In the temple, I sit on the cool floor next to Grandfather, beneath the stern benevolence of the goddess's glance. Grandfather is clad in only a traditional silk dhoti--no fancy modern clothes for him. That's one of the things I admire about him, how he is always unapologetically, uncompromisingly himself. His spine is erect and impatient; white hairs blaze across his chest.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

In the white marble hall of the hotel, I'm waltzing with Rajah. The music is a river, and we're dancing in it. It winds against our bodies, muscular as a serpent.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I realize that a novel and a film are different mediums. As artistes, we need to respect other artistes. It also needs a lot of courage to take risks to experiment and interpret known literary works.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

It feels as though it were just yesterday Grandfather exited my life like a bullet, leaving a bleeding hole behind.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

It's different for different people, and for a woman it's important to look as good she wants to look. But you don't need to do it for someone else or to impress some male out there. You do it for your own sake. You wear what makes you feel good, you put make-up and jewelry - whatever gives you self-confidence.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I've been interested in dreams myself for a long time, and it's a big part of the Indian tradition, especially where I was brought up in Calcutta in my family, which is quite traditional.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I want to weep too, not for me but for us all--for rich or poor, educated or illiterate, here we are finally reduced to a sameness in this sisterhood of deprivation.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

May your heart be mine, may my heart be yours. May your sorrows be mine, may my joys be yours.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Monday is the day of silence, day of the whole white mung bean, which is sacred to the moon.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

My favorite part was when my grandfather and I would make a special trip to First's Bakery for red and green Christmas cookies and fruitcake studded with the sweetest cherries I've ever tasted. Usually First's was too expensive for our slim budget, but Christmas mornings they gave a discount to any children who came in.

— Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni