Traditional is the new Trend

Our appearance is greatly affected by the clothes we wear and it is because of this reason a growing number of people have begun to question whether we should wear our traditional clothes or follow western trends.
Youngsters today argue that we must go with the flow and therefore taking up the new trends is a better option. A handful of people still believe that our traditional clothes represent our culture and identity and let them go of will be like discarding our own culture.
It is necessary to hold on to our traditions if we want to preserve it. If we are not going to promote our customs then nobody will and it is likely that it will become extinct. Also, wearing our traditional dresses symbolise unity and love and respect towards the culture we belong.
India is a country which is greatly known for its diverse cultural values and beliefs, with uniqueness in the form of languages, food, attire we are the nation that can boast of unity in diversity with pride.
It is amazing to see that within the country there is a diversification of fashion and clothing which could be due to weather conditions and culture of the society.
From Banarasi sarees, dhoti kurta in Uttar Pradesh to Pheran, taranga and pashmina shawls in Jammu kashmir. From the huge Garhwali nath to Mundavalya in Maharashtra, Gujarati Chaniya choli to lungi in the South, we have a wide range of clothing and accessories that can leave one awestruck.
However, the irony is that the owners of this rich cultural heritage are forgetting what they have and western people are seeing India for attaining salvation. Western people feel happy when they wear Indian clothes and Indians feel ashamed in wearing Dhoti-kurta which is far more comfortable than the western jeans or pants.
Western clothing has percolated into the Indian populace quite widely. I am not against western clothes or their culture but if we think for a while, our culture gives us identity and how can we live without having our real identity.
The feeling of joy on wearing our mother's saree for the first time is incomparable to wearing mini skirts or jeans. The charm that Indian women holds on wearing their traditional attire on festivals makes them proud.
We should also consider that solely by wearing saree or dhoti we cannot preserve our traditions. Above all we should strive to make our character such that it reflects the society and culture we belong to. With the help of our attire we portray our love and dedication towards our values and beliefs that we are a part of.

The Fault

Late at night, when her husband and in laws were asleep, she gathered the courage to come out of the kitchen where she had locked herself for 2 days, reached towards her room and silently picked up her phone, dialled a number and controlled her tears, getting no response from the other side, she dialled again this time  unable to control herself she burst into tears as she heard the voice of her father saying what happened child? Are you alright?

Sobbing and shivering she told her father what she was going through all this time, 4 months of her marriage has been turned into the worst nightmare of her life.  The day she left her home, life has not been the same, Father’s princess has become a slave, a slave who has no rights, who cannot demand anything, who works endlessly day and night without any complaints or arguments.

She remembers how she used to live in her home where she was treated with utmost care, love and her family members doted her. She deserved all this affection as she was worthy of it. She was that perfect girl who excelled in studies, respected her elders and had no vices, no boyfriend, no drinking, no demands, just the girl every parents wish for.

 Now the times have changed so drastically that it is so difficult for her to handle herself. When she looks at herself in the mirror she cannot believe that she is the same cheerful person, her body covered with marks and bruises all over as if someone had painted red and blue lines on her skin.She is a victim of domestic violence and abuse by her husband and her in laws.

 She told everything to her father, how the first time her husband threatened her for argumenting with him, from that day the beating and abusing was a regular task for her husband. She was just silently tolerating all this in a hope that one day it would stop and her husband would understand the pain that she bears every day. She even told her father that she was under house arrest for a week as she asked her husband if she could work as a teacher in the nearby school, he got so furious that he punched her right at her face and threatened her to not to think  of working out again. She is a woman and she should not step out of home were his words when he locked her in the room.

 Not only this but there were many instances in which she was beaten, abused and even burned for raising her voice. Her father terrified by all this told her to stop crying and said that they will take her home
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 But is this the solution to this problem? What was her fault? Why was she subjected to so much torture and humiliation? She married the man whom her parents chose, the man who was projected as the most eligible bachelor by her parents turned out to be a monster for her. Or it was her parent’s fault who chose the wrong person?

No, the fault is completely of the people who have such mentality that women are a slave, that women are made only for doing their household works and are just a toy for their entertainment and fulfilment of their desires.

And when a strong, independent, courageous woman tries to change their view, they try to suppress her by assaulting her both physically and mentally, they try to harass her, subdue her. Those who fightback against these monsters emerge as triumphant. However still in the world there are so many women who are a victim of domestic violence and are quiet about it. They are afraid of raising their voice due to the pressure of society or family. Some stay silent because they fear that this may harm the reputation of their family or because of the future of their children.

But this has to change. It is high time that those women start thinking about themselves. It is said that God only helps those who help themselves. Therefore they have to become their own hero, their own saviour, then only someone could help them.

Time to raise your voice. Be your own hero. Break those shackles and fly without fear.

