Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Sreya-ism: whose at the bottom of the pyramid?
So people realise how it actually reflects on them when they treat service staff anywhere ( especially restaurant, hotels ) with slight and arrogance ?
Just witnessed terrible arrogance while at a late night coffee at the next table .
More often than not I see people from the same community /country treat the other whose serving , with sickening arrogance and almost menial mentality ...it's worse to witness when both are immigrants .
Just by sheer luck of birth, then education perhaps , one has accumulated a few extra bucks in bank account and supposed social mobility ! It's almost a silent show of " look where I am and look where have not been able to reach"
I've started distancing myself from contacts within my circle who have shown an iota of that hierarchical attitude.
Always brings back the quote " Some people are so poor ...all they have is money "
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Sreya-ism : For a relationship
For a relationship you need dialogue and the same language. How beautiful then if that language is one of creativity and dreams?
Sreya-ism : Suffering
Suffering is a part of life. God suffered for the human race, we are
just mere mortals. We live according to the way the Universe decides and
the ones that have the most suffering are the ones that are actually
the chosen ones. It was the Son of God that suffered the most, remember?
Don't complain if you suffer. If you are falsely blamed forgive and move on. People will play games, cause you pain, never stand up for you and sometimes even say things about you which you hear for the first time about yourselves.
Just remember to trust in the Creator and your own faith and values. Do the best you can and with honesty and integrity. Do good. Do it well. If people don't see it, you don't lose.
There will be mindless pursuit of money and fame. There will be crazy accusations and life will seem complicated and ruthless. Still carry on with your goal. We all need to bear our cross sometime in life. We will.
Continue with self belief and remember it's never about YOU and THEM.
Games end. People end. Life moves on and the eternal Universe watches
Don't complain if you suffer. If you are falsely blamed forgive and move on. People will play games, cause you pain, never stand up for you and sometimes even say things about you which you hear for the first time about yourselves.
Just remember to trust in the Creator and your own faith and values. Do the best you can and with honesty and integrity. Do good. Do it well. If people don't see it, you don't lose.
There will be mindless pursuit of money and fame. There will be crazy accusations and life will seem complicated and ruthless. Still carry on with your goal. We all need to bear our cross sometime in life. We will.
Continue with self belief and remember it's never about YOU and THEM.
Games end. People end. Life moves on and the eternal Universe watches
Sreya-ism : Free Lunches? Really?
Free lunches ? Really ???
This post may not sit well with many but then I never write to please ...I write because I am
I don't use innuendos . I don't mince my words. So this post will be up and in the face for many ...
So here goes ...it is an off spring of many conversations with event Organisers and producers across communities in Singapore on the almost silent inherent 'bullying ' they face in one aspect ...free tickets and add ons!
I've been in events for donkeys years now even if Darpan in itself is 5 years old . I started off with mainly Govt delegation events and thus never saw this side of "norms " . I then moved into the realms of the entertainment industry and the arts ...and specifically Asian events ....
What completely bamboozles me each time is how people unabashedly wait for free tickets and passes ( from 10 dollars to a few hundred at times) to make an appearance at a paid ticketed event where sometimes the bills to pay run into tens of thousands if not hundreds ...
The drama doesn't end there !
What comes as a googli in fact is even when handed out a free ticket they expect the best category and the ticket count for friends they want to please adds on at times !!
So what is it ? One can't afford the ticket while very aware of social status ? Or they won't pay for art and yet expect it to survive ? Or...*roll eye moment *
And we flaunt our expat lives and packages ?! Like huh ?!
For the record , all of my team members and I buy our own tickets whether it's movies Darpan distributes or events in Theatres ...
If you want to support art PAY for it and show support ! Art doesn't come as cheap as the mentality that some of you show!
With sponsorships dwindling , events and passion for the same hasn't but demands of the peripherals interestingly keep growing sadly and it's about time we all come together to speak the same language on "invites at paid events "
Having said that am blessed to see many fellow events organisors have paid for good category tickets and come for my shows. They have also not been "ashamed" to get lower price tickets but given priority to witnessing a good performance ...They know how we all bleed just because of our passion .
