Jaya Bhattacharya on Dhanteras: When I was young, my mother bought usually bought utensils for, but now I buy silver coins

MUMBAI: Dhanteras, the auspicious festival that marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations, is a time for cleansing, renewal, and inviting prosperity into our homes. This year, Jaya Bhattacharya, who plays Urmila in Sun Neo’s show Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya, shares her personal connection to the festival and offers a heartfelt message of reflection and gratitude.

Speaking about the festival's significance, Jaya Bhattacharya said, “Dhanteras marks the start of lighting diyas across the country. I believe this symbolises bringing in warmth as winter approaches, a time when warmth becomes essential. It also helps ward off unwanted bugs that tend to appear during this season."

The Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya actress further added, “Cleansing the house, as well as spiritually cleansing ourselves, is an ongoing process and should be treated as such. I don't just clean for Diwali, starting with Dhanteras (or even earlier); I also make it a point to shift my furniture, even if just by an inch, to bring in new energies."

Recalling how she celebrated the festival as a child, Jaya Bhattacharya said, “When I was young, my mother always made sure we bought something for Dhanteras, usually utensils, as part of the tradition. But when I moved to Mumbai, I began the tradition of buying silver coins instead. Growing up, we didn’t have much to spend, so there was always pressure to buy something for Dhanteras. Today, I am filled with gratitude that I can afford to follow these traditions in my own way. As the breadwinner, I make sure to set aside funds to honour these customs.

Finally, sharing a special message with her fans on this auspicious occasion, the Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya actress said, “My message to everyone is that it’s not only important to cleanse your house and surroundings but also your inner self. When sitting for pooja, try not to let your mind wander to trivial matters. Instead, focus within and let the positivity of the pooja seep into you. Outer things don’t matter as much when your inner self is at peace.

Jaya Bhattacharya plays Urmila, the stepmother of Kartik (Ashish Dixit), who has a secret agenda against her own family. Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya, airing on Sun Neo at 7 PM, is an emotional family drama centred on Vaishnavi (Brinda Dahal), an orphan who regards Chhathi Maiyya as her mother and holds deep reverence for her.