A Durga Puja ritual that actress Raima Sen never misses is the sindur khela. Also, a must for her during the Puja days is to indulge in Puja adda with family and friends. Post-Mahalaya, with just a few days ahead of Puja, t2 reached her home to shoot two festive looks — one for a home adda and an edgy sindur-khela look. Bonus for us? A quick post-shoot fun adda session with the Sen family, in which father Bharat Dev Varma, mother Moon Moon Sen, and, of course, her four-pawed family member, Dasho, joined in!

What is it about Durga Puja that you look forward to most?

Durga Puja is a time when we come together as a family. My sister, brother-in-law and his family join us for the celebration in Calcutta. What I really like about Puja is the festive air… the energy, the colour and lights all around. Calcutta feels like a different city altogether. The streets are full of people. It is all so vibrant. More or less, everyone gets a break from their work life and gives in to the spirit of celebration.

As a family, it is our free time together, too. We go shopping and eat out. Nowadays, celebration at home is not like it used to be when we were young and had our grandma (actress Suchitra Sen) around. But still a lot of people drop in and it gives us the chance to connect with relatives, friends and colleagues. My friends from other parts of the world and India also come down at times. They love going for pandal-hopping.

What are your fondest memories of your grandma’s Puja?

During our school days and even when we were younger than that, my grandmother used to have a Puja at her house. I remember going to her house from school and we used to all wear aalta together with her. She used to get the pratima and we used to dress up the Goddess in jewellery and sari with her. She used to plan the bhog and we used to all sit on the floor and have our food on kolapata (banana leaf). We used to have great fun. We used to bring all our friends, wear saris, dance, give alpona and indulge in the variety of Bengali cuisine.

A big part of Puja is pet Puja. Riya being a passionate cook, does she put on the chef’s hat? Do you give her a hand in it?

I don’t know how to cook even to save someone’s life! But, every time Riya comes, it is going to be a feast for sure! She just asks how many people are coming over and she is at it. It is truly her passion. When Riya is here, we know we don’t have to worry about the menu.

A ritual that we have never seen you miss is the sindur khela.

For me, it is just fun. My mother participates in it every year. This year, my sister will also join us. It is a different experience altogether! We are not too much into rituals as a family. The only ritual is to wear new clothes and jewellery. We deck out the home with lights and flowers and say our own prayers at home.

What’s a festive must in your wardrobe?

One traditional sari and one glamorous sari, and most importantly, comfortable shoes! Jewellery, I like wearing my mother’s.

Styling: Pinky Kenworthy

Hair and make-up: Sayanta Dhali

Corsets: Rohan Pariyar

Jewellery: Pinky Kenworthy’s collection