Durga Puja is not just a festival; it’s a grand celebration of culture, tradition, and togetherness for Bengalis worldwide. This year, we caught up with fashion designer Abhishek Ray to learn about his plans for Durga Puja. From celebrating his partner Chaitanya Sharma’s first Puja to sharing insights on his festive collection, Abhishek takes us on a colourful journey into his Puja preparations.
My Kolkata: You don’t usually spend Durga Puja in Kolkata. But this time it will be different as it is Chaitanya’s first celebration of the festival in Kolkata. How do you plan to celebrate?
Abhishek Ray: To be honest, I usually prefer to avoid Kolkata during Durga Puja. I spent my childhood in north Kolkata, Sovabazar mor to be precise, and it was a lot of fun. But now that I no longer reside there, I tend to escape the city during this time. The Puja season is the only period when I take a week off. Last year, we were in Turkey, and before that, it was Jaipur.
However, this year is special because Chaitanya will experience his first Durga Puja, complete with his inaugural Anjali and donning a dhuti-panjabi for the very first time. My mashi (aunt) is excited about buying him this traditional attire. Chaitanya has a deep appreciation for our culture and spirituality. While enjoying staples like luchi and saada alu tarkari in the morning is a routine for us, for him, it’s a delightful novelty. We also plan to go pandal hopping together.
Our neighbour always asks me if he should keep a diya (lamp) for a member of my family during the Sandhi Puja, where 108 earthen lamps are lit. This time, it’s Chaitanya who will light it.
A scene from Abhishek and Chaitanya’s wedding in 2022 Charcoal and Vermillion
Any special outfits from your Festive Collection 2023 for Puja this year?
Of late, what has happened is, somehow unknowingly, Chaitanya and I have become two inspirational figures. It’s been thrust on me, and sometimes I am jittery about it. Even when wearing blue jeans and white shirts, People often remark on how coordinated we look, even though we didn’t plan it (laughs).
For Ashtami, we’ll opt for something simple, perhaps dhuti-panjabi, and we’ll share our wishes with everyone through a post. I do take the time to create one or two outfits for myself, which is a rarity considering my busy schedule making outfits for others. I like to incorporate indigenous fabrics like Batik from Santiniketan or Sambalpuri from Odisha into our attire. So, during Puja, we’ll be dressed in ethnic ensembles from my collection.
‘People often remark on how coordinated we look, even though we didn’t plan it,’ says Abhishek
Is there a special event or tradition (personal or ritualistic) that you follow during Durga Puja?
Absolutely, it’s Ashtamir Anjali. I follow this tradition to the tee, especially when I’m in Kolkata. It’s a ritual that I've observed my mother and grandmother adhere to over the years. The day begins without eating anything until the Anjali is offered. We prepare specific offerings, including four kinds of garlands, aparajita mala, five whole fruits, mishti doi, laal par sari, sankha pola — items that symbolise married women. These are arranged on a tray and offered. On this day, I stick to a vegetarian diet until dinner and refrain from alcohol.
Do you have a cherished Durga Puja memory from Kolkata or elsewhere?
One of my most cherished memories is rooted in my upbringing in Sovabazar. I spent the first 30 years of my life there. The essence of Durga Puja in north Kolkata is truly unique. During the four days of Puja, we’d need eight pairs of clothes! My dad was always excited about pandal-hopping. He used to carry me on his shoulders to catch a glimpse of the goddess above the crowd of heads.
All our maternal cousins from Salt Lake and Behala would gather at our Sovabazar house, even though it was small. The joy of being together with four cousins, aunts, and meshos, with everyone huddled on the bed and gadda on the floor, is a memory I hold dear. Entho haater golpo – after eating, we would keep sitting on the floor and chat till the time our hands would dry!
‘Enjoying staples like ‘luchi’ and ‘saada alu tarkari’ in the morning is a routine for us,' says Abhishek
What is your favourite Durga Puja-time food?
Durga Puja in Bengal is synonymous with food. We all buy a bottle of Digene in anticipation because we know indigestion is inevitable! I mean, we know we are going to die by indigestion! But we can’t stop (laughs). My grandfather would spend a fortune on one fish. It’s hard to pick a favourite-favourite among the Puja foods because we are chomping through the day, from rolls to phuchka, and everything in between. We keep the vegetarian tradition until Ashtami, relishing luchi and sada alu with jeero tarkari, and of course, a jilipi.
One power of Durga you wish you had and why?
I often wish I had 10 hands – that would certainly make life easier! I could complete a lot more work on time. Metaphorically, if I could choose one of Durga’s powers, it would be to possess a third eye through which to see the real character of people.