Navratri and Durga Puja celebrations are going on in full-swing across the nation, with festive cheer and positivity all around. Devotees of Goddess Durga are paying respect to their deity and hopping pandals with family and friends, indulging in music, dance as well as some yummy and authentic Bengali delicacies. And our Bollywood celebrities are no different. Bong beauties like Kajol, Mouni Roy, and Rani Mukerji were seen visiting Durga Puja pandals in Mumbai and seeking blessings from Ma Durga. In fact, Kajol along with her son Yug was even seen serving bhog to devotees. Read more about it here.
Rani, on the other hand, spilled the beans about her daughter, Adira, who apparently loves the five-day festival. In a recent interview with ETimes, Rani recalled Adira’s first experience at a Durga Puja pandal two years ago, when she was only three and a half years old. According to the actor, Adira tasted her first cup of kadak chai during her first Durga Puja, and remembers the celebrations very clearly.
“I have been looking forward to trying the street food at the Durga Puja stalls. In fact, Adira tasted her first cup of kadak chai in a clay cup with me at her first Durga Puja,” Rani said, adding that Adira was very excited to try tea this festive season too, as it is served in a kulhad which she finds interesting. “This year too, she is very keen to savour the kadak chai served in the bharr (kulhad), which she finds very fascinating as the taste of the tea changes because it is served in the mud cup," Rani explained.
Isn't that interesting how even kids love Durga Puja festivities? In the same interview, Rani also shared her favourite memories of Durga Puja and revealed how she enjoys the bhog. The actor mentioned some of the delicacies that she enjoys during the festival, and said that the khichdi doesn't taste the same at any other time of the year. “The bhog khichudi (khichdi made of lentils, rice, and spices) made during Durga Pujo always tastes divine. I feel the difference is actually the magic of all the festivities."
Well, there’s something for everyone at a Durga Puja pandal. There’s a magical aarti that happens twice a day, and if you are a foodie, there’s nowhere else you’d want to be than the pandal. It is usually packed with many home chefs showcasing their culinary skills with food pop ups and stalls, serving drool-worthy fish chops, kathi rolls, kosha mangsho, bhaja, ghugni, and more. There is a huge variety of non-vegetarian delicacies to savour too, especially fish items. And if you are a chaat lover, what better time to savour some puchkas than this? Would you be visiting a Durga Puja pandal this year? Share your thoughts with us.
