For the first time, I offered chocolates to Lord Jagannath today: Indrani

It was in 2012 that

Indrani

Halder started worshipping Lord Jagannath. Back then, she used to stay in Mumbai. Before that, she was a regular at

Puri

on Rathyatra. After returning to Kolkata, she started organizing her Puja in a big way. On Thursday, some 150-200 invitees dropped by at her

New Alipore

residence.

Describing herself as a Jagannath devotee, Indrani said, “When I used to stay in Mumbai, my Puja was held at my rented apartment.” In 2015, Indrani began worshipping Lord Jagannath at her Kolkata residence. “Initially, I used to do it in a small way. Only my close relatives and friends would drop by. Slowly, it became a bigger affair. Now, I have 150 to 200 invitees dropping by at my residence,” said Indrani, who looked pretty in a new yellow silk sari. “Yellow is the colour of Jagannath. I have specially bought a gold Jagannath pendant on this occasion. For my idol, I have bought new jewellery. I buy gold for Rathayatra and Dhanteras. I only offer gold jewellery to the Lord. He is my confidante,” she added.

The speciality of Indrani’s Puja is that the bhog is offered to the idol in exactly the same way as it is done in Puri. “For the first time, I have even offered

chocolates

to the Lord. My friends have cooked bhog,” said the actress, who is now part of a serial titled Sreemoyee.

On being asked if she is upset that Koel Mallick is playing Mitin Mashi in an feature film adaptation by Arindam Sil that she was originally supposed to be cast in, Indrani said, “I had wanted to work in a serial based on Mitin Mashi’s character. That was not a film.” Does she plan to have a word with Arindam or the production house? “I am not interested,” said she, before getting busy with Jai Jagannath chants.