Petals!

Festive vibes in the air! Everywhere, I can hear the Navratri chants and prayers and the energies invoking the Divine Goddess as we move towards the festival of Diwali. In the southern side of the country, Navratri golu arrangements are a beautiful way of honouring and celebrating the nine Goddesses and their strengths. A time to honour the Goddess within. A time to renew one's unique strengths with fearlnessness and love. A time to feel self-love and respect one's own divine energy. What a glorious way to dispel the darkness within!  May the Nine Goddesses prevail and show us the way forward to battle our inner demons. Do drop a line and comment on the traditions and customs related to Navratri in your town/village and your memories of it and how you celebrate it.

In the last few days, I saw many tweets and Facebook updates/jokes & comments on women who celebrate Karva Chauth. While I can understand our need to express ourselves on every festival under the sun especially those we don't observe or celebrate, why do we mock those whose beliefs are valuable to them?  Lack of acceptance - therein lies the crux of the problem. This has nothing to do with religion. It's about our attitude to others around us - the increasing intolerance and sarcasm.  I still don't get it. Why do we force our beliefs or lack of it on others?  Let's take Karva Chauth itself. I don't follow or observe it but I don't mock those who undertake it. That's their choice. As long as they do not pressurize us to follow what they do, what is the problem? Why are we so judgmental about what others do when we don't have the patience to contemplate on our own beliefs or lack of them for that matter? It's also interesting how ...