Turkish-Iranian origin Muslim actor Rayya Labib meditates and fasts on Maha Shivaratri, visits Shiva Temple in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Turkish-Iranian origin Muslim actor Rayya Labib observed a fast on Saturday Maha Shivaratri and visited a Shiva temple in the morning at Andheri West in suburban Mumbai and did puja.

She performed Abhishek with milk and water and offered different items to the Shiva Linga including bilva leaves, bilva fruit and dhatura and other items, said one of her team members who accompanied her. She is also expected to visit another prominent Shiva temple in Mumbai in the late evening for darshan.

She refused to have any photos clicked at the temple. She said did not want any publicity as it was a private and personal act. She apparently stayed up the entire night meditating, our source said.

Rayya who calls herself a devout Muslim and says namaz five times a day, also does puja and follows Hindu rituals on several auspicious festivals including Diwali, Durga Puja, Maha Shivaratri and Holi.

She was once quoted as saying in an interview, that she also does Shani Dev puja as advised by an astrologer. According to her, it helps her to keep away misfortune, reduces mental stress and anxiety and induces optimism and positivity.

Rayya was born, brought up and completed her education in Assam and has a military family background.

After finishing her inter-high school, she moved to Mumbai to join the film industry and pursue her dream of acting and modeling.

Rayya’s ancestral links are still enshrined in Turkey and Iran and the actor recently said she lost 5 distant family members or relatives in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.