It’s that special time of the year when the entire nation celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi, filling everyone’s lives with love, blessings, and happiness. On this occasion, Pinkvilla spoke with popular actress Divyanka Tripathi, who shared her thoughts about the festival and what she enjoys most about Ganeshotsav.
When asked about the significance of the festival, Divyanka said, “Growing up in Bhopal, my siblings and I loved celebrating Ganpati. We would bring Ganpati Bappa home and perform the puja. But when I moved to Mumbai, the meaning of the festival changed. Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra is on a whole different level.”
She added, “While the devotion and faith are the same, the energy here is something else, and that’s what I love about Mumbai. The best part of the festival is that it gives us a chance to meet our loved ones, which can be tough in a busy city like Mumbai. But Ganesh Chaturthi becomes the perfect reason to reconnect.”
Divyanka also shared what she loves about this time of year. “One of my favorite things is a Maharashtrian delicacy called Ukkdiche Modak. I always make sure to pack some for my friends and serve them to guests who visit our home during the festival.”
Reflecting on her time on the set of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Divyanka recalled, “Every year, Balaji Telefilms would bring a Ganpati idol to the set. We’d do the puja and celebrate the festival both on and off-screen. Sometimes, we couldn’t celebrate the festivals as fully in real life, but filming those scenes gave us the chance to enjoy every ritual.”
When asked about her favorite Ganpati story, Divyanka shared, “My favorite story is about when Lord Ganesh was guarding Goddess Parvati, and Lord Shiva came and unknowingly killed him. After an argument, Parvati asked Shiva to bring Ganesh back to life. Shiva’s team found an elephant, brought its head, and that’s how Lord Ganesh was revived.”
Divyanka concluded with a message for her fans: “To all my fans and Pinkvilla readers, I’d say take this time to reconnect with your loved ones. We don’t get many chances to bond throughout the year, so use this festival to strengthen those relationships. And don’t worry about dieting—enjoy the delicious Modak and all the other festive treats!”
Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 EXCLUSIVE: Sumeet Raghavan’s Surprising Reason for Not Bringing Ganpati Home
