Global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her singer-husband Nick Jonas marked Dussehra 2024 with a heartfelt Kanya Pujan ceremony at their home, offering a rare glimpse into their family's embrace of Indian tradition. At the centre of the celebrations was their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, who was worshipped as a manifestation of Goddess Durga in keeping with the ancient Hindu ritual.

The Kanya Pujan Ceremony

Kanya Pujan is a sacred Hindu tradition, observed during Navratri and Dussehra, in which young girls are revered as earthly forms of Goddess Durga. Priyanka and Nick were seen washing little Malti's feet as part of the ritual — a gesture of devotion central to the ceremony. Malti was dressed in an ivory traditional outfit paired with a red scarf bearing the words 'Jai Mata Di', along with tiny bangles completing her festive look.

Inside the Family Celebrations

Priyanka shared a series of photographs from the puja on her social media account, capturing intimate family moments. In one image, Nick is seen seated beside Malti during the rituals, while another shows the family of three positioned before their home temple, adorned with flowers and religious idols. Sharing the pictures, Priyanka wrote: 'May the strength of Maa Durga, the purity of our prayers and the spirit of Dussehra stay with us all, today and tomorrow and always.'

Rooting Malti in Indian Traditions

This is not the first time Priyanka has publicly documented her efforts to connect Malti with Indian spirituality. In August 2024, the actress shared a video in which she was seen teaching her daughter a verse from the Durga Saptashati, with Malti attempting to repeat the Sanskrit prayer after her mother. The moments collectively paint a picture of a cross-cultural household consciously rooted in Indian heritage.

Malti's Journey: From NICU to the Spotlight

Priyanka and Nick welcomed Malti Marie in January 2022 through surrogacy, following a deeply challenging period. Malti was born prematurely and spent approximately 110 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In an earlier interview, Priyanka opened up about the experience, recalling how she and Nick took turns staying by their daughter's side at the hospital. She revealed that Nick would sing to Malti on his guitar during those difficult days, while she softly played mantras — including the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Gayatri Mantra, and Om Namah Shivaya — near her daughter's crib. The Dussehra puja is a joyful contrast to those early anxious months, a marker of how far the family has come.