Makar Sankranti is a festival celebrated with diverse traditions across regions, and for Brinda Dahal, who portrays Vaishnavi in Sun Neo’s Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya, it holds a special charm. Hailing from Nepal, Brinda has grown up celebrating Makar Sankranti in a unique yet simple way. This year, however, she experienced the festival in an entirely new light, thanks to her Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya family.
Talking about Makar Sankranti celebrations back home in Nepal, Brinda shared, “Since I am from Nepal, we celebrate Makar Sankranti a bit differently. It’s not a very elaborate celebration, but we do make chikki, laddoos, and eat dishes like dahi chura, gud chura, and other items. There’s also an interesting tradition for children. They block the road with ropes and stop passersby, asking for money. They keep a small idol of Lord Shiva and Parvati on the side and chant their praises like ‘Shiv Parvati ki Jai’. They won’t let anyone pass until they give some money.
Brinda recently discovered a new side of Makar Sankranti while celebrating it for the first time on the set of Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya. Sharing her excitement, “Flying kites isn’t really a part of our tradition. In fact, this was my first time flying a kite, which I did on the set of Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya for Sun Neo. It was such a fun experience! I enjoyed it a lot, especially since everyone taught me how to fly a kite. Although my hands did get a bit sore during the process, it was worth it. In the show, we also offered bhog to God and served food to Brahmins, which taught me about customs we don’t typically follow in Nepal. I also learned how this festival has different names and is celebrated in various unique ways across different regions.”
The Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya Actress further added, “The most exciting and enjoyable new thing I discovered was the phrase “Kai Po Che!” When someone’s kite gets cut, everyone shouts this phrase. During the shoot, My co-actors kept shouting “Kai Po Che,” and I got curious and asked what it meant. That’s when I learned it signifies someone’s kite has been cut. These were all new things I learned about the festival, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
The show, airing on Sun Neo at 7 PM, centres around Vaishnavi, an orphan who draws strength and comfort from her unshakable faith in Chhathi Maiyya, who acts as a motherly figure in her life. Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Sneha Wagh, Sara Khan, Jaya Bhattacharya, Brinda Dahal, and Ashish Dixit.
