Feasting with Dada: Sourav Ganguly’s Durga Puja Hospitality at Its Best

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Calling Sourav Ganguly a perfect host is an understatement. Our very own Dada isn’t just a host — he’s a master of the art, especially when it comes to food. Having welcomed everyone from cricketing greats, politicians to film stars into his home (and being a celebrity himself), Ganguly knows exactly how to blend warmth with grandeur.

This year, as Durga Puja festivities began, his Behala residence again turned into a hub of celebration like always. From CAB club officials and office-bearers (Sanjay Das, Bablu Kolay) to former players and even journalists, everyone found a seat at Dada’s table. And what a table it was!

The menu was a love letter to Bengali cuisine — daal with jhur-jhuri aloo bhaja, fish pathuri, fish curry, and kaalia (no, not the Amitabh Bachchan classic, but the equally famous Bengali delicacy). Each dish carried the unmistakable touch of home-made delicacy, making it not just a meal but a celebration in itself.

For those who know him well, this comes as no surprise. When it comes to hospitality, Dada always hits a century.

Whether you tag along with other guests or arrive alone, Dada’s level of hospitality never changes. But here’s the twist — he himself isn’t much of an eater. All his meals are strictly without rice. For most Bengalis, it’s hard to imagine a proper meal without rice, but Dada skips it as effortlessly as he once played his cover drives.

Interestingly, the menu did include white rice and basanti pulao (not to be confused with the famous Sholay character, Basanti!). Yet, true to form, Dada barely touched them — only tasting the fish, which remains his all-time favorite.

Only two meals a day keep Sourav Ganguly going. His day begins simply, with a cup of traditional tea and biscuits — a ritual he has carried since childhood. Add to that some fresh fruits and two boiled eggs, and his morning meal is done and dusted.

The second, and more elaborate, meal happens early in the evening—between six and seven. The spread usually includes vegetables, fish, and other items, but still no rice.

So popular is this disciplined routine that even some CAB officials don’t mind copying it. After all, eating less to stay fit has become something of a style statement in itself. Former India cricketer Arun Lal, who was also present at the gathering, put it best: “Eat as much as you can, but always leave space for more.”