AKRITI URGES EVERYONE TO GO FOR ECOFRIENDLY GANESHA IDOLS

Akriti Kakar talks about the perks of getting a tree Ganesha at home; adds she will be visiting pandals virtually, like last year

Akriti Kakar has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi since 2016 when she got married. But she has always been particular about celebrating the festival in an ecofriendly fashion.

“It’s something that my husband (Chirag Arora; director) and I always wanted to do. We made sure that we don’t get the regular plaster of Paris idol, because that’s not biodegradable. We came across a tree Ganesha after an ad popped up on Instagram. That’s the only idol we’ve been bringing home since then,” shares the singer.

She says that the clay that is accumulated after immersing the idol is used to add nutrients to the soil in which her house plants grow. Elaborating further, she adds, “We finish the aarti, get a big drum of water and immerse him right there surrounded by family members and

Theatres might have reopened after a long wait but people are still on the fence about stepping out to watch movies, feels Siddhanth Kapoor. The actor, whose recent film Chehre released on the big screen, says it will take at least another year to get viewers to go to the cinemas in full capacity. “It will be a challenge to get them back to cinemas. I don’t think people are going to go and watch films in huge numbers for the next six months,” he shares.

Admitting that the audience’s apprehensions are “valid”, he adds that the impact of the pandemic will linger on for a long time. “People are going through a lot. For me, going to the cinemas does not make any sense right now, because we need to get vaccinated first. We need to be careful for the next one year for sure. This virus will mutate more and it is not going to be easy,” he cautions.

But despite the fear among people, the 37-year-old notes that someone friends. We wait for it to fully melt until it turns into a puddle of clay. Then we dry it out in the balcony. Thereafter, we use the mitti to grow new plants by sowing seeds. These seeds have blossomed into lady finger, coriander and lemongrass plants.” Another perk of this is that it helps them keep Ganesha at home throughout the year.

Festivals, including Ganesh Chaturthi, have witnessed a change with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Much like last year, Kakar will be creating a Zoom link for their families and friends to pray and watch the rituals. What will also be different this year is that the festivities won’t go on for three days at her home.

“Festivals are all about togetherness. Ganesh Chaturthi is even bigger than Diwali in my head and heart. I feel attached to Bappa. But this year, it’s going to be for one-and-a-half days, because I need to travel for work,” she says, adding that she also looks forward to getting a virtual tour of the pandals in Mumbai. had to start with theatrical releases to pave the way for the rest. “Cinemas had to reopen. Chaahe zyada audience ho ya na ho, we have to slowly start normal lives again,” he adds. And he is happy that both BellBottom and Chehre took that step.

“The most gutsy people of the industry, Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan did it. We took a good stand, Amit uncle and our producer. Now people will see this and get that confidence to release their films too. It is a great start,” he signs off.

SIDDHANTH KAPOOR,

Actor

Shilpa Rao

Dr Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer and Vaastu expert) can be contacted at: Delhi: 011-47033152, 40532026 (Sat to Mon); Panchkula: 91-172-2562832, 2572874 (Tues to Thurs); Mumbai: 09716145644 (Last week of every month)

I don’t think people are going to go and watch films in huge numbers for the next six months.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ AKRITIKAKAR Akriti Kakar with her Ganesha idol from last year