Rath Yatra marks the countdown to Durga Puja: Priyanka Sarkar
Priyanka Sarkar at Ram Gopal Saha's mansion
From decorating her multi-tiered rath with her father to ringing bells to earn a fair share of pocket money in exchange of prasad, to watching her son slowly outgrow the tradition, Rath Yatra isn't just a festival for actress Priyanka Sarkar, it's a feeling woven with childhood memories, family rituals, and simple joys.
CT shoots with the
Chirodini Tumi Je Amar
and
Bibaho Obhijaan
actress on this special occasion, to know how the day reminds her of a personal journey through time, food, and nostalgia.
Have you ever been to Puri for Rath Yatra?
I've always wanted to. Puri, for us, is more than just a place. It's an emotion. I've thought of going to Puri during Rath Yatra, but never ended doing so, mainly because it's overcrowded during this time of the year.
They say Jagannath pulls you Himself...
It's true! He really does. The first time I visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri, I was barely one and a half years old, so I have no memory of it. After that, I've gone to Puri several times for shoots, but not once did I get the opportunity to actually get a darshan of Jagannath. Then, just a few months ago, I went on a road trip to Mandarmani with my parents and Shohoj. The Jagannath Dham in Digha had not opened doors yet.
Baba suddenly said, 'Let's just go on a road trip to Puri, it's just a few hours away.
' So off we went, totally unplanned. When we reached, we got a hassle-free
darshan
. The weather was perfect, and surprisingly, it wasn't even much crowded. That's exactly what people mean when they say 'He pulls you Himself – He orchestrates the entire plan'.
Rath er mela holds a special place in my heart. It's not just about papad or khaja, the entire fair is a must-visit
Priyanka Sarkar
Do you have any special plans for Rath Yatra this year?
We don't conduct a grand puja at home as such – it's more of a daily spiritual routine, and the same will happen this year.
Shohoj, my son, used to pull the chariot with an idol of Jagannath, one gifted to him by my mother till last year, but I am not sure if he will do it this year since he thinks he's outgrown it, and this activity is meant for kids.
Today you're shooting inside Ramgopal Saha's mansion in Bowbazar, they also host a grand Durga Puja that is over a century-old. Would you like to return here during Pujo?
Shooting in the mansion feels truly special.
The house perfectly captures everything I love about north Kolkata. Every house in this area carries a distinct charm.
This shoot feels special to me since Rath Yatra also marks the countdown to Durga Puja. On this day, you see Khuti pujo happening in so many places. I would love to return to the mansion during Pujo.
With many friends hosting bonedi barir pujos, I make it a point to visit each one at least once every year. There's something so beautiful and intimate about these centuries-old pujos.
It is more of a personal tradition now to have Ashtami bhog at one place and Nabami lunch at another.
Priyanka decorating a Rath
Earliest Rath Yatra memories
'The earliest memory I have of Rath Yatra is also the most exciting,' says Priyanka, adding, 'I'd rush home from school to decorate the rath.'
She would use everything from flowers to marble paper to decorate it and collect material for weeks in advance. 'Baba would take out the rath and clean it the day before.'
That time of year also meant a fun little income. 'We'd take the rath out, ring a bell, hand out prasad, and people would give us ₹2 or ₹5. It was such fun!'
Her maternal uncle's house was nearby, so the rath would be taken there on the festival day and brought back on Ulta Rath. 'There was always a feast waiting for us, and a more pocket money too,' she laughs.
Decorating the rath, making sure the idols stayed in place, and upgrading from ek tala to teen tala rath made me feel so special as a kid
Priyanka Sarkar
'Rath er mela holds a special place in my heart'
Rath
er mela
holds a special place in Priyanka's heart for more reasons than one. 'I love street food, so for me, it's not just about papad or khaja – the entire fair is a must-visit,' she says. In fact, she even went to a mela last year. She adds, 'From ghugni to kulfi, there's so much to enjoy. The whole experience is something I look forward to every year.'
Jilipi, a Rath Yatra delicacy
Rath delicacies on Priyanka's plate:
Papad
bhaja
Khaja
Vegetarian homemade delicacies
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