Having spent several lockdowns in Barcelona over the last year-and-a-half, it’s time for new beginnings for Shriya Saran. Last month, the actress moved back to India with her husband Andrei Koscheev and the duo are delighted to begin their new journey living together in Mumbai. “I’ve been wanting to get back to work and that required me to come back to India. Andrei, too, wanted to experience the culture here. He loves India and wants to explore it further. So we decided to move to Mumbai. My mom is thrilled to have me back home,” says Shriya.

The Drishyam actress is keen to show her husband, the vibrant culture that India has to offer, and says one of the best ways to do that is to show him how Ganesh Utsav is celebrated here. “Having lived in Mumbai for many years, I’ve always loved the way Ganesh Utsav is celebrated and I always wanted Andrei to experience that. During this time, it doesn’t matter which religion you belong to and where you come from – everyone comes together to celebrate. For the next few days, it’s going to be a carnival, and I can’t wait to experience it with Andrei,” she says, excitedly.

While Shriya’s excited to experience Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on the streets of Mumbai, she says the festivities at home will remain simple. “Ever since I was a child, Ganesh Chaturthi was a simple affair. Right from a young age, we decided against having POP idols at home. I’d always make a tiny Ganesha idol with clay and we would immerse it in a plant. For years, this has been our tradition and it’s going to be no different this year,” says Shriya, adding, “This year, I was excited to make my clay Ganesha from scratch. I hadn’t done it for a while, so it felt good to be making it again. We have a tulsi plant at home, so we plan to immerse the Ganesha there after a few days. It’s very soothing and therapeutic to see the Ganesha idol take new life in the plant.”

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, no matter how simple, are incomplete without good food. “Andrei’s in for a treat. The best part about festivals in India is all the delicious food that we get to eat and this is going to be no different. We’re going to be savouring all the homemade delicacies such as modaks and ladoos,” says Shriya.

Apart from making a Ganesha idol and gorging on good food, what Shriya is looking forward to soaking in the festive fervour with Andrei. “He doesn’t know what it’s going to be like. So, it’s going to be a surprise for him. Andrei is someone who loves to experience different cultures and I’m sure he would love this. The whole vibe during the festive season is something else. Everybody comes together to pray, dance, eat and celebrate. It’s a beautiful thing and I’m looking forward to the next few days of celebration,” adds Shriya.