Bhagwan Ram is regarded as the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Sri Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Bhagwan Ram and is one of the important Hindu festivals in India. It is often observed with fasting or vrat and forms a part of the Chaitra Navratri celebrations in spring. The festival usually falls in March or April according to the Gregorian calendar and in 2026 it falls on 26 March. Here is a collection of 30 Ram Navami festival recipes you can prepare for this day.
Significance of Ram Navami
Diwali celebrates Lord Ram’s victorious return to Ayodhya along with Sita and Lakshman after defeating the demon king Ravana in Lanka. This victory is also remembered during Dussehra, which marks the triumph of good over evil.
Similarly, Sri Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Bhagwan Ram and the establishment of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness).
Lord Ram is revered as Maryada Purushottam, the ideal man who represents righteousness, duty and compassion.
One popular tradition on Sri Rama Navami is offering jal (water) to Surya, the Sun God, at sunrise. This is considered auspicious as Bhagwan Ram is believed to belong to the Suryavanshi lineage.
Many people also observe fasting on this day and prepare special foods as part of the ritual. These dishes vary across regions of India.
Ram Navami Celebrations
Vrat or fasting, remembering Bhagwan Ram, singing bhajans and reciting stories from the Ramayana are common ways people observe this festival. Many devotees also consider Ram Navami a good day to perform acts of charity.
Charity may be done by donating to a trusted NGO or by volunteering as a sevak in community meals organized at places of worship. Reading spiritual texts like Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas is another way people mark the day.
In Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, Ram Navami is celebrated with great devotion. Chariot processions of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, known as rathayatras, take place across the city. Many devotees also take a dip in the Sarayu River before visiting a Ram temple.
Sri Rama Navami Recipes
Food is an important part of the Ram Navami celebration. Here I have shared a collection of 30 Ram Navami festival recipes that are commonly prepared on this day.
In South India, offerings such as panakam, kosambari, neer mor, and various sundal and payasam dishes are prepared and offered to the deities.
In North India, many people break their Chaitra Navratri fasts on Ashtami or Navami with kala chana, Poori and Suji Halwa after the ritual of kanjak pooja. Some devotees continue fasting on Rama Navami as well.
Fasting foods usually avoid ingredients like onion, garlic, rice, wheat flour and turmeric. Common fasting foods include Curd (yogurt), fruits and simple sweets that can be easily prepared at home.
I have shared a detailed post on Navratri Fasting Rules which covers most of the important details about food and ingredients guidelines followed during fasting this time.
For more festive sweets, you can also explore the Ladoo Recipes and Halwa Recipes collections.
Please refrain from adding garlic or onion from any of the recipes listed below.
Popular Recipes
Panakam, also called Panagam or Panaka, is a traditional cooling drink from South India made for the Sri Rama Navami festival. It is prepared with jaggery, lemon juice, ginger powder, cardamom and black pepper. This simple drink is refreshing and is usually offered as prasad during the festival.
Kosambari is a traditional South Indian salad from Karnataka made with soaked moong lentils, cucumber, fresh coconut and herbs. The salad is lightly seasoned with lemon juice and finished with a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida. This Moong Dal Kosambari is fresh, light and comes together quickly.
Majjiga or Sambaram or Neer Mor a.k.a Neer Moru or Neer Majjige is a delicious variant of a spiced and salty buttermilk well-known across South India. This recipe variant is made with curd (yogurt) and water, which is later spiced and then tempered. It makes for an equally refreshing summer drink with digestive properties.
Sabudana Kheer is a sweet Indian pudding made with sago or tapioca pearls cooked in milk and sugar until thick and creamy. It is lightly flavored with cardamom, saffron and often garnished with nuts. This sabudana kheer recipe is commonly prepared during fasting days such as Navratri. Serve warm or chilled as a comforting dessert.
Black Channa Sundal also known as Kondakadalai Sundal is a South Indian recipe of a sautéed dry dish made with black chickpeas, herbs, spices and coconut.
Sweets Recipes
Rava Kesari is a popular South Indian pudding like sweet that is made with rava or suji (semolina), ghee, cashews, raisins, sugar, water and saffron. This Kesari recipe gives you a really delicious melt in the mouth sweet that can be made in less time.
This Coconut Burfi is a delish, melt in the mouth fudge made with sweetened condensed milk, milk, and desiccated coconut.
Kalakand is a soft and lightly grainy milk-based sweet. This easy version is made with paneer and sweetened condensed milk, making it quick to prepare. The mixture is cooked until thick, then set and cut into squares. Garnish with nuts if you like and serve once cooled.
