I feel proud of the fact that I was born in Orissa — the land of Lord Jagannath. We fondly call Him Kalia, as if He is our brother, parent, friend, philosopher and guide. In fact, He means everything to us. My husband has never missed going to Puri on rath yatra in the last 25 years. And each year, I accompany him. To avoid the crowd, we go late in the evening. The car festival is very special in the sense that the Lord leaves his high throne and takes a walkabout to be with His followers.

This is also the only time of the year when I get the opportunity to climb on to the chariots and hug Him. I always think I will ask Him for something or the other, but have never been able to do so. Whenever I get close to Him, I am overwhelmed by the bliss of the moment. It’s great luck.

His big, round eyes are the beginning and end of creation. His black complexion has a magical, spiritual attraction.

After all, it is black that enables us to see the white. So, existence starts from nothing to become everything and after going a full circle, it ends at nothing — this is the circle of life in which all of us are floating.

As far as dance is concerned, every time I perform on stage, I feel like He is watching me and is happy for me. Of all my compositions on the stories and myths surrounding the Lord or the Jagannath culture, rath yatra is my favourite. I play the footage of the rath yatra during my performance. This helps the audience relate the rituals and ceremonies to my dance.

Personally, I have always believed whatever is happening in my life or in the lives of others, is predestined and determined by Him. I talk to Him everyday, just like one would share things with a friend. He resides in my conscience and guides me all the time. Nevertheless, it is one’s own karma that brings peace or spells misfortune.

Whenever I am confused, I just stand before Him and toss a coin. He speaks to me and is always there to show me the way, to tell me that I should love and enjoy my work. But whenever I do something wrong, I feel that I do not deserve to stand in front of Him. I just cannot lie to Him.

But, regardless of all our devotional fervour centred on Him, we have never forced our daughter to either accompany us to Puri on rath yatra or to pray to Him. Though we believe our participation in the festival and discourses about the Lord, who has been the very essence of our existence, must have made an impact on her, the ultimate feeling for Him must come from within her. Then she will be truly blessed.