PM Modi turns 76: From makhana 300 days a year to moringa paratha, what he has actually said about food

Narendra Modi turns 76 on September 17, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat. That makes his 76th birthday the timely news peg for this gallery, but the food details below come from his own public remarks rather than a supposed “secret diet chart”.

He said he eats makhana on at least 300 days a year

At a February 2025 event in Bhagalpur, Modi said he eats makhana, or fox nuts, on at least 300 of 365 days. The quote establishes that makhana is a frequent part of his routine; it does not reveal the portion, preparation or time of day.

Moringa paratha reportedly appears once or twice a week

During the 2020 Fit India Dialogue, Modi said he makes parathas with moringa, also called drumstick leaves, and eats them once or twice a week. That is more specific than broad reports linking him with assorted Indian foods.

His two Navratri fasts follow different rules

Modi said that during the autumn Navratri he takes only hot water for nine days. For Chaitra Navratri, he chooses one fruit and eats it once daily for nine days. He described these practices as part of a 50-to-55-year personal tradition.

His Chaturmas routine is one meal in 24 hours

In his 2025 conversation with Lex Fridman, Modi said that for roughly four to four-and-a-half months—from around mid-June until after Diwali—he follows the Chaturmas practice of eating once in a 24-hour period.

This is a personal routine, not a published diet prescription

There is no official daily menu specifying everything Modi eats, and reports naming khichdi, dhokla or other foods should not be treated as a fixed meal plan. Long or restrictive fasts can carry health risks and should not be copied without medical guidance.