Thank you people ! You know who you are !
And I have stopped accepting invites for paid events. If I can't pay I won't go. If I help promote a friends event I do it just to support the effort that I know goes into organising it and the plethora of tasks . If I will attend I will pay as that's also a respect paid to the artist and the team efforts .
That's where I feel my dignity is preserved as an appreciating audience and not in show and tell of front row seats that actually came free !
Am not even starting on the judgement calls on the event or the useless banter on how much money is made ! Trust me the amount we made wouldn't even pay for two lunches with friends at times !!!
This post may not sit well with many but then I never write to please ...I write because I am
I don't use innuendos . I don't mince my words. So this post will be up and in the face for many ...
So here goes ...it is an off spring of many conversations with event Organisers and producers across communities in Singapore on the almost silent inherent 'bullying ' they face in one aspect ...free tickets and add ons!
I've been in events for donkeys years now even if Darpan in itself is 5 years old . I started off with mainly Govt delegation events and thus never saw this side of "norms " . I then moved into the realms of the entertainment industry and the arts ...and specifically Asian events ....
What completely bamboozles me each time is how people unabashedly wait for free tickets and passes ( from 10 dollars to a few hundred at times) to make an appearance at a paid ticketed event where sometimes the bills to pay run into tens of thousands if not hundreds ...
The drama doesn't end there !
What comes as a googli in fact is even when handed out a free ticket they expect the best category and the ticket count for friends they want to please adds on at times !!
So what is it ? One can't afford the ticket while very aware of social status ? Or they won't pay for art and yet expect it to survive ? Or...*roll eye moment *
And we flaunt our expat lives and packages ?! Like huh ?!
For the record , all of my team members and I buy our own tickets whether it's movies Darpan distributes or events in Theatres ...
If you want to support art PAY for it and show support ! Art doesn't come as cheap as the mentality that some of you show!
With sponsorships dwindling , events and passion for the same hasn't but demands of the peripherals interestingly keep growing sadly and it's about time we all come together to speak the same language on "invites at paid events "
Having said that am blessed to see many fellow events organisors have paid for good category tickets and come for my shows. They have also not been "ashamed" to get lower price tickets but given priority to witnessing a good performance ...They know how we all bleed just because of our passion .
Thank you people ! You know who you are !
And I have stopped accepting invites for paid events. If I can't pay I won't go. If I help promote a friends event I do it just to support the effort that I know goes into organising it and the plethora of tasks . If I will attend I will pay as that's also a respect paid to the artist and the team efforts .
That's where I feel my dignity is preserved as an appreciating audience and not in show and tell of front row seats that actually came free !
Am not even starting on the judgement calls on the event or the useless banter on how much money is made ! Trust me the amount we made wouldn't even pay for two lunches with friends at times !!!
Sreya-ism : real feelings and transactional dealings
To be loved: wonderful
To expect love in return : business deal or transaction
To be cared for: beautiful
To expect care in return : foolish
To be tracked with excuse of caring: intrusion
To help others : our purpose on earth and gratitude to the Universe
To go about publicizing that help: negation of help
To expect help in return : harakiri to self peace and tranquility
No expectations infinite bliss!
Sreya-ism : humility or sound?
It's the insecure who need to boast, compare and prove a point over
and over. They need to remind others and maybe in turn themselves, that
they exist. They suffer from the stress to deliver and to impress to get
noticed. It's a noisy garb too at times where there's very little you
see as the stroke of genius. More often than not when they reach a
'higher ground' or gain connections out of turn, before their time. They
are aware they reached a place that's not theirs and in the frenzy to
consume they make more noise as they gobble as much they can in the
limited time. Gratitude is never in their dictionary and yet they come
across as so very polite. Be cautious of the much too polite. Another
sign is the amount they complain, crib and make it also a point to prove
how much they are changing the world with their contribution,
consideration and capability.
On the other hand Humility, generosity, and silence grow like skin to the secure and confident. No garb needed. They don't mince their words and aren't scared of calling a spade a spade. They never see a need to prove any act of theirs and see gratitude and thankfulness as a way of life. . Even in the shadows and silence they glitter to the naked eye. They know they will be there steadfast no matter what.
On the other hand Humility, generosity, and silence grow like skin to the secure and confident. No garb needed. They don't mince their words and aren't scared of calling a spade a spade. They never see a need to prove any act of theirs and see gratitude and thankfulness as a way of life. . Even in the shadows and silence they glitter to the naked eye. They know they will be there steadfast no matter what.
Sreya-ism : When at the lowest
When you are at your lowest , the only other way is up. No one can stop you from winning and soaring to the other extreme!
Sreya-ism : Questions or Answers?
Answers or Questions ?
There are times when in the pace of things
Life and people pose questions to me
In the heat of the moment , in the middle of things ...
They seem like in-passing , inconsequential , unimportant
Then.
And they vanish into an unknown darkness , not even touching the subconscious
I brush them aside in their insignificance ...
And then circumstances arise
And the questions emerge
As if like magic
As if by chance
And become the most important , crucial that life has asked ...
And I wonder whether it's life reminding me of when I ignored them
Or life chose me to ignore them then
Knowing full well time would answer them
Anyway ...
Time would answer them
Anyway ....
And for some ...I would have to wait
Patiently
Unanswered then , unanswered now
But realise they will be walking with me
Tip toeing too at times
Within my being
From here on ...
There are times when in the pace of things
Life and people pose questions to me
In the heat of the moment , in the middle of things ...
They seem like in-passing , inconsequential , unimportant
Then.
And they vanish into an unknown darkness , not even touching the subconscious
I brush them aside in their insignificance ...
And then circumstances arise
And the questions emerge
As if like magic
As if by chance
And become the most important , crucial that life has asked ...
And I wonder whether it's life reminding me of when I ignored them
Or life chose me to ignore them then
Knowing full well time would answer them
Anyway ...
Time would answer them
Anyway ....
And for some ...I would have to wait
Patiently
Unanswered then , unanswered now
But realise they will be walking with me
Tip toeing too at times
Within my being
From here on ...
sreya-ism : the judgement calls and did you knows!
A spin off from some phone calls and loads of laughter from good friends :)
Here goes:
Allow people to go ahead and judge you , whisper all they think they know about you and all the " did you know?..." You'll be surprised how much they know about you which even you are unaware of
;)
It means you have made some impact to be the cause of playing on their mind and life:)
Be happy to add that much needed colour to their days. There will be people who feel they know you but they don't even understand your existence. Don't waste your effort to help them evolve.
Grow duck skin. Learn to let it all roll off. Move on with positive souls and your higher purpose. Giving time to negativity is being ungrateful to all that the Creator had planned for you.
Remember also to have a good laugh ,continue following your goals without being affected. You are on a chosen path and hurdles, puddles and potholes are just going to make it more worth your while! Those that are meant to stay will, those that were for fair weather would not offer you the shelter anyway, so why miss them ? They come with agendas of money, power, sex or limelight. Not to learn, not to share.
Avoid avoid avoid the fickle and confused. They will shred your mental peace. The fence sitters hardly ever change. The wind affects them too much!
Be happy and proud that all those who left you can look back and gleam that they knew you at some point of your journey:)
Feel blessed with those who have not stopped believing in you in spite
it all. The number of these people maybe much smaller than those who
don't. Value quality over quantity.
Change comes in myriad ways and never feel bad if people or circumstances change
:) Here goes:
Allow people to go ahead and judge you , whisper all they think they know about you and all the " did you know?..." You'll be surprised how much they know about you which even you are unaware of
;) It means you have made some impact to be the cause of playing on their mind and life:)
Be happy to add that much needed colour to their days. There will be people who feel they know you but they don't even understand your existence. Don't waste your effort to help them evolve.
