2010 has been quite eventful so far.
Before leaving for the Vipassana trip (earlier this year), I had promised myself that the day I got back to Mumbai - I would bring an end to my career in investment banking.
My job had presented me with many opportunities and accolades. However, I just didn't think it was anywhere close to a 'calling' for me.
Ofcourse, this crazy plan was well guarded from most people. Not everyone takes a deviation from routine as normal.
So, for the first time in 4 years after graduation, I had truckloads of time on hand.
I slept, read, watched movies and cooked.
I visited my school and went out with old friends.
I shortlisted nine sectors worth doing business in, made business plans and sought feedback from experts.
Yet, most of the time, seemingly engaged in interesting activities, my mind worked overtime.
I had NO idea where I was headed.
It was extremely difficult not to have any answers. For someone who prided herself on always knowing what she wanted from life and working towards achieving it, these months of uncertainty were quite daunting.
Thankfully, the year has progressed well and my experience of 'doing nothing' has been quite revealing and worthwhile.
Though some questions still irk me, most concerns have been ironed out.
Having spoken about the year, I now want to specify why I write this post.
I don't think I could have fared as well as I did, had it not been for my friends.
Ofcourse, my family was the most supportive. But then, they are blood relations and will have to wait for a vote of thanks.
Today, is just for friends.
People who have stood by me, supported me, corrected me, humored me, mentored me and just plain, heard me out.
People who showed me kindness and faith.
Most important, people who made me feel good about myself.
Once a friend told me that my future didn't bother him much. 'You are a Sindhi after all! Your innate resourcefulness will see you through!'
Ofcourse, that didn't solve my problems. Still, coming from a friend, it was the most comforting balm! (And, yeah, he earned brownie points for the Sindhi's ego massage ;-) )
The point I am trying to make is - Old friends are valuable and good for your health. Like wine, they get better with each passing year.
Often, people don't value their friendships. Different colleges, separate career pathways, boy/girlfriends, marriage, children are quoted as reasons of 'letting go'.
Agreed not all friendships are worth the hassle. Still, the few that are, must be treasured.
So, on this Diwali, while I thank God for my wonderful set of friends, I hope you reach out to people who have made your life worthwhile.
Here's wishing you and your loved ones a Sparkling Diwali and a fun filled new year!
I had almost given up the plan to write on this.
However, this prompted me to chin up and share my thoughts.
Just a disclaimer - If you are an overly devout follower of any religion and are ritual bound, you might not like the content of this post. Feel free to click the X on the top right of this page.
It was good to read the information on Bakri Eid and its significance, collected from various sources.
My friend is keen to point out that people should be more open minded and not add to communal tension. He specifically mentions Right Wing parties and organizations that raise a hue and cry every year during this festival.
Just to add my bit to his knowledge, from what I know of BJP and other Right Wing parties, the only animal that they truly care about is the cow and most of their efforts have been aimed at stopping cow slaughter.
Infact, a lot of the leaders from the party are hard core Non Vegetarians, the most famous example being that of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He enjoyed his share of mutton and was known to sample all sorts of non vegetarian delicacies. Even from the younger slot of party representatives, Smriti Irani is another example of a hard core non vegetarian who loves her bacon and sausages.
I have had an opportunity to get a close glimpse at several Jan Sangh members and again, let me add, a lot of them enjoy experimenting with non vegetarian variety of food.
So really, this whole thing about BJP and other such parties hampering Eid celebrations is a concoction of overactive minds in the Indian media who would like us to believe that the BJP is a party from the stone age. Well, yeah, where non vegetarianism is concerned, they are from the stone age and do enjoy their chicken !
As far as our Indian media is concerned, well, just shoo them away and watch Rakhi and Elesh rearing a bunch of kids !
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Now I start with what I truly think of animal slaughter in the name of religion.
Just saying that it is unjust and brutal would be an understatement. But for now I would settle for that.
I have never been in favour of animal sacrifice during Durga Puja. I remember reading somewhere that all animals that are slaughtered and offered to God, actual end up as humans in their next birth !
Just for the un-initiated, according to Hinduism, there are 84 lakh life forms and one needs to pass through all of them to finally be blessed with a human form.
So a lot of "learned" men feel that sacrificing animals at the altar will actually cleanse them of all their sins and help them get a human form.
Well, personally, I think such men are just trying to rid themselves of their guilt of such mindless slaughter.
Who am I to decide which animal needs to die and when?
Also, where is it written that Durga would be happy with all the sheep and chicken being butchered?
Understand that such practices were common during ancient times when superstition was rife and the most appealing and fastest method to the Lord's heart was through animal sacrifice.
However, education is supposed to make us kind hearted and wise. Isn't it?
Let's take two other festivals - Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi.
Now, Diwali is a personal favourite. I love the lights and the sentiments attached to this one.
As a kid I have had a whale of time bursting crackers. But there came a time, when my father sat my brother and me down and explained that most crackers were being produced by kids our age, the noise created was giving lots of asthama attacks to the older generation and really, the noise and air pollution wasn't what the festival signified. Since then, all I ever do is burn a shagun ki fuljhadi and my brother doesn't even bother with that !
Not to say that we were model kids. Nope. Just that ultimately, it is we who have to decide that our source of happiness and fun shouldn't make someone's heart burn.
About Ganesh Chaturthi - the point really was to bring people together and help unite the region. I don't think Lokmanya Tilak wanted us to wrestle and compete about kis Mandal ki Murti sabse Badi and Mehengi hogi.
I think all of us know about the prostitutes of Kolkata. Why not, during every Durga Puja, help rehabilitate their kids and ensure a better living environment for their families?
