You’ve seen their videos, blending the cultures of Bengal and Italy. Suprateek Banerjee and Daniela Barone are two halves of the Instagram account, Mango and Basil (@aamandbasil), who hail from India and Italy respectively, but found love in Germany. My Kolkata caught up with the couple about what Durga Puja means to them.
How do you celebrate Durga Puja every year?
Suprateek Banerjee: Eating a lot, accompanied by lots of adda! And when in Kolkata, obviously visiting my favourite pandals! This year, my Ma-Baba are here in Frankfurt with us, so we are all celebrating together. Next year, we plan to be in Kolkata for the festival!
Daniela Barone: Unfortunately, I am yet to visit Kolkata during Durga Puja. But I enjoy how Durga Puja is a time to celebrate with family, gorging on delicacies. For me the festival is synonymous with sweets!
Suprateek: As probashis, we spend this time of the year with other probashis and collectively cry over not having the opportunity to celebrate at home. But there are some amazing people who try their best to bring the community together and organise the Pujas so far away from home. Even if it isn’t like Kolkata, we get to enjoy the adda and food.
Suruchi Sangha – one of Suprateek’s favourite pandals Amit Datta
Which are your favourite pandals to visit?
Suprateek: Ajeya Sanghati, 41 Pally, Mudiali and Suruchi Sangha. To be fair, the list is endless!
Daniela: I have visited a few pandals here in Stuttgart and Frankfurt too.
What is your favourite part of the festival?
Suprateek: The whole atmosphere. The city looks like a bride, full of the sound of dhaaks. You’re constantly having get-togethers with friends and family. I can’t even describe the feelings I feel during this time.
Daniela: Puja is synonymous with togetherness. I also enjoy the bhog, and no matter how much we try, we can never replicate its taste at home.
Food seems to be a major highlight of your Pujo. What are your favourite things to eat during the festival?
Suprateek: This is a difficult one. But I will always choose the roadside rolls and chowmein, along with chilly chicken. Besides this, phuchkas hit differently during Pujo.
Daniela: I have a sweet tooth. Nolen gurer roshogolla, rasmalai and malpua are some of my favourites.
Rolls – a Puja-time staple for pandal hoppers Suvendu Das
Do you have a particular go-to Pujo outfit?
Suprateek: Ever since I was a kid, my parents made sure that I had new clothes for the Pujo mornings and another set for the evenings. I now know how hard it must have been for them to manage that, and how long they would have saved up, just to ensure that I looked my best on those four days.
Any special Pujo traditions?
Suprateek: In our household, these are the only four days (now five), where Ma doesn’t cook. She is on complete rest, and we like to say that she is officially ‘on leave’!
Daniela: In keeping with this tradition from my husband’s home back in India, we eat out on all these days and don’t cook at home in Germany either.
What is your fondest Puja memory?
Suprateek: The four years that I spent in Kolkata with my friends during Durga Puja are very close to my heart.
Daniela: I honestly think that my favourite Durga Puja memories will be made when I visit Kolkata during that time!
What is one power of Maa Durga that you would like to imbibe?
Suprateek: The ability to not tolerate injustice. Like Maa, I do not want to sit quietly and accept it when I see something wrong happening around me.
Daniela: For me, Maa Durga symbolises the strength and power of a woman, and she is an inspiration to all women.