Grow duck skin. Learn to let it all roll off. Move on with positive souls and your higher purpose. Giving time to negativity is being ungrateful to all that the Creator had planned for you.
Remember also to have a good laugh ,continue following your goals without being affected. You are on a chosen path and hurdles, puddles and potholes are just going to make it more worth your while! Those that are meant to stay will, those that were for fair weather would not offer you the shelter anyway, so why miss them ? They come with agendas of money, power, sex or limelight. Not to learn, not to share.
Avoid avoid avoid the fickle and confused. They will shred your mental peace. The fence sitters hardly ever change. The wind affects them too much!
Be happy and proud that all those who left you can look back and gleam that they knew you at some point of your journey
:)
Feel blessed with those who have not stopped believing in you in spite
it all. The number of these people maybe much smaller than those who
don't. Value quality over quantity. Change comes in myriad ways and never feel bad if people or circumstances change
Sreya-ism ; 6/4 and running for fame
The real space we need and finally have ( if lucky!) is either a 6/4 coffin or an urn for a fistful of ashes...
And still we fight for claim to fame, a show of digits in bank account and what we have materially ? We decide how to behave depending on what we "have" or "have not", take judgement calls and calculate give and take ?!
Should I call it hilarious, ironic, despicable , delusional , simply sad or all?
Observer self again ...
I am not fatalistic . Just a realist valuing I can feel my pulse and grateful for that .
Sreya-ism: suffering
Suffering is a part of life. God suffered for the human race, we are just mere mortals. We live according to the way the Universe decides and the ones that have the most suffering are the ones that are actually the chosen ones. It was the Son of God that suffered the most, remember?
Don't complain if you suffer. If you are falsely blamed forgive and move on. People will play games, cause you pain, never stand up for you and sometimes even say things about you which you hear for the first time about yourselves.
Just remember to trust in the Creator and your own faith and values. Do the best you can and with honesty and integrity.
Do good. Do it well. If people don't see it, you don't lose.
There will be mindless pursuit of money and fame. There will be crazy accusations and life will seem complicated and ruthless. Still carry on with your goal. We all need to bear our cross sometime in life. We will.
Continue with self belief and remember it's never about YOU and THEM.
Games end. People end. Life moves on and the eternal Universe watches
Sreya-ism: On immitation
Sreya-ism
( after Friend was feeling bad that her ideas were imitated and being
shown off as genuine by the third party )...and i got thinking how I've
faced this doubly over many times ...and smiled !
It's fine . Really fine . They will only go that far. Much that they gloat, share etc in their hearts they know they are nothing but duplicating and following you and the trends you've set! That's what started the path for them anyway ! They are much more guilty than your annoyance!
Move on...be an initiator ...you have much more than them to set examples.
It's fine . Really fine . They will only go that far. Much that they gloat, share etc in their hearts they know they are nothing but duplicating and following you and the trends you've set! That's what started the path for them anyway ! They are much more guilty than your annoyance!
Move on...be an initiator ...you have much more than them to set examples.
SREYA-ism : Charades and farce
My best lessons have been from people who are closest to the ground.
People who may not have impressive resumes or fat degrees. Their bank
balances say nothing. Some don't even know what a bank is. But what they
do know is how to balance life out and be thankful just to be
alive...they value Life as it is and value moments over accolades fame
or fortune, because for some of them even two meals a day maybe a
miracle. Sharing some lessons thus dribbled with my own thoughts and
life journey :
Start the week expecting nothing from anyone but yourself. Be prepared for all the hurdles but believe in yourself and that nothing is permanent. Be it the good times or bad.
Sit back to ONLY watch the circus and charades if need be. Move ahead to proactively enhance and evolve. The negative is always outshined by the positive . Beware of people who resort to lies and negative vibes. Move away from those with narrow minded agendas and short sighted vision. You don't need to watch them or rectify their follies. Teach if need be through experience to those you feel could and are open to learn. But only use valuable time with those who you feel will imbibe from your experience. The closed and contorted will never value real life lessons. Yours is not to show the path to self actualisation or revelation. Rise above the petty. Life holds much more.
