Although it’s been years since Dhananjaya moved to Bengaluru to pursue acting, his heart remains deeply rooted in age-old traditions. “Back home in Arsikere, our village is still untouched by the modern version of the festival. Ours involves the customary yenne snana (oil bath) and honouring both God and nature through simple yet meaningful rituals. Our family still makes small Ganeshas out of cow dung, decorates them with flowers, and places them along the path to our thota (garden). In the evening, we collect them and bring them back home. We also light tiny deepas placed in coconut shells and carry them around the village. It’s beautifully old-world and significant. This year, it’ll be a little different – we’ll be celebrating at Dhanyatha’s home, my new family. They, too believe in the same values as me – simple and heartfelt traditions,” says Dhananjaya. Born and raised in Bengaluru, Dhanyatha has always celebrated Diwali with her par ents, sister, and nephew. “It’s always been a small, sweet family celebration,” she says. “This year, I’m looking forward to welcom ing Dhananjaya into our world. Since it’s our first Deepavali after the wedding, my family is very excited to host us. For me, it’s also about spend ing time with my nephew, whom I absolutely adore. He’s already told us he can’t wait to burst crackers with Dhananjaya. But since Dhanu doesn’t enjoy loud crackers, we’ll stick to lighting flowerpots and spar klers,” she laughs. As a gynaecologist, what if duty calls? “If there’s an emergency, I’ll have to attend to it, of course. But I’ll make sure to spend quality time with family before that,” Dhanyatha smiles.
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