Saptami is great fun because it’s Day Two (Sashthi being the first) and we have already started having a blast at our Mullickbari in Bhowanipore. Our puja is pure, unadulterated fun.

I usually wear a salwar kameez on Saptami. So, the first task after waking up on Saptami morning is to choose the right salwar kameez. My Chhordidi insists that I do her make-up. I do the make-up for all my cousin sisters.

Then, we assemble at the pujadalan, where I settle down with my cousins for a long adda. We wait for the morning bhog, which comprises various types of fruits.

After that, the adda moves to one of the spacious rooms in Mullickbari. Soon, it’s time for lunch — an elaborate vegetarian spread of chhanar dalna, dal, mixed vegetables, rice, luchi, chutney and mishti. The chutney is my favourite. After lunch, all the cousins huddle in another room for some more adda. We also catch a beauty nap, as advised by the elders in the family.

But since I cannot go to Northern Park, in our para, anymore to have phuchkas and jhalmuri (for fear of being mobbed), my elder brothers get the phuchkawala home! And we have a feast! But I do miss taking the roller-coaster ride at Northern Park.

When it’s time for the sandhya arati, we all gather at the pujadalan again. After that we rehearse a play, which we would perform on Navami, thanks to my uncle’s initiative. At night, we have more adda which continues till the wee hours. But before that, the sumptuous bhog for dinner!