Navratri celebrations in Abu Dhabi offer plenty of ways to satisfy your sweet tooth, from creamy Indian puddings and delicate milk-based mithai to nutty Gujarati specialities and crispy, syrup-soaked jalebis. Explore fasting-friendly treats and classic Indian desserts to share with loved ones this Navratri. Look out for these traditional sweets at sweet shops, restaurants, and supermarkets across Abu Dhabi.
Indian Sweets To Savour During Navratri
1. Makhana Kheer
Creamy, fragrant and dotted with crunchy nuts, makhana kheer is a festive favourite that deserves a place on your Navratri sweet list in Abu Dhabi. The dessert combines makhana (fox nuts) with milk, sugar, and cardamom to create a rich pudding with a delicate flavour. A garnish of saffron, almonds and pistachios adds colour and texture to every spoonful. Savour it warm for a comforting treat or chilled for a refreshing end to your Navratri meal.
Where: Pincode Abu Dhabi
2. Sabudana Kheer
Sabudana kheer is a popular choice during Navratri because tapioca pearls are commonly used in fasting recipes as an alternative to grains such as rice and wheat. Simmered in milk with sugar and cardamom, the pearls create a creamy, lightly sweet pudding often garnished with almonds, cashews, and saffron. Its comforting texture and simple ingredients make it a delicious addition to festive meals, though fasting rules vary by household and region.
Where: Bikanervala
3. Coconut Ladoo
Small, snowy-white, and bursting with coconut flavour, coconut ladoos add a delicious festive touch to Navratri celebrations in Abu Dhabi. These sweet little treats are typically made with grated coconut, condensed milk or sugar, and a hint of cardamom for an aromatic finish. Coconut also holds significance in Hindu rituals and offerings, making these ladoos a fitting addition to festive pujas and family gatherings.
Where: LuLu Hypermarket & Noon UAE
4. Kaju Katli
Few Indian sweets look as elegant as kaju katli, with its delicate diamond shape, smooth finish and rich cashew flavour. Made with finely ground cashews and sugar, this much-loved mithai has a melt-in-the-mouth texture that makes it a festive favourite to share with family and friends during Navratri. While it isn’t traditionally a fasting-specific sweet, you can enjoy it as part of festive celebrations depending on your dietary practices.
Where: Kamat Sweets, Sri Krishna Sweets & Chhappan Bhog Sweet & Snacks Shop
Also Read: 6 Navratri Events In Dubai For Colourful Garba Nights, Dandiya Beats And Festive Fun
5. Sandesh
Delicate, lightly sweet and wonderfully soft, sandesh is a traditional Bengali mithai that offers a refreshing change from richer Indian desserts during Navratri. Prepared with fresh chenna (curdled milk solids) and sugar, this milk-based sweet is often flavoured with cardamom or saffron and shaped into pretty bite-sized pieces. Its simple preparation and elegant flavour make it a lovely addition to festive gatherings, though it isn’t automatically suitable for every fasting practice.
Where: Green Darbar Sweets
6. Anjeer Pak
Looking for a sweet with a fruity twist? Anjeer pak packs the natural sweetness of dried figs into a dense, chewy mithai, often studded with almonds and pistachios for a satisfying crunch. Its rich flavour and fruit-and-nut combination make it an interesting addition to your Navratri sweet spread, especially if you fancy something different from the usual milk-based desserts.
Where: Kathiyawadi Veg Restaurant
7. Mohanthal
A staple at Gujarati festive celebrations, mohanthal wins you over with its rich, nutty flavour and melt-in-the-mouth crumbly texture. This traditional mithai is made by roasting gram flour in ghee before combining it with sugar and cardamom, often with a scattering of nuts for added crunch. Frequently prepared for religious occasions and offered during puja, it adds a regional touch to Navratri celebrations.
Where: Mithaiwaalas Sweets
8. Jalebi With Fafda
Crispy, golden and soaked in sugar syrup, jalebi paired with fafda is a beloved Gujarati combination that adds a delicious twist to festive food traditions. While fafda is a savoury, crunchy snack made from gram flour, jalebi brings a sweet contrast with its syrupy centre and crisp edges. The combination is especially popular during Dussehra, when many Gujaratis enjoy jalebi and fafda to mark the victory of good over evil.
Where: Pure Veg Restaurant
Satisfy your festive sweet cravings this Navratri by exploring these traditional Indian treats in Abu Dhabi this year.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/subodhsathe from Getty Images & VadimZakirov from Getty Images