These television celebs could not meet their families this festive season. Here's how they celebrated Diwali...

(Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Chhavi Pandey, Vineet Raina, Sheen Dass, Kushagre Dua, Akshit Sukhija, Vishwajeet Pradhan and Karan Khandelwal)

From missing pujas and decorating gharondas to shopping in local markets and enjoying jalebi-rabris, several small screen actors had to miss out on their favourite Diwali rituals in their hometowns this year due to work commitments. BT spoke to a few actors who share wonderful memories of the festival in their hometown and how they celebrated it virtually this time...

I went for Durga Puja to my hometown in Assam, so I celebrated Diwali with my friends and my pet Angel in Mumbai. I missed my family a lot, especially during Kali Puja. From decorating the house with banana tree leaves to making rangolis, sweets and going out with family, Diwali in my hometown is always a memorable affair. I missed the essence of the festival in Mumbai. I sent gifts for my mother back home in Assam and celebrated virtually with a video call.

I spent Navratri with my family in Patna this year and then returned to Mumbai to shoot for my TV show Shubh Labh. Every year, I buy gold jewellery on Dhanteras and send it to my mother. This year, too, I bought gold earrings for her. I took my parents’ blessings through a video call and watched the festivities from Mumbai. I missed decorating gharondas and my mom’s delicious food.

It was probably the first time that my parents were not around and I celebrated Diwali in Mumbai along with my pet dog, Scrappy. I prepared some delicious food, decorated my house, lit diyas and did the Diwali puja. I sent some gifts for my family in Delhi and on Diwali, I video called them and watched them perform Diwali pooja and play cards. My cousins also video called me when they went shopping on the streets of Delhi.

I was shooting in Ayodhya for the past one week and the schedule did not end before Diwali. I was happy to celebrate my first Diwali in Shri Ram Janma Bhumi. I sent some gifts for my parents, and ordered mithai. I video called them and my sister and took their blessings.

Unfortunately, I could not go to Jammu to meet my parents, as I had some professional work. I missed my family and all the festivities in Jammu because every Diwali we used to do a rangoli and have a big pooja havan on Diwali. I missed being with everyone and mostly, I missed my mother’s delicious Kashmiri food. I sent gifts online and connected with my loved ones on a video call when they did pooja.

I am in Mumbai with my daughter Dhruvika while my wife Sonalika and son are stuck in Australia. Thanks to video calling, all four of us celebrated together. When Sonalika used to be here, Diwali cleaning used to be huge with every nook and corner getting cleaned, but because she is in Australia, it was not as meticulous. Diwali celebrations back in my hometown used to be on a big scale with hundreds of mitti ka oil diyas, traditional prayers and the advent of North Indian winters. In Mumbai, I missed all four of us being together.

I was sad about not going home to Delhi for Diwali, but I was happy shooting for Mehendi Hai Rachne Wali. I missed spending time with my family on Diwali. My dad wanted a smartphone, so surprised him with one and sent cute little gifts for everyone back home.

I wanted to make this Diwali special for my family in Kalandari, Rajasthan. I sent gifts to my family members thanks to online shopping. We are four brothers — my younger brother is in Hyderabad and I stay in Mumbai, but we always make sure that we all go back home during Diwali. This time it wasn’t possible, so our entire family got together virtually and performed puja.