Actor Raashii Khanna says the festival of Navratri always brings her closer to faith and family. “Navratri carries a purity in the air that always brings me closer to God. At my nani’s house, we would sow seeds of jawar, light a lamp that stayed through all nine nights, and gather every evening for songs and bhajans. It always filled the home with divine energy.”

For her, the rituals of kanjak puja remain the heart of the festival. “As children, we would go from home to home on Ashtami and Navami, where our feet were washed and we were treated with halwa and puri. I remember feeling so special, almost like a little goddess. Now, I perform the same ritual for young girls at home. Watching them feel that joy is a beautiful full circle for me.” One of her most cherished memories came when she performed the ritual with her infant niece.

“She was just three months old, and I held her in my lap to wash her tiny feet with rose water and honey. It instantly transported me back to my childhood, when I was celebrated the same way,” she says with a smile.

Work commitments mean she no longer follows strict fasts, but she tries to observe the days as much as possible. “Earlier I would fast on fruits and milk, but with shoots it’s harder now. What hasn’t changed is that we completely stay away from non-veg at home, and since I’m vegetarian, it’s easier for me,” says the 34-year-old.