After 32 Years, Dana Choga Goes Pure Vegetarian for Navratri 2026 With a Special Festive Menu

For a restaurant brand that has been serving non-vegetarian food for more than three decades, making the entire kitchen vegetarian - even for a few days - is no small decision. This Navratri, Dana Choga is doing exactly that.

Established in 1994, the restaurant brand is marking a significant first in its 32-year journey by turning its kitchens completely vegetarian for the nine days of Navratri, from 11 to 19 October 2026. The decision, taken by the founders, goes beyond introducing a handful of festive specials. Instead, the brand is temporarily moving away from its familiar non-vegetarian offerings to create a dining experience dedicated entirely to the festival.

Titled around the idea of a 32-year-old legacy turning pure vegetarian this Navratri, the initiative is designed for diners who observe the festival through fasting, vegetarian meals and traditional vrat-friendly ingredients. The limited-edition menu will be available at all Dana Choga dine-in outlets and through delivery platforms throughout the nine-day period.

A First in 32 Years: A Different Way to Celebrate Navratri

Navratri is a time when food habits change for many households. While some devotees observe strict fasts, others follow a vegetarian or sattvik diet, avoiding their usual food choices for the duration of the festival. For these diners, eating out can sometimes mean compromising on familiar restaurant experiences.

Dana Choga’s decision takes a different approach. Rather than simply adding a few Navratri dishes alongside its regular menu, the brand is going fully vegetarian across its kitchens for the festival.

The move marks a notable departure for a restaurant that has served non-vegetarian food since its establishment in 1994. It also offers an opportunity to bring together traditional festive ingredients and the restaurant’s experience in preparing flavour-forward Indian food.

For guests, the idea is straightforward: enjoy a festive meal at a familiar restaurant without having to navigate a regular non-vegetarian menu during Navratri.

A Festive Menu Built Around Traditional Vrat Ingredients

The special menu brings together ingredients commonly associated with Navratri cooking, including sabudana, singhara flour, samak rice, raw banana, shakarkandi, kathal, sitafal and paneer.

The selection spans starters, main-course preparations, beverages, accompaniments and dessert, offering diners more than a single festive meal. Prices range from ₹75 for two pieces of Singhara Puri to ₹545 for the Navratri Special Thali, making the menu accessible across different preferences and occasions.

Among the highlights are familiar comfort-food formats adapted to the festive ingredient palette. Kache Kele Ke Kebab, Stick Kathal Kebab, Shakarkandi Chaat, Kurkuri Sabudana Tikki and Sabudana Tikki Chaat bring variety to the starter selection.

For those who enjoy paneer-based dishes, Paneer Tikka Makhmali and Tamatri Paneer add a richer dimension to the menu. Sitafal Ki Sabzi, Jeera Aloo and Samak Rice Pulao provide options for a more substantial festive meal.

The menu also includes Kesar Badam Thandai, Masala Chaach and Mango Lassi, along with Kesari Sabudana Kheer for dessert.

The Navratri Special Thali: A Complete Festive Meal for ₹545

At the centre of the limited-edition offering is the Navratri Special Thali, priced at ₹545. Designed to bring several of the menu’s key preparations together, the thali offers a convenient option for diners looking for a complete festive spread.

The platter features:

- Tamatri Paneer

- Singhara Poori

- Kesari Sabudana Kheer

- Jeera Aloo

- Pineapple Raita

- Aloo Paneer Cutlet

- Samak Rice Pulao

- Imli Chutney

From the combination of paneer and potatoes to singhara poori and samak rice, the spread brings together savoury dishes, accompaniments and a sweet finish in one meal.

For families dining together, working professionals looking for a festive lunch or guests who prefer to order a complete meal at home, the thali is positioned as one of the most convenient ways to experience the special menu.

From Kebab Craft to Kathal and Raw Banana

One of the more interesting aspects of Dana Choga’s Navratri menu is its use of familiar restaurant formats with ingredients associated with festive vegetarian cooking.

Kache Kele Ke Kebab brings raw banana into a kebab-style preparation, while Stick Kathal Kebab places jackfruit at the centre of a dish inspired by the broader Indian kebab tradition. Shakarkandi Chaat offers a chaat-style option, while Kurkuri Sabudana Tikki and Sabudana Tikki Chaat introduce texture and variety through sabudana.

Paneer Tikka Makhmali provides another option for diners who prefer a richer, paneer-led starter.

These dishes give the menu a mix of textures and formats, moving beyond the idea that a festive vegetarian menu must be limited to a few predictable preparations. Instead, the selection brings together chaat, kebab-style starters, curries, rice, breads, beverages and dessert.

Dining In or Ordering at Home: The Menu Is Available Across Channels

The Navratri menu will be available at all Dana Choga dine-in outlets and on delivery platforms from 11 to 19 October 2026.

This means guests can choose between visiting a restaurant for a festive meal or ordering from home, with the limited-edition menu available throughout all nine days of Navratri.

The offering also comes at a time when diners increasingly look for restaurant experiences that accommodate their food preferences and festive routines. For a legacy brand, making the entire kitchen vegetarian for the period is a more substantial shift than simply listing a few seasonal dishes.

A Legacy Brand Takes a Festive Detour

Restaurants often mark festivals by introducing special menus, limited-time dishes and promotional dining experiences. Dana Choga’s Navratri initiative stands out because of the scale of the change: a brand whose kitchens have served non-vegetarian food since 1994 is choosing to go completely vegetarian for the festival.

The limited-edition menu brings together traditional vrat-associated ingredients, familiar Indian comfort-food formats and a full thali experience, with prices starting at ₹75.

For diners observing Navratri, the initiative offers another option for eating out or ordering in. For Dana Choga, it represents a temporary but significant departure from its established kitchen identity - one that places the festive dining experience at the centre of the offering.

When: 11–19 October 2026

Where: All Dana Choga dine-in outlets and delivery platforms

Menu: 16 limited-edition dishes, plus the Navratri Special Thali

Price range: ₹75–₹545

Featured offering: Navratri Special Thali at ₹545