A festival that is marked by fasting, Shivaratri is all about faith and prayer. However when you fast it is not about being hungry but choosing the right ingredients.

Shivaratri celebrates Lord Shiva – in many ways. When the Gods and Demons were churning the ocean, one of things that came out was poison that Shiva is believed to have swallowed. It is said that Parvati stayed up the whole night holding Shiva’s neck so that the poison does not enter his body. This is also why Shivaratri is when people stay up the whole night.

This is also believed the night when Shiva does his celestial dance the Tandav. A thought of belief is that this day saw the union of Shiva and Paravati. Among the ingredients that are typically used in fasting time is sabudana or tapioca pearls, millets, pumpkin, potato, makhana, Arbi, banana, yoghurt and Jimikand or elephant foot yam. If you are looking for recipes to celebrate the day, read some here. Here is a recipe for Jimikand Ke Gutkhe.

Read the story that first appeared in Money Control here: