Actress
Shalini Kapoor, who is known for featuring in shows like Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum,
Swaragini and Qubool Hai remembers her stay in Kolkata during
Durga Puja festivities.
She says, "During the festival, we offer prayers to the Goddess and worship her in nine different forms. As my mom is from West Bengal, we have many memories about the Durga Puja. I remember after the evening aarti ritual is done on the eighth day it is a tradition for the religious folk dance which is performed in front of the Goddess in order to gratify her. This dance is performed on the musical beats of drums while holding a clay pot filled with burning coconut covering and camphor. It is called Dhunachi dance and I have enjoyed dancing it a lot. On the ninth day, the worship is completed with a
Maha Aarti
."
The actress also shared her Sindoor Khela experience. "It is symbolic of the ending of the major rituals and prayers. On the last day of the festival, Goddess Durga bids adies and the deities are immersed in water bodies. The married women offer red vermillion powder to the Goddess and mark themselves with this powder. I remember after my marriage on the first Durga Puja my mom took me to Kolkata and we had so much fun. This is a way we wish for good health of our husband and a happy married life."
Shalini celebrates the festivities in Mumbai too by observing
Navratri Puja
. "The festival also symbolises victory over evil and light over darkness. In Mumbai, I celebrate Navratri with my family every year. We worship Goddess Durga and offer prayers in order to seek prosperity, good health and happiness for the family. On the last day, we enjoy performing Kanya Pujan on little girls because they symbolise purity. They are offered various delicacies like Halwa Puri, chana and things like money, Chunri, bangles etc," she added.
For the unversed, Shalini played the lead role of Goddess Durga in a TV show ‘Jai Maa Durga’ which aired in 2008 and the actress is also a devotee of the Goddess.
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