dipika chikhlia: Actress Deepika Chikhlia, who has become a familiar face in every household by playing the role of Sita in the mythological show Ramayana made by Ramanand Sagar, Urmila on her personal preparations and shopping related to Diwali including memories of shooting the Diwali sequence celebrated on the sets of Ramayana. Talked to Corey. Here are the highlights of the conversation

Lamps were lit on the set in the name of Lord Ram

It is common to celebrate Diwali on the sets of serials, but when the Diwali sequence was shot on the sets of Ramayana. It was very magical. The set of Ayodhya was made in Umargaon. It was illuminated with lamps. Diwali was celebrated after Ram returned to Ayodhya. That scene was shot with the same devotion on the set. Seven days were spent in the shooting of that episode. Every day the set had to be decorated according to Diwali. The entire crew of Ramayana did not look at it as a work but as a form of devotion. I would like to tell you that all the lamps were lit in the name of Lord Ram. I cannot express the beauty of the set in words, at that time the thought used to come in my mind that the set looks so beautiful, when Lord Ram had actually come to Ayodhya, how would the whole of Ayodhya have looked in the light of lamps. It started coming to my mind that I wish I could see that scene too. I also witnessed the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya.

Diwali was not celebrated at home for four years during the shooting.

Everyone knows that Ramayana was shot in Umargaon near the Gujarat and Maharashtra border. The shooting of the serial continued for four years. We hardly got three to four holidays in a year so that we could come home, so during the shooting, we celebrated Diwali on the same set for four years. By the way, Sagar Saheb took great care of this matter. This is the reason why he used to hold a big havan there on Diwali, in which we all used to participate and perform puja. When sweets and snacks came from our house, we all used to share them and eat them.

Learned positivity from Ramayana

Ramayana show has taught me positivity and also told me to share it around me. You will realize that if people around you are sad, you too will not be able to remain happy, so spread positivity among everyone. Help the people around you. If nothing else, sweeten everyone's mouth with sweets and celebrate Diwali not with candles but with lamps. You will feel that the light of the lamp is not only removing the darkness from your house but is also giving you mental peace.

I always buy silver

As far as shopping on Diwali is concerned, there is a silver bowl in our house. Every year we try to fill it further by buying some new silver coins. All the coins are anointed with milk and water. Turmeric, kumkum and rice are applied on it. We garland Goddess Lakshmi and stay awake the whole night of Diwali and worship her with God, then we keep that bowl in our safe throughout the year so that the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi remain with us throughout the year.

I make this special dish myself on Diwali.

Before Covid, there used to be a gathering of relatives and friends at our house every Diwali. We also used to have a lot of get togethers. After all, Diwali is a festival to be celebrated with loved ones. Even now some special friends or relatives come home on Diwali. Along with the chef (this is what we call the person who cooks in our house), I also take care of their food and drinks. Chivda, Chakri, Ghughra, Mohan Thal, Gaur Papdi, all these things are made in the houses of us Gujaratis only during Diwali, so I along with the chef also prepare them and serve them to the guests. On the occasion of Diwali, I cook with great enthusiasm. ,