Sharayu Sonawane, who plays the role of Paru, shared which goddess form she sees within herself during Navratri. She said, “Since my father was in the police force and I grew up in a police colony, I have always been quite fearless. My father always taught me never to let myself be troubled. He never made any distinction between boys and girls, and growing up under his guidance, that fearlessness naturally developed in me. I would like to share an incident. With Navratri ongoing, if I think about which goddess’s traits I see in myself, Kali Mata comes to mind. Just as she has a fierce form, I feel the same way sometimes. And I think every woman has this aspect in her. Women are naturally understanding, but when things go too far, their fierce side emerges, just like mine. I try to solve issues peacefully most of the time, but if the situation becomes unbearable, I don’t tolerate it. I tend to speak up immediately when something doesn’t sit right with me. We have only one life, and it should be lived with dignity. I’ve faced many challenging situations, and I’ve personally been through the worst of them.”
She adds, “I’d like to share a story. Since I used to dance, my mother and I sometimes traveled late. My mom always kept red chili powder and self-defense tools with her, because if a difficult situation arose, we could defend ourselves. I was about ten years old, and we were traveling from Churchgate to our home in Andheri. Although the station wasn’t crowded, a man deliberately bumped into me. I followed him, punched him in the back, and grabbed his hair. My mother couldn’t understand what was happening. There was a police officer nearby who came running. I caught that man and handed him over to the police. From a young age, we’re taught about good touch and bad touch, and it becomes clear when such incidents happen. My message to every woman is that you should be aware enough to protect yourself, and you must learn self-defense. Because of these experiences, I’ve become stronger. I urge all girls to never tolerate suffering, but also not to cause it. If something isn’t right, stand up for yourself, shape your life, and if necessary, set aside your gentle side and show your fierce side. During Navratri, I don’t have a wish, but I do have a request: may the blessings stay with me, may no one be harmed because of me, and may I have the strength and blessings to live well as a good human being.”
