The ongoing Durga Puja or Navratri 2016 festival, dedicated Goddess Durga, has spread love and cheer as every year. The festival is not only celebrated with great fervour in West Bengal and among Bengalis, but also Maharashtrians and Gujaratis, who play Dandiya and do the Garba dance on the nine nights of the festival. Navratri 2016 will culminate on Dussehra 2016, which falls on Tuesday, October 11. While Bollywood celebrates Navratri and Pujo or Durga Puja by making special appearances at Dandiya venues and praying at Durga Puja mandals, our Indian television celebrities have their own manner in which they celebrate the pre-Diwali festival with friends and family.
Popular actors from Zee Entertainment channel &TV, like Shubhangi Atre, Saumya Tandon, Prince Narula, Rytasha Rathod, Ratan Rajput, Gaurav Khanna and some more, tell us about what Navratri means to them and how they enjoy the Dandiya and Garba!
Shubhangi Atre – Angoori Bhabhi from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai
My maasi (mother’s sister) lives in Rajkot, so once we visited her during Navratri when I was a teenager. I still remember that experience. We played Dandiya till 3 am! I love all the traditional festivals that we celebrate and Navratri is one of my favourites.
Saumya Tandon – Anita Bhabhi from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai
When I was in school in Ujjain, our city used to have Navratri celebrations all over. I as a teenager remember going to see my elder sister’s friend’s dance. The songs played were the same every year and they are still the same. I remember the Pankhida song the most. Also, I remember getting a Best Face – Female award in one of the club celebrations during Navratri! That was a super big day for me. I was the star of the evening and my family made me feel as if I had won the Miss World title! (Laughs)
Ratan Rajput – Santoshi from Santoshi Maa
Back in school, during Navratri we used to get a 10-day holiday. So, once we all went to Kolkata and I witnessed the Durga Puja for the very first time. I still have vivid memories of it, eating the delicious food and visiting various pandals. I had been to Vadodara once and loved the way people do the Garba there, as I don’t even know a single step of the dance form. But be it Navratri or not, I listen to Durga Saptashati every morning.
Rohitash Gaud – Manmohan Tiwari from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai
I hail from Chandigarh, so we used to celebrate Navratri in a big way and do puja every year. If I get a day off from my show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, I would love to go along with my family to Shimla, as I have recently purchased a house. (Update: Rohitash Gaud’s father passed away in the middle of the Navratri festival. Our condolences to Rohitash and family.)¬¬
Prince Narula – Lakha from Badho Bahu
I visited Gujarat last year and I loved the ambience and the way they celebrate Navratri. I love playing Dandiya and I hope this year I get a day off from shoot for it!
Rytasha Rathore – Badho from Badho Bahu
My favourite Navratri memory is when I went for Dandiya in Singapore. It was my first year of college and I was very homesick. But luckily my roommate found out about a Navratri event and we went there. It was super fun! Lots of Indians were there but also Chinese and Malay people. It was so multicultural and amazing! My grandparents live in Navsari near Surat in Gujarat. It’s a crazy atmosphere there during Navratri! It’s like a party for nine nights in a row. And it’s so festive and energetic, I love it!
Shefali Sharma – Vijaya from Tere Bin
Navratri is a festival of divinity. Nav means nine and Ratri means night, so basically nine nights of festivity, celebration and divinity! I hail from Punjab and there we hardly have Navratri festival celebrations, so my experience with it is limited. In Mumbai, I am always busy with shoots. But I am planning to go for Ramleela if I get a day off, as my husband and his family have been associated with devotees from Vrindavan who perform it here. Apart from them, I have heard a lot about Falguni Pathak so would love to go and attend her Dandiya programme. When I think of Navratri, the only song that immediately comes to my mind is Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam starring Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan!
Gaurav Khanna – Akshay from Tere Bin
I used to go for Navratri outings in my home town when I was in school and college and it was great fun. Then I started going as a celebrity once I became an actor. I am happy being part of this transition. I like the colours and the energy you get to see on these Navratri gatherings. It’s awesome and nice.
Khushboo Tawde – Nandini from Tere Bin
Navratri is very close to me. I was studying in Ahmedabad for three years so I have celebrated Navratri in Gujarat and it’s a lot of fun. I enjoy playing Dandiya and Garba. As a kid, I found it very difficult to catch the Garba beats. I remember practicing for an entire week and then join the friends to match their level. I only know the songs being remixed and played during Dandiya and one of my favourites is Pari Hoon Main (original title Paree) by Sunita Rao, which is remixed by Falguni Pathak and various others every year.
Sugandha Mishra – host on The Voice India Kids
My family keeps a fast for all nine days and we celebrate Navmi or Naumi by serving food to nine kanjikaas (baby girls) by giving them thali decorated with mata ke nav shingaar i.e. bangles, nail paint, mata rani ki red chunni (goddess’ red stole), food that includes chole puri, etc. When I was a kid I used to go to our neighbours’ place for Ashtami and Naumi puja. This year, I am performing in Mumbai with Abhijeet Bhattacharya da in the great singers’ Durga Puja pandal. I will also be performing at Bappi Lahiri da’s Naumi celebration. During Navratri, I love the songs Sanedo Sanedo and Mehendi Tewawi.
Ruhana Khanna – Krishna from Gangaa
During Navratri, I used to go to a temple with my Nani (maternal grandmom), Dadi (paternal grandmom) and mom when I was in Delhi. This year, I’m shooting here in Mumbai. I like to do Dandiya on every song and there’s no one particular song I like!
Akshay Dogra – Jagan from Waaris
I absolutely enjoy the food that’s made during Navratri. The moment Navratri starts, it is the beginning of the festival season. Meeting friends, taking small holidays, preparing feasts. Also, it is my son’s first time seeing all this; it’ll be interesting to see how the little one reacts to it! I have visited Gujarat during Navratri and the energy there is unbelievable! People take their Garba really seriously. I’ve been to Ahmedabad and Mehsana and entire cities comes out to celebrate! For Dandiya, I like the Kai Po Che! song Shubh Aarambh – it has the right tempo and energy.
Aarti Singh -Amba from Waaris
During my childhood, I used to go to everyone’s house in Lucknow during Durga Puja, as I love puja ka khana (puja food) and also the gifts. This year I am fasting on the first and last day of Navratri. I do puja in my make-up room. For Navratri, I love the aarti song Bhor Bhaye Din Chad Gaya Meri Ambe.
Happy Navratri 2016 to all and put on your dancing shoes in the final two days of the fest for Dandiya, if you haven’t already!
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