I will be celebrating Diwali and Bestu Varas in Ahmedabad after many years: Aashka Goradia

For over a year, Aashka Goradia has been shuttling between Ahmedabad and Goa, where she runs her business from and also shares a home with husband Brent Goble. The actress tells us that she is in an absolute happy space, enjoying the best of both worlds. Like everyone, Aashka too is in the festive mode and is excited about ringing in Diwali and Bestu Varas in hometown Ahmedabad after a long gap. Excerpts from a chat where she shares it all about her upcoming festive plans:

‘FESTIVAL, FOOD, FUN AND FAMILY THIS YEAR’

After a long time, I will be spending Diwali with my family and relatives here. We look forward to performing Lakshmi Puja at my home and my office here in Ahmedabad. My mother has already completed the arrangements for it. I totally detest shopping, so mom has picked up a couple of new dresses for me. I don’t believe in bursting firecrackers, so my Diwali will be all about diyas, rangoli and gorging on delicious festive food with the family, and my team – that will be the agenda of celebration.

‘FOR ME, BESTU VARAS MEANS EXCLUSIVE TIME WITH FAMILY’

Gujarati New Year celebrations usually begin with puja at home or visiting the temple, followed by seeking blessings of all the elders in the family. For me, it is no different. We will be visiting relatives here in Ahmedabad, many of my cousins will come home too. Brent and I have planned a cosy time with family, with a luncheon and dinner, too. For me, Bestu Varas has always been a time exclusively set aside for family.

‘BRENT IS WAY MORE PARTICULAR ABOUT INDIAN FESTIVITIES’

I feel I am blessed to have a husband as amazing as Brent. He is so enthusiastic as well as particular about celebrating Indian festivals. Every year, he ensures that we decorate our Goa home with beautiful diyas, lots of colourful props, and get all the puja saamagri in order. He even checks with my mom a lot of times to confirm about the rituals and traditions that need to be practiced. I am hardly aware of anything. Even this year, I know when he joins me, he must have bought Indian clothes for himself to wear for pujas and visits and must have got gifts for everyone in the family. It feels nice to be with someone like him who has embraced Indian culture and traditions with open arms. He has become a part of our family with all his heart.