Karma is always watching!
Start the week expecting nothing from anyone but yourself. Be prepared for all the hurdles but believe in yourself and that nothing is permanent. Be it the good times or bad.
Sit back to ONLY watch the circus and charades if need be. Move ahead to proactively enhance and evolve. The negative is always outshined by the positive . Beware of people who resort to lies and negative vibes. Move away from those with narrow minded agendas and short sighted vision. You don't need to watch them or rectify their follies. Teach if need be through experience to those you feel could and are open to learn. But only use valuable time with those who you feel will imbibe from your experience. The closed and contorted will never value real life lessons. Yours is not to show the path to self actualisation or revelation. Rise above the petty. Life holds much more.
Karma is always watching!
Sreya-ism : the value of things we have...just the rains perhaps?
As I stood and watched the rain from my window , admiring every drop every sound every feel a sudden thought, simple to the senses touched me deep...
In Singapore normally this is the weather we are used to every few days. And on just another Sunday our conversations , messages, feelings and even status updates would be quite different from today where we would be complaining about how difficult it is with the incessant rain!
But look at us today...after almost two months the heavens are pouring with no breather but we revel and welcome the showers. Even those who don't like the rains want a rain dance ( some inbox messages made me smile wide and say awwwwwww how lovely !)
Maybe it's a message that the Universe sends subtly to those who can grasp...to value the things we have, everyday, no matter how routine and monotonous they may seem. To value the people who remain in our lives. To appreciate them, accept their faults, to cherish the fact that we have...to not take anything life gives for granted. Because it's in their absence will we realise the crucial difference they make , the beauty they add with their presence.
Not always will the rains come back, not always will we get what we lose, not always will the wishes be granted
:) A 'Counting-my-blessings ' Sunday for me...
Sreya-ism : the personal touch
Letting my thoughts flow and run wild...
As I sat today it all just came back
It's a world of convenience and selfish pursuit to save "trouble" and "energy " I see...
Came to mind as I spent an entire day reading ...a real book ...a book I can touch feel , breathe in the fragrance of old pages
While technology is great and has "eased" out life it's dehumanised us in many ways I feel
We've become slaves to clicks and ctrl+alt +del
Having things at our "finger tips " is really so . The notions of touch are different . We connect to the entire world while in reality we may not have connected with our own soul
Flashbacks ....
We would search hours , wait days after requisitioning a book at a library . There was a charm in that . A patience . A respect . To a system . That respect has gone.
We would ( and I still do ) smile at seeing a new book adorn a book store shelf and later fit perfectly into the home book shelves
I still spend time to just stand and look at the books I own
I can't even imagine a kindle . No matter what .
Movies were looked forward to for big screen . To enjoy . Not to click which site we can download them from . There again was patience and effort to wait. To appreciate the fruits of waiting .
And now we complain if a web page loads slowly or a smart phone hangs !
This holds true for so much in our lives
While technology has perhaps increased efficiency it has in more ways than one decreased our patience and learning to value bits in our life , be it families , relationships or friendships .
Theres Skype to see our families and friends So efforts to travel and see them are lesser on many counts ...think ...isn't it ?
There WhatsApp and social media to show the number of friends we have and connect with . So why make efforts to visit or call ?
Mobile phones and personal gadgets have entrenched the " I Me Myself" and we Honour sharing space less and less . I remember the days when there would be one Lanline , bring shared not just by family but Neighbours too
There were handwritten letters that arrived . Birthday cards were made by hand too . We waited for that personal touch and it meant a way of life that was accepted .
With all the virtual and E , have we lost the real meaning of WE and drowned in "what's -in-it-for-me?"
We still come and go the same way but the personal touch has gone. The human has gone . We take things for granted . Real relationships for granted in a mad pursuit. But reaching where ? The grave or the urn?
