Janmashtami will be a special occasion at Sreemoyee Chottoraj and Kanchan Mullick’s home this year. The actress plans to dress their young daughter Krishvi as Lord Krishna, while the family prepares a special puja for the two Gopals worshipped at their home. However, Sreemoyee will miss one tradition she had hoped to perform herself.
For actress Sreemoyee Chottoraj, Janmashtami is more than a festival on the calendar. The occasion has a special place in her family because the household is home to two Gopals, as the family affectionately refers to their idols of Lord Krishna.
With Janmashtami approaching, preparations at the Mullick household are reportedly in full swing.
While Kanchan Mullick has been busy arranging the swing, flowers, garlands and other decorative items for the puja, Sreemoyee has been taking care of the broader preparations.
This year, however, the celebrations will also include a special moment involving their daughter.
Krishvi Will Be Dressed as Krishna
Sreemoyee’s daughter Krishvi is reportedly excited about Janmashtami.
The actress has arranged a special outfit for her daughter and plans to dress her as Lord Krishna for the occasion.
She has also bought a peacock feather, one of the most recognisable traditional symbols associated with Krishna’s appearance.
Sreemoyee reportedly joked that although she intends to dress her daughter as Krishna, she has no idea how long the little one will actually keep the costume on.
The comment reflects the playful reality of celebrating a festival with a young child.
Their younger son, being much smaller, will not have a similar elaborate costume arrangement this year.
Two Gopals at Sreemoyee and Kanchan’s Home
One of the most personal aspects of the family’s Janmashtami celebration is the presence of two Gopal idols in their home.
According to Sreemoyee, one belongs to Kanchan’s mother.
The other has a particularly unusual story.
The actress has previously spoken about seeing Sakshi Gopal, described by her as a black kashti-patthar idol, in a dream.
She said that an unexpected incident followed that experience.
Sreemoyee recalled that she had gone to a shop to buy a Ganesha idol when she noticed an Ashtadhatu Gopal at the same shop. She eventually brought the idol home.
Since then, the family has been worshipping the two Gopals together.
A Janmashtami Celebration Filled With Family Traditions
The presence of the two idols has made the festival particularly meaningful for Sreemoyee and Kanchan.
The preparations reportedly include decorating the Gopal’s swing and arranging flowers and other items traditionally associated with the celebration.
The family is also planning a special food offering for the occasion.
Although Sreemoyee will not personally prepare the bhog this year, she has made arrangements for several traditional dishes.
Why Sreemoyee Cannot Cook the Bhog This Year
There is one part of the celebration that has left Sreemoyee disappointed.
The actress had hoped to personally prepare the bhog for Gopal this Janmashtami. However, she says she is unable to do so this year because of a family practice she is observing following the birth of her son.
Sreemoyee explained that she has not yet taken a Ganga bath after giving birth to her son, whom she affectionately refers to as Gadai.
According to the actress, she will be able to prepare Gopal’s bhog after her son’s sixth month.
She had been hoping to cook the offering herself this year, but that plan will have to wait.
Her decision reflects a personal family and religious practice rather than a lack of preparation for the festival.
What Will Be Offered to Gopal?
Even though Sreemoyee will not be cooking personally, the family has planned an elaborate selection of food for the deity.
The reported menu includes:
- Taler bora — sweet fritters made using palm fruit
- Taler kheer — a sweet preparation made with palm fruit
- Luchi — Bengali-style fried flatbread
- Five varieties of fried vegetables
- Alur dum — a potato-based Bengali preparation
The dishes are expected to form part of the family’s Janmashtami offering.
A Busy Day for the Family
The family’s Janmashtami schedule will reportedly begin with other commitments before the evening puja.
Sreemoyee and Kanchan are expected to attend a special screening of a Srijit Mukherji film on Friday.
After returning home, the family plans to conduct the puja at around 9 pm.
The remainder of the day will therefore be divided between their professional commitment, family preparations and the religious celebration at home.
Janmashtami After the Birth of Their Son
This year’s celebration also comes after the arrival of the couple’s second child.
Sreemoyee has gradually begun appearing at public events again following her son’s birth, but her family remains an important focus.
Her comments about the bhog also show how the family’s traditions have been adapted around the needs of their newborn.
While she cannot perform every ritual in exactly the way she had hoped, she is still actively involved in organising the celebration.
A Special Krishna Moment for Krishvi
For the family, one of the most memorable moments of this year’s Janmashtami could be seeing young Krishvi dressed as Krishna.
Sreemoyee has prepared a special outfit and even bought a peacock feather for the look.
Whether Krishvi cooperates with the costume throughout the celebration remains another matter.
As Sreemoyee herself suggested, keeping a young child dressed up for an extended period can be a challenge.
A Festival Built Around Faith and Family
The Janmashtami celebrations at Sreemoyee and Kanchan’s home appear to combine religious tradition with the everyday joys of family life.
From preparing the Gopal’s swing to arranging flowers and food, every member of the household has a role.
For Sreemoyee, the festival also carries a personal story because of the Gopal she says came into her life after appearing in a dream.
This year, the family will welcome Janmashtami with two Gopals, a specially dressed-up daughter and a traditional food offering.
Although Sreemoyee cannot personally cook the bhog this time, she remains closely involved in making sure the festival is celebrated with warmth and devotion.