Love : Unconditional

Is there anything such as unconditional love? Can it truly exist between two human beings?

Love is a quality, not something to do with somebody else. It is the only feeling which if expressed can do miracles or even disasters. Love is something that we all constantly long for. All creatures on this planet humans, plants, animals want love. It is that force which keeps us united. That is why it is said that when in love, people can move mountains or can even become useless as a drunk layman.

Yes,there are conditions and there is love, but when we think of love, it has to be unconditional, the moment we attach conditions to it, then it becomes a transaction or an agreement between two people. Love may not always be convenient. It takes life. You have to invest yourself.

The English expression 'falling in love' is very significant, you don't climb in love, you don't stand or sit in love. You fall in love, something of you should melt away or fall to accommodate the other.

There is a difference between a transaction and a love affair. A love affair need not to be with any particular person, you could be having a great love affair with life itself.

Love is not something that you do, love is the way you are.!
Love is an inner state and how you are within yourself can definitely be unconditional.

You can be in love with yourself, another person, animal, nature or even your toys. Love is only when you demand nothing from the other side. You just constantly enjoy the feeling you get when you see someone or something who you love.

We all have heard or read about various immortal love stories from the famous Romeo- Juliet to Heer - Ranjha and many others which tends to define us the meaning of love, but if one wants to truly understand the core of unconditional love, one can get it from the mythological stories of Lord Krishna and his beloved Goddess Radha. Each and every aspect of love can be deeply understood by their deeds. The way they loved and embraced each other was truly magical. They just loved without any promises, demands or cconditions.

That divine love story and divine lovers are still worshipped, although they did not marry each other but their love has an ever lasting impact on all of us. Such pure form of love.

Love needs not to be restricted in relationship barriers. It is all about loving everything with utmost truthfulness and purity. Love is the force that drives the entire universe.

Admit that you aren't perfect

What is Perfect ? Perfect means having all the required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics as good as it is possible to be. Perfect is someone or something who is absolute or complete. Someone without flaws, blemishes or imperfection.

              

But the question arises that what if you aren't perfect? Will that make any impact on your relations or your personality, your character?

So what if you are not perfect. Nobody else is either. Perfect is fictional, it is imaginary.

Leo Tolstoy said, "If you look for perfection, you'll never be content." So there is no connection between perfection and satisfaction.

And now, if you know that you are imperfect, just admit it boldly. Feel your flaws, enjoy your imperfections because they are also as unique as you are. Almighty made all the creatures different, not perfect.

If you realise that your imperfections make you unique then nobody can stop you. You have learned the things that you did not know before, the external situations and requirements have changed as well. What seemed to be the right decision when you made it has turned out to be a wrong decision today, as soon as you admit your mistake and realise that you were wrong and take actions to correct it, your stress evaporates.

Sometimes people think that by admitting their faults, that they are wrong, they are demonstrating weakness. They think that people will not respect them if they admit that they were wrong in a decision, but it is the other way around, having the courage and character to accept that you were wrong, it actually increases people's respect for you and their willingness to be influenced by you in future.

On the contrary, no one looks more weak and foolish than someone who is obviously wrong but refuses to admit it. Because you are imperfect and you are going to make mistakes, don't wait for everyone to figure it out. Instead, jump ahead of the queue and quickly admit, 'I was wrong and i made a mistake.' Don't just keep hiding yourself from the world. 

This will only release your stress, reduce your tensions and you will be a happy person, a cheerful soul and a relaxed and composed mind. The better you will think and the more respected you will be by all the people around you.

Love your imperfections. Love yourself.!

The fear of criticism

Criticism is the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of percieved faults or mistakes. The fear  of being criticised by someone has led to so many psychological disorders among people that they are afraid of beginning something new or opening up in front of people.

Children are born with two wonderful characteristics,fearlessness and spontaneity. The newborn child is completely fearless. A child has no concern about the reactions and responses of others. He laughs, cries, yells and express himself or herself without limit or constraint, twenty-four hours a day. He or she simply does not care and just enjoy each and every moment of their life.

When that same spontaneous child grows, he begins to develop different fears such as fear of failure, fear of punishment, fear of criticism and others. Mostly this fear is due to the restrain or constraint that the parents apply on a child's behavior. Due to their experiences they try to protect their child by refraining them, "No! Stop that!, Get away from there."

Sometimes this makes the child weak and he or she soon develops the belief that he or she is small and incompetent. However this belief should not let the child underestimate his or her potential as this fear leads to a threat, a threat of the consequences which restricts their imagination, performance and abilities.

So, as a message to the young generation, i would say that don't let this fear overpower you. Believe in the power of your dreams, believe in the talent and abilities you possess. Don't let any negativity or criticism harm you. Have faith in yourself and conquer your dreams.