snack.

Can I soak dry fruits before eating on fasting days?

Soaking all the dry fruits is completely optional. Many Indians prefer to soak almonds, figs, and black raisins overnight because soaking makes them extra soft and easier to chew. 

Soaking is also a good habit for elders and kids. People usually eat cashews, pistachios, and walnuts without soaking.

Can we eat dry fruits during Ekadashi fast?

In many Indian traditions, dry fruits are allowed in Ekadashi phalahar because this fast doesn’t include grains and beans. 

Some households follow stricter rules. You can have plain, unsalted dry fruits; if you're unsure what your family allows, confirm with your elders.

Should I eat dry fruits on a nirjala fast?

No. The word ‘nirjala’ means ‘no water’. So you can’t consume food or water for the entire fasting period, so you can’t eat dry fruits or nuts. You can eat unsalted dry fruits once you open the vrat or do the parna, as per your family rituals.

What is farali cuisine?

The term ‘Farali’ is the Gujarati word for food allowed during fasting or vrat days. This cuisine is made without using grains, pulses, and regular salt. 

Common farali foods include dry fruits, fruits, dairy, sabudana, rajgira, samo, and potatoes cooked with rock salt (sendha namak).

Stock Up on Nuts and Dry Fruits Before Ghatasthapana

In brief: 

• Plain, unsalted dry fruits are ideal for most Navratri fasts.

• Consume one small handful at a time. This is enough per day.

• If you're unsure which nuts to eat, follow your family's vrat rules.

If your dabba is running low, restock the dry fruits before Navratri and Diwali. These are the plain dry fruits most Indian households keep ready for the nine days of Navratri.

Most of these nuts come in 200 g and 500 g packs, so you can buy them for everyday and bulk needs.

Are you planning to make Diwali hampers next? Explore festive dry fruit gift ideas.