For actor Priyanka Upendra , Durga Puja is as much about the comfort of home as it is about devotion to the goddess. The sight of Maa Durga, the warmth of the Bengali community, the aroma of freshly served bhog and the joy of pandal hopping make the festival a cherished tradition every year.
It is a very special time that makes us emotional,” she says, recalling her visit to a pandal with her family. “There are so many Durga Pujas in Bengaluru that we don’t miss home,” she says with a smile. “We Bengalis wait for Durga Puja every year. Having celebrated the festival in Kolkata over the years, Priyanka is glad to find that Bengaluru offers plenty of opportunities to recreate that sense of belonging.
Because of all the positivity in it, the food is simple, but it’s so nice.
It’s been really nice,” she says. I feel Devi cleanses you and makes you pure again, reminding you that you are her child and that her energy is within you,” she says. The people serving it are positive, and it’s made in such a beautiful way,” she says.
“On Durga Puja, my family is always in Kolkata, and I used to go to Kolkata too. But this year I brought my mother to Bengaluru. For Priyanka, these visits are about more than seeing the decorations or meeting people. “It’s nice to meet all the Bengalis. Everybody is usually busy, but during puja , you get to come together. There are a lot of cultural programmes, and it reminds us of home,” she shares. She sees the festival as a form of spiritual cleansing, an opportunity to shed negativity and realign herself with the person she aspires to be. “Just as you take a bath when you get dirty or clean your home when it gets dirty, our souls, too, can become clouded by bad thoughts. The environment around us affects us. No Durga Puja is complete for Priyanka without bhog . More than just a festive meal, it evokes a sense of sanctity and comfort that holds a special place in her heart. “Just the smell of bhog and the taste of that rice is something else. It’s like when you eat in a temple. A self-confessed food lover with a particular fondness for sweets, Priyanka was delighted to rediscover a childhood favourite at the pandal: bonde, a traditional Bengali sweet. “There’s something called bonde, a Bengali sweet, which I’ve loved since I was young. My mother used to buy small boxes of it, and I would finish it even before Puja,” she recalls fondly. For Priyanka, the beauty of Durga Puja lies in this coming together of devotion, family, food and culture. Above all, it is a reminder of the grace and strength she draws from the goddess throughout the year. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru
Their celebrations begin at home with puja , before the family heads out in the evening for pandal hopping. My brother also went with me yesterday to a couple of pandals.