The real has gone and the virtual and make believe is what is the order of the day ...
Impatience and irritability rule. We want everything fast and NOW!
Why ??!
And before we realise , a life has been lived and we suddenly realise we perhaps may not have been human at all ... Ironically after a machine like life we breathe our human last breath...
Sreya-ism :Uncertainty
embrace uncertainty...some chapters in life wont have a title until much later
Ladakh Diaries : Humilty and Gratitude
HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE
This post is not about my health as focus at all ... but the health is more as a backdrop to the realisations and gratitude ...I'm glad I fell ill...
And so yes High Altitude Sickness hit me with a bang the day I reached Ladakh to the extent a doctor had to be called to the hotel , a jab had to be given to reduce the excruciating headache and purgings and the oxygen cylinder brought in ...
Hot garlic soup was sent up by the hotel with warm bread sticks and soft bread
And as I was taken the greatest care by my friend and partner,
and started to get better and
thanked God for giving me the most wonderful caregivers as well as the
most comfortable hotel for stay two things overwhelmed me in deeper
realiszation and respect
This post is not about my health as focus at all ... but the health is more as a backdrop to the realisations and gratitude ...I'm glad I fell ill...
And so yes High Altitude Sickness hit me with a bang the day I reached Ladakh to the extent a doctor had to be called to the hotel , a jab had to be given to reduce the excruciating headache and purgings and the oxygen cylinder brought in ...
Hot garlic soup was sent up by the hotel with warm bread sticks and soft bread
And as I was taken the greatest care by my friend and partner,
-
soldiers at much much greater heights and in border glacier areas
across the world protecting their countries...no matter on which side of
the war they on ...simple people in basic conditions ...and no matter
how much they trained, what they must be going through in biting cold ,
direct glaring sun when it shone and severe conditions where hot garlic
soup and comfort of individual care is a far cry ...from today there
will be a silent prayer each day ...
-the tiny tiny spec we are in the cycle of nature and our physical bodies that are just so in the scheme of greater grandeur and plans . No matter how prepared and equipped you feel you need to succumb and kneel...and it's the beauty of that humility it all that's overwhelmed me yet again ...
As I slowly got better and dinner of the most delicious dal khichdi and aloo jeera with butter was presented ( by the guy who knows me best ) ...two tear drops rolled down again in gratitude and prayer ...for being loved , for being alive and for being able to realise how lucky I am compared to many ....
As I said I'm Glad I did experience this ...so that I felt basic , human , vulnerable against the magnitude of nature as well as could be grateful for so many that protect our borders too...in extreme conditions with not perhaps even a percentage of the care I got ...for just as a tourist on a fun trip to relax ...compared to months they give tirelessly ...
-the tiny tiny spec we are in the cycle of nature and our physical bodies that are just so in the scheme of greater grandeur and plans . No matter how prepared and equipped you feel you need to succumb and kneel...and it's the beauty of that humility it all that's overwhelmed me yet again ...
As I slowly got better and dinner of the most delicious dal khichdi and aloo jeera with butter was presented ( by the guy who knows me best ) ...two tear drops rolled down again in gratitude and prayer ...for being loved , for being alive and for being able to realise how lucky I am compared to many ....
As I said I'm Glad I did experience this ...so that I felt basic , human , vulnerable against the magnitude of nature as well as could be grateful for so many that protect our borders too...in extreme conditions with not perhaps even a percentage of the care I got ...for just as a tourist on a fun trip to relax ...compared to months they give tirelessly ...
SREYA-ism : Listening and not!
Sreya-ism: ( for those who were missing it!!)
I usually listen much more intently to people who have no or minimal clue about me , my work and path travelled and give me 'advice' on how to do things
It's amusing , humours the soul , gives an insight into people ( which is very needed in the Creative world we are ) and also a training in patience to deal with variety in life !
I usually listen much more intently to people who have no or minimal clue about me , my work and path travelled and give me 'advice' on how to do things
It's amusing , humours the soul , gives an insight into people ( which is very needed in the Creative world we are ) and also a training in patience to deal with variety in life !
