Actress Divya Dutta took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as she recalled the traditional Punjabi food her family prepares during Ganesh Chaturthi, including her mother’s halwa, aloo puri and chana.
In an exclusive conversation, the Veer-Zara actress spoke about the dishes that have been part of her family’s festive celebrations for years. She also revealed that modak holds a special place in the family, with her father being particularly fond of the sweet.
“I make Halwa in Punjab. My mother has been making it for a long time. And then Aloo Puri, Chana. This is our North menu of Punjab. And then there is Modak, which my father likes a lot. And there are different sweets,” Divya said.
Reflecting on the essence of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Bhaag Milkha Bhaag actress said faith forms the foundation of any celebration.
“I think celebration cannot happen without faith. So, it is very important to have faith. Celebration happens by itself,” she said.
Divya also spoke about her faith in Bappa and said she believes the deity guides and supports people through different phases of life.
“There is always something for which you have to hold God’s hand. And he is with you. Your intent should be good. And he holds your hand very well. Some consider him as an elder brother, some consider him as a friend, some consider him as God. He can be different, but he always holds your hand,” she said.
Looking back at difficult phases in life, Divya said people often understand the significance of certain experiences only with the benefit of hindsight.
“When you look back, you always feel that whatever happened was done by Bappa. You don’t feel it at that time. You don’t even understand it at that time,” she said.
The actress also expressed gratitude for Bappa’s blessings in her professional journey, describing her recent projects Chiraiya and Last Man in Tower as gifts she is thankful for.
Divya, who hails from Ludhiana in Punjab, brought Bappa home this Ganesh Chaturthi and celebrated the festival with her family in Mumbai.