Tanu's Diwali therapy

Unlike other women, for Tanushree Dutta, Diwali isn't just an excuse to shop. The process of buying is what makes her retail therapy so meaningful. Stumped? The actor explains, "Diwali shopping has more to do with the festive spirit than with the actual act of buying.

So, you find people in a great mood irrespective of whether they're in a mall or checking out the roadside vendor's wares. It's this ambience that gets me into the mood for Diwali shopping." She talks to CS about what makes Diwali shopping so special:u00a0

Down the street
I remember those days in Jamshedpur when I would take my father to the cracker stalls and check out what's the latest in store. The steel city would take on a new look with all the sweet shops, pataka stalls etc. As kids, the joy of shopping during Durga Puja and Diwali was totally different.



These were the two festivals where we could shop a lotu00a0-- otherwise, we only got new dress for our birthdays or the Bengali New Year. During Diwali, we would buy clothes, diyas, candles, sweets, crackers, toys and what have you. Today, my parents do most of the home shopping for Diwali sans me, as I am too busy to take time out for it (smiles).u00a0

Soaking in the spirit
I am not the festive shopper that I used to be. But the sight of a market during this season simply lifts my spirits. I love to see the chain of small lanterns outside shops or the new torans at the entrance of jewellery shops. What I love best about Diwali shopping is that it gets everyone into the mood.

The common man who's otherwise just caught up with his mundane life steps out in style to shop. The average woman looks lovely in a bright traditional saree making the best buys for her home. Lokhandwala, where I live looks like a completely different place during Diwali with so much light and colour all around.

On my shopping list...
Diwali means new clothes so I'm going to get myself two new outfits. I have asked my designer to make a white Chikankari Patiala outfit that I plan to wear for Kali Puja. And a dressy black and gold churidhar kurta with lots of Bandhini and gota work for the evening.

I am also getting a whole new wardrobe of traditional clothes made for me.u00a0 I haven't bought much jewelleryu00a0-- just a few pieces in silver, white gold and Kundan. Of course, Diwali is incomplete without buying some diyas, torans and lots of marigolds. I will buy some earthern diyas with mirror work on them along with a few packets of sparklers.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Who: Tanushree Dutta
What: Checking out the latest crackers in town
Where: Lokhandwala market