Ye Diwali - Mindful Wali

23 Oct 2021

YE DIWALI - MINDFUL WALI.!

The dictionary meaning of the word "Mindful" is being aware and concious of
our actions and choices as well as their consequences.
Being mindful is usually being correlated with thoughts,
feelings and relationships in life.
However, let us try and apply it to the way we celebrate festivals,
let's see what change we can bring by celebrating festival mindfully!

Diwali, the biggest festival and the one that is celebrated the most is just round the corner!
India being the land of varied cultures,
there are multiple ways of celebrating this festival, yet the reason and purpose being the same throughout.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔: 𝑫𝒊𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒊 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝑹𝒂𝒎𝒂, 𝑳𝒂𝒙𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒋𝒊 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 14 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 ( वनवास )

𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆: 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒚, 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍!

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿

By sharing joy, I mean to say, we do catch up with friends, family,
relatives and extended families. Inviting guests, calls for a nice,
pleasant and presentable home. Choosing for metal decor pieces or
natural ways to bring festive vibe would be a good thought.
Try going for sustainable and durable options instead of plastic or fibre or any other
non - biodegradable items, although this stuff would be easily available and cheap on pockets,
but by opting for it, there isn't any mindfulness we exhibit.

There are so many of them already available.
A lot of handicraft is sold on streets by tribal artisans, it is handmade plus sustainable.
Go for it this time! Let's be vocal for local.

𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱

There are loads of trends, diets and fads that will keep coming in and fading away.
But our traditional, regional, zonal and local food
is totally customised (by default!) keeping our climate,
our body type in consideration.
As Rujuta Diwekar rightly says, there is more science in our age old
recipies and traditional kitchens
than we actually counting the amount of calories and other
nutrient values.
Our Dadi's, Nani's and aunts are the best nutrition experts we would ever come across. Our mood,
behaviour is very closely related to the food we eat.
If we keep giving up on our favourite foods,
we either turn ourselves into seriously frustrated people or the ones who have plastic smiles!

In almost all the cultures,
there is a tradition to stock up munchies on the occassion of Diwali.
There is a very simple reason to that as well.
With Diwali, winter is just on the verge of
beginning, which means our appetite craves for more food.
With stocked up munchies, women in the house do not require to be in kitchen all the time.

There are healthy twists that are brought about to these munchies,
however it is totally personal choice to continue the age old practice or adapt to new one!

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

We Indians are totally fond of clothes and colours!
We ought to stand unique every single time whenever it is about fashion!
But all the women I came across in my life only have cupboards
full of clothes and wearing the same 4 of them on repeat!
Not sure how much sense it makes, but I am someone who would never
shy away from repeating my clothes!
Would not even mind refurbishing them into something that's
in trend so that I can have best of both! I get to wear the old one which was not
being used any way and I am wearing something that's currently trending as well!

There would be brands who will come up to lure you with deals;
but rather invest in smart casuals! Afterall that's what we require more frequently!

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲!

This is no new ritual for me!
It has been more than a decade I gave up on crackers.
I was in 7th standard when I wrote an essay on Pollution
for the first time, came across its consequences,
and I instantly gave up on crackers.
Every year I see, in news, the air quality of metro cities like
Delhi, Mumbai and others goes for a toss.
So many patients with breathing issues and lung diseases have tough time during Diwali.

Going back to mythology and history,
there is no mention of crackers being used to celebrate Diwali,
or any other occasion for that matter.
Diwali was only supposed to spread light and warmth, not smoke and chemicals.
I wish like we conviniently bent the rule and started using crackers,
the same way we should rationally think what's
right and make a conscious choice of giving up on crackers.

𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴!

This festive season, be the reason of someone's celebration.
I feel like reiterating the fact that please make your purchases thoughtfully!
This year, like last year, has been draining for us,
emotionally, mentally and most of all financially!
If at all your are making purchases, please buy local products because otherwise,
local ventures would not find any business.

Try not to bargain or ask for discounts.
If you do not find it fairly price you may try searching another seller,
but do not waste their and own energy.
There are very small profits that local business make,
they do not have big turnovers like renowned brands.

Shop thoughtfully, share generously and celebrate mindfully..