During Ganesh Chaurthi, why not get baby sized idols and immerse them in our bath tubs and help the fauna stay alive for a few more months?
Similarly, during Bakri Eid, which stands for sacrificing one's dearest possession to show our love for the Lord, why not give up an addiction which we can't live without ? Why sacrifice a sheep, which anyway isn't dear to us? And about distributing and sharing food with the needy, really, there are a LOT of people who would like to have the home-made Kheer and Malpua :)
Well, methinks this is the ideal way of celebrating a festival.
I don't know if the pictures truly show how beautiful these pieces actually looked today morning.
I am not a good shopper at all. Mostly, avoid it.
However, Diwali and all things related to the festival make me ecstatic.
So aaj, Meri Mata Shri aur mai kuch Silverware khareedne nikle...
Most of the above pieces have been made by Craftsmen from Kolkata.
The intricate designs and the finesse made the pieces look so pretty and delicate !!
Phew...So much talent in India.
This is what we do...
The Drawing Contest...
Volunteers at the Anmol Stall...
Mehendi and artwork stalls at the Mela...
Sea Of Faces at Anmol -
Girlies with Siddharth "Bhaiya"
Lost babes asking for Direction...
Excitement on being "Clicked" !
Taare Zameen Par :)
The Dancing Dolls
Priya Dutt & Eknath Gaikwad
Listening To Priya Dutt's Bhashan
A Big Thanks to Vinod, Pari, DS, Abhishek, Yuvraj, Vikas, Namrata, Anshu & her friends, Prabhdeep, Amol, Siddharth AND Pramod for making this a memorable day !!
Thanks To Savia for introducing me to Anmol !
Indians are often spoilt for choice when it comes to festivals.
At any given point of time, there are more than 5 holidays in a month across various states for various festivals/birth anniversaries, etc. apart from Sundays !
However, Diwali tops the list for me. It always has. Always Will.
I absolutely love the fest of lights. There is an abundance of love, lights and mirth in air.
This is that time of the year when people come together, forgetting their differences and sharing the spirit of the festival with family and friends.
Moreover, in our pursuit for instant success and fame, Diwali reminds us that good, old fashioned values, time with family, laughs with friends are the only moments one shall cherish and take away.
Rest are transient.
Yesterday was my parents' 25th Engagement Anniversary and we celebrated it in our style - a cosy dinner for the whole family at our favourite restaurant.
It was absolutely amazing to hear them recount how they had met, their engagement and the pre wedding months.
My dad was quite a Shayar it seems...having written loads & loads of letters. Mom on the other hand was reticent and shy to resppond.
The story I love the best is - My dad had gone to see my mom with his family.
While the two families sat in the drawing room getting to know each other, my eldest Maami (For the un-initiated, my Mom's Eldest Brother's Wife) came along with a tray of tea and snacks.
As luck would have it - she slipped and fell into my Dad's lap !!!
While my Dad and Maami turned red with embarrassment, it was and still is the most memorable and laughable moment shared by both the families !
I still tease my dad saying that God spared him since I didn't witness such an event. For all I know, I would have laughed my head out and irritated him to death !
On this note, have a great weekend and and a pulsating countdown to a Fiery Festival !
I have been working with an NGO called Anmol.
It's a project for girls at risk - basically all street girls, runaways, orphans, etc.
Anmol has an in-house residential facility for girls aged 5-18. These are sent to local schools and taught various vocational skills that shall fetch them income after they decide to move on.
Apart from this they also conduct street classes at Wadala & CST and provide in house counseling for emotional development of girls.
Anmol organises Diwali Fest every year.
This year the event is slated for Saturday, October 25.
This shall be a full day event with various games, activity and food stalls being put up by Girls of Anmol. There shall be free lunch and evening snacks for the crowd.
Magician's Shows and various Dance performances have also been arranged for entertainment value for little girls and all guests.
Various NGOs that work with girls shall be present with their volunteers and wards in full throng.
We are expecting a crowd of 1800 for the Diwali Celebrations.
This year, the guest list includes Priya Dutt, Eknath Gaikwad, Renuka Chowdhary & Teesta Setalvad. We have also had Boman Irani, Raageshwari, Perizaad Zorabian and M.N. Singh adorn the event in the past.
What's special about Diwali Dhamaka 2008?
Anmol has chosen to expose the girls to a whole range of career options that they might not have heard of. Some might have aspired to achieve but had no direction.
Some of the careers that Anmol will focus on are Teaching, Nursing, Call Center Executives, Tailoring and Fashion Designing, Computers, Clerical work, data entry operators, cooking and bakery.
The aim is not to just pass them information. But to help with the goal setting. So any interested girl can be helped to evaluate what she needs to do to achieve her dream. In the process, Anmol will offer all the adequate support that she might require.
We have contacted a few PR agencies and have been assured of regional media coverage for pre and post event activities.
Please help spread word about this noble activity and help make this Diwali a true Fest of Lights !
Cheers !
An elderly man in Mumbai calls his son in New York and says,
'I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage... and that much misery is enough!'
'Dad, what are you talking about?' the son screams.
'We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the old man says. 'We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!'
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.
'Like heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this.'
She calls Mumbai immediately, and screams at the old man, 'You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then , don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR??' and she hangs up.
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay', he says, 'It's all set. They're both coming for Diwali and paying their own airfare!!'
MORAL:
No man / woman is busy in this world all 365 days.
The sky is not going to fall down if you take few days LEAVE and meet your dear ones.
WORK IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE and MONEY MAKING IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE.
Dear All - This email forward couldn't have come at a better time.
With the festive season on it's way - do take time off for loved ones.
Cheers !
