Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya actress Jaya Bhattacharya on Janmashtami: When I was a child in Lucknow, we would create jhankis

MUMBAI : Janmashtami is a festival that honours Lord Krishna’s divine birth and fosters deep devotion. As the festival approaches, Jaya Bhattacharya, who plays Urmila in Sun Neo's show Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya, has shared her love and devotion for Lord Krishna, her plans for celebrating this year, and more.

Reflecting on her past Janmashtami celebrations, Jaya said, "Janmashtami is all about celebration and enjoyment. When I was a child in Lucknow, we would create jhankis, which are decorative displays. We used coloured sawdust to build scenes or themed displays, similar to those made during Ganpati festivals. One of my favourite aspects of Janmashtami was the panjiri. It’s a dry sweet made from whole wheat flour and nuts, unlike halwa. We had fun eating it by taking big handfuls and blowing it out of our mouths while saying 'phoo phaa,' creating a mess and enjoying ourselves. Panjiri was traditionally offered as prasad, and the celebrations would continue all night. At midnight, we had the 'Jan Ka Utsav,' followed by a night of singing and dancing. Those were truly cherished memories."

The actress feels that today’s celebrations are not quite the same. "Today, things seem so artificial and fast-paced. I’m not sure if children still create jhankis, but back then, nearly every household did, or groups of families would come together to make them."

Sharing her Janmashtami plans this year, Jaya added, "This Janmashtami, I will be shooting for Sun Neo's Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya, and we are already celebrating on set as we prepare for a special episode."

She continued, "For me, my work is a form of prayer. As Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita, 'You have the right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits of your actions.' This means I focus on doing my work well without worrying too much about the outcomes. I strive to act consciously and avoid harming others. Helping people comes naturally to me, and I believe it runs in my family. I don’t expect anything in return for my efforts and often forget the details of what I’ve done. It’s rewarding to know that I’ve made a difference, even if I don’t remember every instance."

Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya is a heartfelt family drama that follows Vaishnavi (played by Brinda Dahal), an orphan who reveres Chhathi Maiyya (played by Devoleena Bhattacharjee) as her mother. The show celebrates the triumph of good over evil, emphasising faith and devotion to Chhathi Maiyya, who protects and guides her worshippers through life. Starring Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Sara Khan, Jaya Bhattacharya, Brinda Dahal, and Ashish Dixit, Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya airs on Sun Neo, every Monday to Saturday at 7 PM.