Actress Paallavii Chatterjee, who was seen in the web series The Revolutionaries and had been a part of Khakee: The Bengal Chapter and Bengali films such as Amar Prem and Badnaam, looked forward to Durga Puja every year with deep devotion and excitement. For her, the festival was much more than a celebration. It was an emotion closely connected to her childhood, family traditions and love for Maa Durga.

Talking about what the festival meant to her, Paallavii said, “It is the biggest festival for Bengalis.” Recalling her childhood memories, she shared how her maternal grandfather used to organise Durga Puja at home. “It used to be so much fun. Helping with the puja and meeting cousins and relatives made it a great experience,” she recalled. The five to six days of celebrations included bhog, cultural activities, Kumari Puja and spending time together over adda with family members.

Even today, certain traditions remained an essential part of her celebrations. Offering anjali on Shashthi, Ashtami and Navami and having bhog were a must for the actor. She also looked forward to Sandhi Puja, which took place during the transition from Ashtami to Navami and held special religious significance.

While pandal hopping was not her favourite activity, Paallavii enjoyed dressing up in traditional attire, especially sarees. When it came to food, her festive favourites were Bengali classics. “Luchi, khichudi, labra, beguni and payesh were what I enjoyed during Puja,” she shared.

For Paallavii, a perfect Puja day revolved around seeking Maa Durga’s blessings. She explained that she often visited the Goddess in the morning and afternoon, returned home to rest and headed out again in the evening. Over the previous three years, she had made it a point to travel to Kolkata on Navami and participate in Sindoor Khela on Bijoya Dashami.

Talking about the emotional farewell to the Goddess, she said that bidding goodbye to Maa Durga brought tears to their eyes every year, but it was an inseparable part of the tradition. Paallavii believed in keeping her connections, traditions and roots alive. She also spoke about the artists and the intricate craftsmanship displayed in the pandals, describing the work as mesmerising.

This year, however, the celebrations were particularly special for her. “After almost 25 years, I got to spend Puja with my daughter, Rhyea, so I was really looking forward to it,” she shared.

Expressing her deep emotional connection with Maa Durga, Paallavii reflected on how the festival brought together faith, family and cherished memories. For the actor, Durga Puja remained a beautiful blend of devotion and traditions that kept her connected to her roots and made the celebration truly special.