Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2019)

Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee’s Durga puja celebrations hit a roadblock when the bamboo supporting the pandal were washed away by the unprecedented rains before Navratri. Undaunted, his wife, Ira, and daughter Prima took it upon themselves to ensure that the family puja, in its 16th year, continued as usual, flying down cooks to prepare the daily bhog and dhakis to play the drums during the rituals. The idol is unique, painted a bronzed gold.

The Roshan family has been attending the puja every year and turned up, as usual, on Navami. Rakesh Roshan, who has been ailing for a while, sought Maa’s blessings with son Hrithik, composer brother Rajesh Roshan and his wife Kanchan, who even made kheer for bhog. “My mother was Bengali and we have been celebrating the auspicious occasion since childhood,” revealed Rakesh. Biswajit added that since three years, the bhog, which is a traditional fare of khichdi, brinjal fry, mixed vegetables, pakodas, and kheer, is sent to the Roshan house during the three days—Saptami, Ashtami and Navami. With Monday being the last day of bhog, the venue was packed with revelers.