Sony Entertainment Television’s ‘MasterChef India’ has finally selected its worthy Top 9 contestants who are in the ‘Race to Finale’. Recently, they would be crossing the hurdles of challenges to win the ‘Ticket to Finale’ to get saved from all further challenges till the Finale. Judges, the Chefs Ranveer Brar, Vikas Khanna and Garima Arora are on a quest to find the best of the lot, who can become 2023’s new ‘MasterChef’. Before that, the contestants went back to their hometowns for one last blessing from their family members and supporters, only to make their determination to win the title stronger. Assam’s pride, Santa Sarmah and Nayanjyoti Saikia went back to their hometowns amidst much hurrah and enthusiasm. While Santa returned to her village Bamungaon, Nayanjyoti took the road back home to Tinsukia. The duo was received with much love and enthusiasm as their family members and neighbours welcomed them back home.
Talking about the welcome he received as he came back home Nayanjyoti said, “As I reached the airport a lot of people recognised me and they clicked pictures and all with me. Then when I got out my family members were waiting for me and I saw that a lot of people from my village were waiting for me outside and they all welcomed me. Then at home, my neighbours were waiting for me and they welcomed me, made me wear the traditional “gaamcha”. We then went to the temple of Assamese Namghar and prayed there. After this, a lot of people came home and welcomes me and gave me gifts. My father, my cousins, my mother, everyone was there. When my neighbours got to know that I have come home, everyone reached my house in their cars and congratulated me.”
Talking of her larger-than-life welcome, Santa Sarmah spoke about the grand gestures of love that were put up by her village as she was welcomed home, “Going back home after 3 and a half months feels surreal, as soon as I reached the airport I saw there was a huge crowd standing with garlands, huge banner with my name and welcomed me with the traditional “gamcha”. It honestly felt like I am some celebrity. People across all cultures and all genres had come to meet me. A few committees among them were; Assam Gorkha Student union (Central & District committee), Assam Gorkha Sanmellon (Central & District committee), Jorabat Unnayan samiti and Jorabat Sri Sri Bhadrakaleswari Sanchalon samiti. The best part of the welcoming was, my mother-in-law who can’t even stand properly came to welcome me in the wheelchair, and that was the best part of it. The fame that Masterchef India gave me is beyond my expectation, I was treated like a celebrity!”