SREYA-ISM Clearing Clutter
Clearing Clutter
For us Bengalis ...the time for Durga Puja celebrations is also to clear our lives of all negativity and clutter .
So here's how I practice it : ( no am not being religious but just following the philosophy of clearing only )
For us Bengalis ...the time for Durga Puja celebrations is also to clear our lives of all negativity and clutter .
So here's how I practice it : ( no am not being religious but just following the philosophy of clearing only )
Clearing clutter of noise, chatter , banter emotions , gossip and anything that brings baggage and an iota of negativity.
Forgiving those that have hurt, angered or annoyed by clearing the energy and in some cases the people altogether . It's my manner of forgiveness... trying to forget too . It's a cleansing like no other !
And of course sorting, clearing documents , clothes and materialism in their form too . That's there as always ! ( for those who have known me long enough also know how I have cleared material hoarding , substantially over the years and successfully so !) I've replaced expensive furniture , decor , artefacts with thoughts , experiences and ideas.
And so when I go ( to another place, plane or world ) there is very little left to dispose off for me or others after me
😊
#LettingGoClutter
#ALighterLife
Forgiving those that have hurt, angered or annoyed by clearing the energy and in some cases the people altogether . It's my manner of forgiveness... trying to forget too . It's a cleansing like no other !
And of course sorting, clearing documents , clothes and materialism in their form too . That's there as always ! ( for those who have known me long enough also know how I have cleared material hoarding , substantially over the years and successfully so !) I've replaced expensive furniture , decor , artefacts with thoughts , experiences and ideas.
And so when I go ( to another place, plane or world ) there is very little left to dispose off for me or others after me
😊#LettingGoClutter
#ALighterLife
Sreya-ism on conserving energy
Sreya-ism:
Sometimes you need to pull the plug for conserving your own energy.
Sometimes you pull the plug so you know who value the light you bring
And when you realise perhaps you haven't been valued ...well you've conserved your energy😊
Sometimes you need to pull the plug for conserving your own energy.
Sometimes you pull the plug so you know who value the light you bring
And when you realise perhaps you haven't been valued ...well you've conserved your energy
😊
KUMARI PUJA
#KumariPuja : the photograph is used as an add on to my write up not supporting the custom
This post is just a sharing of my thoughts with offence to none . A #thinkingaloud . Me as a #woman whose seen amd worked intensively with #WomenInCrisis which more often than not trace back to social norms , rituals and customs that we ingrain in minds across gender and age .
Come "Ashtami" there's always a custom that has #irked me and kept me wondering on the need of rituals in every stead that need revisited as per the age we live in and the times that have changed: #KumariPuja
What are the examples , rules of #purity , #divinity and acceptable norms we set for women or even girls with rituals such?
Does it have whiffs of misogyny ? Does equating #virginity with #purity not create the misconceptions that permeate on silencing rape, of teenage pregnancies and sexual violence against women ? Of the loss of that purity and the dangerous ostracisation that many a times translates to death and silencing of girls and women ?
How do we balance the beauty of a myth and tradition that heals and renews an impoverished people with the future suffering of a human being who must learn that she is not divine?
This ritual of worshipping #virginity as purity brings also to mind Vestal Virgins of Rome, revered by the people but buried alive if, upon reaching puberty, they were caught pregnant.
The #historicalsignificance , the beginning of this ritual of #KumariPuja happened in a time and age when the concepts of feminity and respect to the same ,needed ingrained perhaps and were revolutionary to change mindsets beautifully by leaders of belief who have paved paths uncharted , unthinkable . In those days this in itself was a radical #progressive step ahead and education of masses , protection of girls and women needed an embedding in basic tradition and culture of the times . That was then.
But in today's time and space should we not revisit customs and modify them as per the day we live in , the ugly truths and the realities that are so in the face ?
My personal feeling on any religion, ritual or custom has been to see a need to evolve with time and the now and the messages we send out .
