Talking with Subhash K Jha, the filmistaan share what the celebration of Navratri means to them in this special feature.
Adivi Sesh: “This is my parents first full fledged Navratri without anyone being sick, without covid and in India, after 30 years! So it’s been very pious. Poojas everyday morning and night, it’s felt very beautiful to see the house decorated and to see how my mom is smiling about the Durga decorations. I’m just witnessing this with a smile and partaking whenever I’m not shooting.”
Teja Sajja: “I am in the US this Navratri. But I feel the presence of Maa all around me. She has blessed with me with a huge success this year. Her benevolence is evident in every walk of my life. I wish I was home for Navratri. Festivities are just not the time to be away from the family.”
Madhavan: “Durga Puja and Navratri means a time for family, introspection, spirituality and yummy food. All the dishes during this time are vegetarian, and that’s the way I like it. The Durga Puja in Kolkata is something special. The whole city plunges into a mood of festivity. It is a time for…cleansing the spirit, opening up one’s consciousness to the beneficence of Devi Maa.”
Raakhee Gulzar: “Durga Puja used to be a major part of my growing-up years in Kolkata. All of us children would be excited from weeks in advance, and we would be counting the days…. New clothes would be a must, of course. And we all wanted the same fabric and patterns. I now realize that the clothes we wore were special because of the excitement we felt about the occasion. Now all that is gone.While you are trying to pray and seek Devi Maa’s blessings, there are people taking your pictures on the phone. So my joy of enjoying Puja festivities died long ago.”
Rituparna Sengupta (the No.1 Bengali actress): “Durga puja always brings happiness excitement and togetherness… when we were very young …the pandals in our locality were the centre of attraction. Maa, our Goddess comes in the pandals just before the puja starts. Those few days are out of any routine, totally a life without any restrictions. Going out with friends, family, and enjoying pandal hopping was something we all looked forward to for the entire year. Durga puja to us is completely a different kind of emotion, bringing high spirits, positive energy, and mothers love, it is the key thing in Durga puja.
We gorge on the bhog, the Prasad which is given after the puja, lentil and rice together, khichri labra vegetables, chutney papad, and mithai…the best combination. Every puja wearing new saree and offering anjali and arti to mother Goddess is our ritual, we follow it meticulously. The artisans, musicians and lots of creative people get wonderful recognitions through their art..presenting beautiful piece of attraction making the pandals worth viewing with thematic wonders.
This year my puja will be without Ma. I lost her few months back….I don’t know how to negotiate this pain…my mom used to long when I would come and spend some quality time during the pujas……ma and the entire community would wait to see me and My family to have lunch and dinners together..Those four days of Puja no cooking at home , all meals outside.”
Tanushree Dutta: “Navratri, most commonly referred to as Durga Pujo in Bengal is an important festival for Bengalis. I grew up celebrating and enjoying this yearly festival with family, food, new clothes, goodies and gifts. Every year has been the same somewhat except the childish fervour has transformed into a more mature spiritual sadhana along with enjoying the festivities. Today went to the nearby Kali Pujo Pandal to eat the traditional khitchuri bhog prasad.”
