Puja is the time for lip-smacking food

Rani has faint memories of her childhood days,when her cousins and she used to dance to Rabindranath Tagores songs during the Puja. The family8217;s Durga Puja celebrations used to be a small affair and Bollywood stars occasionally visited the family. At times the stars even stayed over and performed at the evening cultural events,says the actress. With the years gone by,the celebration has got bigger and commercial. But for me it is still the most important festival as it is the time when my cousins and friends get together. At the puja celebrations we have the sindoor khela while we are preparing for maa to leave,that8217;s celebrated exactly like Holi and we play with colours. We burst crackers while proceeding for the immersions like Diwali. And like the Eid milap,the family comes together for the bhog. It8217;s a culmination of all the festivals. That8217;s why it is so special for me, says the actress.

The Mukerji familys Durga Puja,North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja,is in its 63rd year,and this year at the family pandal,Rani8217;s mother had invited artisans from Kolkata to decorate the place. She says,Maa got the dakhe shaj white decoration made with thermocole and the intricate work,sholar kash,especially done by Bengalis during the puja,arranged from Kolkata.

Rani chose to drape a red-and-white sari designed by her favourite designer,Sabyasachi,on the first day of the puja. She choose the sari as the colour symbolises goddess Durga8217;s power,courage and strength. Every puja,Rani makes a wish to the goddess and she reveals that this year,she would make a wish for her dad,rather than making a wish for herself. She says,My dad is really sick and he has stayed behind at home. If there was one wish that the goddess could grant me,it would be that my dads.