HE IS the Borda of a large joint family in one of the most popular Bengali soaps on air. And today he joined a 'family' that boasts of 800 members in offering pushpanjali to Durga.
The residents of Jal Vayu Vihar complex in Salt Lake were delighted to have Arindam Sil in their midst on Ashtami morning. With the actor were his wife and eight-year-old daughter.
The complex, built in 1989, houses the families of armed forces officers. The officers said they share a strong emotional attachment with the festival and held a puja even when on duty at the naval and air bases. The puja at the complex is now 14 years old. "Each of us contributes to the puja, be it with money or efforts. Puja is like a four-day extravaganza that brings together people of all ages and religions. There are also cultural programmes," said one resident.
But puja is not all fun and frolic at Jal Vayu Vihar. "We have a tradition of inviting over a hundred destitute women for Ashtami bhog," said Commander SK Ghosh, general secretary of the puja association. After an enjoyable one hour at the Salt lake complex, Sil headed towards Ballygunge Phari where the residents of Alokapuri were eagerly awaiting his arrival. The beats of dhak greeted Sil as soon as he stepped in. Dozens of women, eager to speak to 'Ajoy' of Ek Akasher Niche, surrounded him. Sil patiently explained the be-hind-the scene activities and enthralled residents with a recitation. He was also asked to judge a sit-and-draw competition..
The residents accompanied Sil till the gate and bid him a reluctant adieu.