Most of us like our names and I certainly do. I am grateful that my parents called me creation (Rachna). Many Hindu names have lovely meaning till Indian parents of my generation got lured into naming their kids Ahana, Arahan and what not. But when it comes to my husband, his Punjabi father went the … Read More →
It’s not that time of the year without all of us being in a hectic mode. Navratris are on and while I don’t do anything special during Navratri, I do cook a lot of festive food. In my home, everyone is a foodie. So, since kids started their holidays from Saturday, I have been cooking … Read More →
As I open my large window to let some fresh air in, I notice the tall Christmas tree (fir) in the small patch of lawn in front of the house. This tree has grown so tall, it almost dwarfs everything in its vicinity. I often wonder why I planted this tree when we moved in … Read More →
Bindi that tiny dot that Hindu women put on their forehead, intrigues a lot of people When I visited Amsterdam many years back, my Dutch friend’s girlfriend kept quizzing me about a tiny blue bindi that I wore with a kurta. I saw firsthand how foreigners are so in awe of our traditional dress and … Read More →
I was sitting peacefully waiting for the kids to arrive from school. They come in like a force of energy. Limbs flying everywhere, hugging Coco who jumps up and down, with huge smiles on their faces. Before they start keeping their things, they begin chatting nine to a dozen. I smile and try to keep … Read More →
I took off my footwear in the car and walked the stony path to the temple carefully. As I stepped into the huge courtyard that the large, ornately carved doors led to, I bent down to touch the threshold with my hand and touched it to my forehead in obeisance. My younger son who was … Read More →
So from my generation or even before, a number of parents started raising their daughters to be more like boys. To study as much as they wished for, to pursue a career and to earn their own money. All things that mostly boys are raised to do. Yet, when they are married, suddenly they have … Read More →
The other day, I stood in my tiny lawn looking up at the avocado tree. It has managed to stay put and grounded in such a narrow space. The trunk lengthening and going to obscene heights so that it can get its share of sunlight. The leaves, they renew completely every year, and the tree … Read More →
Summer holidays are the best times of one’s school life, aren’t they? They were even nicer when we were kids. Really, most of the time was just spent in idling, playing about, visiting cousins and grandparents and just having loads of fun. Now, since many women are professionally working, we don’t have the luxury of … Read More →
In my previous article on body image and weight obsession for women, lots of women shared why they will always be very jumpy around weight. It all started in the childhood when they heard barbs related to weight, even their family members added to them. You are too thin or you are too fat defined … Read More →