Actress Nandana Sen thinks that she's committed a crime -- she's missed celebrating Durga Puja and Dusshera with her family this year. In Abu Dhabi for 10 days, the Black actor is serving as a jury member for an International Film Festival there. She shares her puja memories with CS:



Pandal hopping
I love to spend Durga Puja with my Ma and family in Kolkata. This year, I went early to give my gifts and had a pre-celebration. I'm sad to have missed out on Pujo -- I love giving my anjali to the goddess every year; it's very important to me. Though I left Kolkata on Shashthi (sixth day) this year, I made sure that I attended our neighbourhood puja.

Magic in the air
Seriously, the look of Pujo may have changed over the years -- the music, the d ufffdcor, the lighting and the idols, but the magic is as irresistible as ever. It's this visceral reaction -- it's so deep within me that it's now more an instinct than a memory.

I still get puppy-dog excited remembering the new-cotton smell of Pujo frocks. I feel every fibre in my body comes alive with the Dhaki's first drum beat. And I still involuntarily look for that old aloo-kabli walla in every fair. The only problem is, I just don't fit into that little red Banarasi outfit anymore!