Sawan, the monsoon month associated with Lord Shiva, brings with it a distinct food culture across India. As devotees observe fasts on Mondays and other days of the month, kitchens often turn to ingredients considered suitable for vrat, including sabudana, kuttu, singhara flour, makhana, samak rice, potatoes, fruits and dairy. But Sawan food is not limited to one fixed menu. From Maharashtra’s sabudana khichdi to Bihar’s makhana preparations, different regions have developed their own ways of making fasting food comforting, festive and distinctly local. Here are 10 traditional dishes enjoyed during Sawan across different parts of India.