We cannot be driven into just a glitter and glory of age old norms without reading deep into the #pertinence of it in the time we live . In this case perhaps we focus on the "#cuteness" of dressing up little girls , how #pretty and #sweet they look ...but what are the underlying messages we #endorsing ?
Let's take a step back to think before we move forward or merely follow historical norms and traditions .
*Kumaripuja and concepts*
A girl aged between one to sixteen, symbolising the Kumari form of Devi is worshipped during Durga Puja. The Kumari form of the Goddess is emphasised as the most practical form by the devotees. Hindu scriptures have emphasised Kumari Puja particularly to evolve the purity and divinity of the women of the society.
It is believed that the universal creative force is the feminine gender. The very original force is Mahamaya whose inspiration created the gods and the rest of the cosmos. The inspiration is the life force of the entire creation. All the major and minor energies and forces are represented by various goddesses. Thus, a virgin girl is the symbol of the pure basic creative force according to this philosophy*
This post is just a sharing of my thoughts with offence to none . A #thinkingaloud . Me as a #woman whose seen amd worked intensively with #WomenInCrisis which more often than not trace back to social norms , rituals and customs that we ingrain in minds across gender and age .
Come "Ashtami" there's always a custom that has #irked me and kept me wondering on the need of rituals in every stead that need revisited as per the age we live in and the times that have changed: #KumariPuja
What are the examples , rules of #purity , #divinity and acceptable norms we set for women or even girls with rituals such?
Does it have whiffs of misogyny ? Does equating #virginity with #purity not create the misconceptions that permeate on silencing rape, of teenage pregnancies and sexual violence against women ? Of the loss of that purity and the dangerous ostracisation that many a times translates to death and silencing of girls and women ?
How do we balance the beauty of a myth and tradition that heals and renews an impoverished people with the future suffering of a human being who must learn that she is not divine?
This ritual of worshipping #virginity as purity brings also to mind Vestal Virgins of Rome, revered by the people but buried alive if, upon reaching puberty, they were caught pregnant.
The #historicalsignificance , the beginning of this ritual of #KumariPuja happened in a time and age when the concepts of feminity and respect to the same ,needed ingrained perhaps and were revolutionary to change mindsets beautifully by leaders of belief who have paved paths uncharted , unthinkable . In those days this in itself was a radical #progressive step ahead and education of masses , protection of girls and women needed an embedding in basic tradition and culture of the times . That was then.
But in today's time and space should we not revisit customs and modify them as per the day we live in , the ugly truths and the realities that are so in the face ?
My personal feeling on any religion, ritual or custom has been to see a need to evolve with time and the now and the messages we send out .
We cannot be driven into just a glitter and glory of age old norms without reading deep into the #pertinence of it in the time we live . In this case perhaps we focus on the "#cuteness" of dressing up little girls , how #pretty and #sweet they look ...but what are the underlying messages we #endorsing ?
Let's take a step back to think before we move forward or merely follow historical norms and traditions .
*Kumaripuja and concepts*
A girl aged between one to sixteen, symbolising the Kumari form of Devi is worshipped during Durga Puja. The Kumari form of the Goddess is emphasised as the most practical form by the devotees. Hindu scriptures have emphasised Kumari Puja particularly to evolve the purity and divinity of the women of the society.
It is believed that the universal creative force is the feminine gender. The very original force is Mahamaya whose inspiration created the gods and the rest of the cosmos. The inspiration is the life force of the entire creation. All the major and minor energies and forces are represented by various goddesses. Thus, a virgin girl is the symbol of the pure basic creative force according to this philosophy*
Sreya-ISM : what is it?
An -ism according a to a few disctionaries is a distinctive doctrine or theory...and thus theories, thoughts ideas and opinions that run within without my inner being...have been posting on other social media Sreya-isms...hoping to get the collections here thanks to a few friends who follow them whenver I do..
Read on...leave your views! would love to read!
Read on...leave your views! would love to read!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)