Aindrita Ray, despite her Bengali roots, has also embraced Karnataka's culture over the years. She mentions that the celebrations and cuisines are quite similar between the two regions, making it easy for her to adapt. She shares her tradition of visiting pandals in Bengaluru and Kolkata every year without fail. Aindrita reminisces about her childhood during puja in Bengaluru, where she felt important serving bhog with her friends. She mentions her mother making vegan kheer for her with coconut or almond milk and jaggery from Kolkata. Although she struggled with the traditional Bengali dance, Dhunuchi Naach, she appreciates the community support during the performance. Aindrita highlights the inclusive nature of Durga Puja, stating that it unites the entire community. She expresses missing her childhood friends during this puja season, as many have moved abroad or to other cities. She reflects on the simplicity and closeness of the past, where fewer pandals meant everyone knew each other, compared to the current diverse celebrations."The ways of celebrating here are not as elaborate as in Kolkata, but they do closely resemble the festive spirit," she remarks. - Adapted from insights by Karthikeyan Sairam