Paal Payasam is a simple South Indian dessert made with rice, milk, sugar and a touch of flavoring. The rice is slow cooked in milk until soft and creamy. This Tamil-style version keeps the ingredients minimal for a classic traditional flavor. Serve this Rice Payasam warm or chilled as a festive dessert.
Make coconut ladoo with three recipes. The first one is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, milkmaid and cardamom powder. The second recipe has 2 ingredients – desiccated coconut and condensed milk. The third recipe is made with desiccated coconut and sugar.
Badam Halwa is a rich, luxurious and popular South Indian style delicious halwa made with blanched almonds, ghee and sugar. This recipe gives you one of best Almond Halwa that you can make.
Puran Poli is a traditional Maharashtrian sweet flatbread stuffed with a chana dal and jaggery filling. The filling is flavored with cardamom and nutmeg for a mild aroma. The stuffed dough is rolled gently and roasted on a hot tawa with ghee until golden and soft. It is commonly prepared during festivals and served warm as a special meal or breakfast.
Paruppu Payasam is simply a Moong Dal Payasam. It is a creamy, decadent pudding of yellow moong lentils, jaggery, coconut milk and flavored with cardamom. This South Indian sweet treat is also called Pasi Paruppu Payasam.
Bobbatlu also called Holige or Obbattu is a South Indian festive treat of sweetened flat breads. These flat breads are stuffed with cooked and finely ground mixture of chana dal, jaggery, cardamom powder and ground nutmeg. This Bobbatlu Recipe makes for one of the best Bobbatlu made with a sweet chana dal stuffing.
7 Cup Burfi recipe is an easy and delicious South Indian sweet made with 7 measures or 7 cups of ingredients which are gram flour, ghee, fresh coconut, milk and sugar. This fudge like sweet is also known as 7 cup cake or 7 cups sweet.
Delicious poha kheer or payasam made with flattened rice, ghee and milk.
Ram Navami Fasting Recipes
Sabudana Khichdi is a fasting savory dish made with soaked tapioca pearls cooked with ghee, cumin seeds, green chillies, boiled potatoes, crushed roasted peanuts, and rock salt (sendha namak). It is commonly prepared during Hindu fasting days such as Navratri, Ekadashi, and Mahashivratri. This dish is naturally gluten-free.
Rajgira roti or rajgira paratha is a healthy gluten-free flatbread made with rajgira atta or amaranth flour for Hindu fasting days.
Samvat rice khichdi recipe – savory porridge made with barnyard millet and potatoes.
This Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji recipe is made with potatoes simmered in a tomato-based gravy with a few spices and herbs. It is prepared without onion and garlic, making it suitable for vrat or fasting days. The curry has a light, slightly tangy taste and uses minimal ingredients. Serve it with puri, roti or as part of a simple everyday meal.
Buckwheat Khichdi is easy to prepare khichdi with buckwheat groats (kuttu), potatoes and peanuts for Navratri fasting. Wholesome super food.
Vrat wale aloo is a fasting dish made with potatoes, tomatoes, spices and herbs.
Singhare ki Puri is a delicious Indian fried bread made with water chestnut flour, mashed potatoes, edible rock salt and a few spices.
Makhane ki Kheer is prepared by roasting makhana in ghee and cooking them in milk until soft and thick. Sugar, nuts, dry fruits, cardamom and saffron are added for flavor and aroma. This vrat-friendly dessert has a creamy texture and mild sweetness. Serve it warm or chilled during festivals or fasting days.
Sama Chawal Idli or Vrat Ki Idli is a unique variation to the South Indian Idli. These are made without the regular rice and lentils, but with Sama also known as Barnyard Millet in English. Thus, a perfect choice of dish for your vrats or fasts and even on regular days. A vegan, gluten free and quite a nutritious recipe.
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.
Easy and quick to prepare rajgira kadhi for Navratri fasting or upwas.
Paneer kheer recipe is a quick and easy Indian cottage cheese kheer for the festive season. Ready in less than 25 minutes.
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 a quick and instant version with greek yogurt.
Easy Dry Fruit 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. This Dry Fruit Ladoo recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
Sri Rama Navami recipes from the archives was originally published on April 2017.
Hi dassana,
I had a query regarding a type of prasad that we get at temples in north India. Here’s what it looks like
http://www.mmmithaiwala.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/a/sakaria.jpg
Do you have any idea how these are made?
ruchi, yes i know this sweet. these are made from sugar, but i have no clue how they are made. even i have had these many times in temples.
I loved reading about your festival and all the different and special foods that are prepared for the occasion.
Analida, good to know that you liked the article.