The 27-year-old, known for her work in Bengali cinema and Hindi television, recalls how the festival was a family affair, with her father and two uncles performing separate pujas. For actor Adrija Roy, festivals are about preserving family traditions and staying connected to her Bengali roots. “In our house, it is a very special day. Depending on the timings and who is ready first, we begin the puja in their room.
Reflecting on Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, celebrated after Durga Puja, she says, “It is very popular in Bengali culture, and almost every household celebrates it, whether on a small or large scale. Unfortunately, I am not home this year, but I stay connected over the phone,” says the Anupamaa actor.
“Perhaps after marriage, I would like to celebrate Lakshmi Puja with Vignesh in our home. Now, I realise that the festival is not just about wearing new clothes, eating and having fun. There is a deeper spiritual connection. Maha Ashtami is a very special day for Bengalis who believe in the puja. If you ask Maa for something, she will fulfil it for you. “Whenever I go to Kolkata, I become a child again. Every actor likes being recognised, and I do too. But when people from my neighbourhood call me ‘ma’am’, I do not like it. My nickname is Diya, and I tell them to call me that instead of Adrija. I want to remain the same person I was while growing up,” she signs off.
Until then, as long as I am a bachelor, I will continue doing it at home,” she says. With age, Roy says she has also come to appreciate the spiritual significance of Durga Puja. Recalling how she once struggled to understand the early-morning rituals after late nights of festivities, she says, “As a child, I did not understand why we woke up early for pushpanjali, even if we had returned home late the previous night. Despite her growing recognition as an actor, Roy says returning to Kolkata allows her to reconnect with her childhood self.
However, Roy, who got engaged to businessman Vignesh Iyer earlier this year, hopes to celebrate the festival in Mumbai with him eventually.
