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.“We Bengalis wait for Durga Puja every year. It is a very special time that makes us emotional,” she says, recalling her visit to a pandal with her family. 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. “There are so many Durga Pujas in Bengaluru that we don’t miss home,” she says with a smile.‘This year, Puja is extra special with my mom being here’Durga Puja has taken on added meaning this year, with Priyanka’s mother and brother travelling to Bengaluru to celebrate with her.“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. My brother also went with me yesterday to a couple of pandals. It’s been really nice,” she says. Their celebrations begin at home with puja, before the family heads out in the evening for pandal hopping. 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.‘We need to carry our culture forward’Beyond the celebrations, Priyanka believes Durga Puja is also a living expression of Bengali heritage, one that must be passed on to younger generations, particularly those growing up away from Bengal. “The next generation of children learn about Bengali culture, and it’s important to carry it forward,” she says. Recalling the spectacular artwork she saw at the Jayamahal Pandal, she adds, “We need to preserve art and culture. I think the festival is a beautiful time when artists can showcase their talent as well. We need to bring it forward and preserve it for generations to come.”‘Every year, my connection with Durga Maa grows stronger’While the rituals remain familiar, Priyanka’s relationship with Durga Maa continues to deepen with time. Each year’s darshan leaves her with a sense of peace and spiritual connection that lasts long after the festivities end. “Over the years, I think my connection to her energy has become stronger every year. Just seeing Durga Maa and getting that moment with her really stays with me for the next six months, until we have Puja again,” she says.For Priyanka, the goddess represents nature, strength and the divine energy within every individual. “There’s a shloka that says she is you and you are her. She is inside you. We need to remind ourselves that God is also inside us, that we should be good and try to be like Devi in life,” she explains.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. 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.‘Bhog tastes special because of its positive energy’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. The food is simple, but it’s so nice because of all the positivity in it. The people serving it are positive, and it’s made in such a beautiful way,” she says.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.“Everybody needs Devi’s grace in their life. I feel everything is her blessing,” she says.
