The Rupal Diaries

India is culturally, linguistically, climatically, historically very diverse. These differences lead to regional variations in how festivals are celebrated. Hence is the celebration of Navaratri in different states of india.  Given below are the brief on how it is celebrated in various states of India. This information will give us the feel of proud for our country and its diverse rich culture & traditions.  Let us start with GUJARAT..... Gujarat Garba and Dandiya Raas   Devotional pujas; Fasting by some. Large scale open-air dancing, people in traditional dress (lehenga-choli, kediyu);  very festive, vibrant with lights.

Fusion of 3F: FUN, FOOD and FESTIVAL, looks exciting right... Today our one more traditional, energy driven festival of devotion, dance and music has started: Navratri .  Now a days celebration has taken its own style.  Traditional festivals are celebrated with modern twists.  All festivals are celebrated with  Fusion of 3F:  Fun,  Food & Festive mood.  Festivals today are no longer confined to society premises or family gatherings: they have evolved into large-scale events organized by corporates, sponsors and public personalities. This professional touch has amplified the festive spirit by adding more  fun-filled activities  and  delicious food experiences . Fun activities like  theme-based events, DJ  draw the crowd, while the food aspect ensures people need not worry about cooking or stepping out after the celebration. Dress code, decorations, environment brings Festive mood. Together these elements enhance the festive ...

Vacation: what an exciting word! Let's go back to our school and college days, we eagerly waited for vacations: be it Diwali or summer and enjoyed them to the fullest. But as we grew older, the word  vacation   slowly drifted away from us. 

A birthday is usually a milestone, a pause to reflect, a moment to cherish. But for some a birthday tells a story far deeper, of struggle, dedication, leadership and achievement. One such birthday is:  17th sept,  a gift day for our nation:  Occasion of our Prime Minister Modi-ji’s  Birthday .  Here are some thoughts to mark this special day both as tribute and reflection being his 75th birthday.  The  celebration is not just another year of his life but a lifetime of service, vision and unwavering commitment he has given to India.  We all know well about his struggles, his path of hardships at every step to reach where he is today.  Modiji was born on  17 September 1950  in  Vadnagar  a small town in Gujarat.  His Journey From Humble Beginnings:  from early life selling tea at the railway station to rising through the ranks of political and social work his path has been one of discipline and constant effort....

  Happy Engineers’ Day! 🚀 Engineers’ Day in India (September 15) is celebrated in honor of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya's (1861–1962) birthday. The title of the first civil engineer of India is often given to him.  He is regarded as one of the greatest engineers India has produced, known for his pioneering work in irrigation systems, flood protection and building dams.  First Engineer in the World in the recorded history is Imhotep (around 2650–2600 BCE, Ancient Egypt). He was the chief architect of Pharaoh Djoser’s step pyramid at Saqqara. On this Engineers’ Day, I would like to take a moment to appreciate the unique perspective and invaluable contributions of engineers.  They imagine possibilities that don’t yet exist and transform them into reality through new approaches, devices and innovations that make life easier and more comfortable. From machines to mobiles, their work has reshaped our world and strengthened global connectivity. Contribution is endle...

Festive season is on. During this festive season we purchase lot of new items, we are always very possessive of our physical assets. When it comes to delicate items, we take extra care to store and use it. Delicate and harmful both items demand safe place and its needed too. But, Have you ever thought that, Why can't we consider our thoughts too as our assets, our mental assets. Just as Physical assets influence how others see us, our mental assets (our thoughts) influence how we see ourselves.    Our physical assets play role in building our social personality. Our thoughts are equally precious and play very important role in building our overall personality.  They are the raw materials of character and our confidence. As delicate and harmful things demand a safe place. In a same way, our Delicate ( Emotional / Sensitive ) thoughts should be kept in a place which should be used with care,  share only with people who value them. Exposure in the wrong place can leave...

The saying “Don’t chase the butterflies, build the garden and the butterflies will automatically come” is a metaphor for life. Thanks to one of my school friend who shared this thought with me. As I was thinking about it , I found its worth sharing with you all.   Butterflies here represent the things we often run after like :  Success,  Happiness,  Recognition,  Wealth,  Love  OR  Peace of mind.  Many times we chase behind it and spend our time, efforts and energy. The more we chase, the more they seem to fly away from us, just like butterflies. Instead, build the “Garden” (stands for our inner self, our habits, our values and our environment). If we nurture qualities like hard work, dedication, patience, kindness, honesty, positivity and self-discipline, we create an atmosphere where happiness, opportunities and meaningful relationships will naturally find us. For example: Instead of chasing after people’s recognition, focus on improv...

Badminton – A Game Beyond the Court Badminton is not just about smashing the shuttle or chasing points. It is a game of spirit, focus, judgment, energy and coordination. Every game, in fact, carries its own importance and its own unique level of challenge. Today, while playing 🏸 with my son, I realized something profound,  a game is not merely a physical activity. It mirrors our mental state, emotional stability, comfort in our own zone, coordination with our partner or opponent, our dreams, and even our values. When we play with high morale, true sportsmanship, and wholehearted participation, winning becomes an achievement to celebrate, BUT   Losing should not become a setback.  Instead it should transform into a lesson, an opportunity to learn, to improve, and to prepare ourselves for the next stage.  Every game played with joy leaves us stronger than before. The final score may decide the trophy in a competition, but the journey during play builds the inner troph...

Can you imagine an individual who seamlessly integrates the strengths of various professions? Motivator Good Communicator Effective Manager ( Managing kids is a challenging role) Counsellor Adaptable Advisor Guide Coach Mentor Navigator Nurturer ... Yes answer is :  A TEACHER, A GURU . Today on the occasion of Teacher's day, I deeply bow to all my gurus, my teachers, my life makers. Teachers’ Day in India falls on September 5 , marking the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a revered educator, philosopher and India’s second President. A teacher or guru is a role played by many individuals throughout our journey. Our task is to recognize these guiding presences at every stage of life and honour them.

To make life easier, the Government has reduced GST today, bringing relief and positivity across sectors. This sparked a thought in me , what if we could reduce the “GST of life”? G - Greed,  S - Stress,  T -Tension.  Just like tax reduction eases financial burdens, lowering these negative traits can ease our emotional and mental burdens. If we consciously work on reducing them, we can live a lighter, happier and more fulfilling life.  Greediness for money, success can lead you to never ending cycle of mental pressure. It can also bring distance in relationship.  Stress of work, family, relationship, emotional stress, inner stress can bring health issues and disturb your peace of mind.  Tension is the effect of stress in life. This too can impact your peace, your quality of work, your decisions, your commitments.  So, If you feel that this beautiful thought can bring happiness in your life, apply it today.  Government's GST changes will come in ef...

“Ganapati Bappa Morya”,  a rich statement of faith. Cheerful salutations ( JayJaykar ), a very common tradition in Indian culture to worship God, Saint and Guru during religious gatherings. It brings positivity, strength and inner-joy. More often we chant without fully understanding the deeper meaning woven into our words.  During Lord Ganesha’s celebration, we all energetically chanted “Ganapati Bappa Morya.” It made me pause and wonder: Do we truly grasp the depth behind our devotional chants? Friends t here’s a beautiful and heartfelt story behind the phrase: “Ganapati Bappa Morya.” Let’s explore its depth and origins.  'Morya' is a name of a saint who was deeply devoted to Lord Ganesha. With blessings of Lord Ganesha, people started believing him as saint with divine power. His "power"( Ashta Siddhis ) was not physical but a spiritual one derived by divine grace of Lord Ganesha. As a reward, Ganesha appeared in Morya's dreams and granted his wish that Gane...