Sankranti with Vidya

What a rocking start to 2009!
Vidya Balan (TOI Photo) More PicsThree festivals on one day in the first fortnight of the first month of the new year. Mumbai, being the melting pot of all cultures and the home of people from all across India, celebrates every festival. So, while in the South Indian pockets of Matunga and Chembur it is Pongal, the Tamil New Year; in Punjabi homes here, there and everywhere it is Lohri-Maghi, the North Indian festival of the winter harvest; and, in every Maharashtrian home, it is Makar Sankranti, when the Sun God begins his ascendency and enters the northern hemisphere, an auspicious day for all Hindus. On Pongal, the pretty Tamil Brahmin (Tam-Bram) Vidya Balan may be shooting, but her day begins with prayers, a visit to the temple and by savouring some sweet made by her mother. “You pray that the entire year is spent in abundance. And this year more than ever before globally, considering the recession,” says Vidya.
Festivals are not so much about rituals for her as much as it’s about prayer and a time when you meet and greet relatives and friends. This morning the pretty actress visited the Sringeri Mutt temple near Diamond Garden in Chembur, where she lives. “Here we pray to Goddess Shardambal, the Goddess of Learning. As kids we would make it a point to vist this temple before our exams,” she says. And the practice continues. “As grown-ups every day is a new challenge, a learning experience. I believe experience is a unique teacher; it gives you the test first, lesson later,” she smiles.
Meanwhile in Juhu, where the winter is just getting down to business, Bollywood’s Deol family knows how to warm it up. They celebrate Lohri-Maghi with typical Punjabi gusto. A huge bonfire was lit on the sprawling lawn of the family bungalow last evening where relatives gathered for Lohri. Dharmendra, the patriarch, has carried forward this tradition from his village — Sahnewal in Ludhiana, and still observes it with the same enthusiasm. “Where do you get to see gaon ke lohri nowadays,” he asks “Stealing wood in the night from the neighbours to light a bonfire was a great high. It’s a tradition and so much fun. I miss all that and I miss my parents on such occasions.”
The Deols maintain the tradition in their own way. “It’s fun to hear such stories from Papa,” says Sunny Deol, who loves the ghar ka khana and Bhangra associated with Maghi today. “Mom is a great cook. All the women of the family sing folk songs on Lohri evening and we generally have a good time throwing sesame, corn and rice flakes in the bonfire.” Bobby, the younger Deol, adds, “I could never understand why as a kid we threw the sweets in the fire instead of eating them. When I grew up I understood the sanctity. It is a tradition not just intrinsic to our culture, but also so close to Papa’s heart.”
And, on Makar Sakranti, who wouldn’t want to fly kites? The child actors of popular teleserial Balika Vadhu surely didn’t want to let go of the opportunity. Avika Gor loves watching others fly kites. “On this day my seven cousin brothers come home and we go up to our terrace. I help them with rolling the phirki and later we all gorge on til laddoos and chikki,” she says. Her onscreen husband Jagdishya (Avinash Mukherjee) is a pro. “I love flying kites. Every year along with my dad and building friends I have a great time,” laughs the lad, as he gears up with his phirki and kites and joins Avika and Faazia to practise tamaso ma jyotir gamaya... go higher and higher... to more light and where they may never enter darkness.