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From A Rushed Life Towards Mindful Living

AIKGA Unit 7 Meeting Notes 22 October 2026 | Theme: Conscious Choice to Slow Down Session By Senior Dietician Cheenu Parashar Vig Penned By Dr Anindita Roy ( Ph.D) Central thought : Move away from a rushed life towards mindful living, conscious eating, healthy habits and a deeper connection with nature. 1. Slow Living & Mindful Lifestyle Make a conscious choice to slow down and step away from a rushed lifestyle. Embrace a happy gardening lifestyle — from a small balcony garden to growing food on a farm. Observe the process of growth and reconnect with nature. Explore the concept of the Seven Seeds. Practise six deep breaths to pause, reset and become more mindful. Begin meals with a prayer of gratitude. 2. Mindful Eating & Nutrition Eat slowly, chew thoroughly and savour every bite. Maintain a food journal to understand eating patterns. Read food labels carefully, especially total sugars, added su...

NINE FORMS OF SHAKTI

NAVADURGA: NINE FORMS OF SHAKTI, NINE CHAPTERS OF WOMANHOOD Musings By Seema Chugh , GK Enclave 1 , SouthDelhiTales@gmail.com A woman is not one identity. She is a journey. Navratri is often celebrated through colour, fasting, prayers, garba and devotion. But beneath these traditions lies a profound idea—the celebration of Shakti, the feminine force that creates, nurtures, protects, transforms and renews. The Navadurga—the nine forms of Maa Durga—can be viewed as nine expressions of this Shakti. Traditionally, each of the nine days honours a different form of Devi. And perhaps there is another beautiful way to experience these nine forms: as nine chapters of a woman’s life. Not necessarily nine chronological ages, because a woman may experience every one of these forms many times throughout her life. She may be a Shailaputri at 16, a Katyayani at 35, a Kalaratri at 50 and a Siddhidatri at 70—and then begin again. Because womanhood is not a straight line. It is a circ...

Arrival And Departure Of Maa Durga

DID YOU KNOW? Maa Durga Has More Than One Ride! We all know Maa Durga’s mighty Lion — her most familiar and powerful vahana . But did you know that, during Durga Puja, tradition speaks of other vahanas too — and that the day of the week on which certain Puja days fall determines how Maa Durga is believed to travel between her earthly home and her heavenly abode? It is a fascinating little secret hidden in the Puja calendar. AGAMAN — HOW DOES MAA COME TO EARTH? The weekday on which Maha Saptami falls determines Maa Durga’s Agaman — her arrival on Earth during Sharad, the autumn season . For 2026 , according to the traditional calculations followed in the Gupta Press Panjika and Bisuddha Siddhanta Panjika , Maha Saptami falls on a Sunday . And that means… MAA COMES ON GAJA — THE ELEPHANT! The elephant is traditionally associated with rain-bearing clouds, strength, stability, fertility and abundance . An old traditional verse says: “Gaje cha jalada Devi, sasya-p...

South Delhi Tales September-October 2026

SOUTH DELHI TALES SEP -OCT 2026

Musings By Seema Chugh

The Day I Met My Older Self By Seema Chugh , GK Enclave -1 One quiet evening, the younger me sat alone by the window, wondering why life wasn’t turning out the way she had imagined. She was tired of trying. Tired of being strong. Tired of waiting for things to finally make sense. Then, she heard a gentle voice behind her. Older Me: “Why are you crying?” She turned around. There she was. Older. Calmer. A little more tired around the eyes, but somehow, more peaceful. Younger Me: “Who are you?” The woman smiled. Older Me: “I’m you… years from now.” The younger me stared at her in disbelief. Younger Me: “So… did everything work out?” The older me paused. Older Me: “Not everything.” Her heart sank. Younger Me: “Then what was the point of all this?” The older me sat beside her and held her hand. Older Me: “The point was never to make everything work out. The point was to learn how to be okay even when it didn’t.” The younger me looked down. Younger Me: “Did we become successful?” Older...

The Quiet Arithmetic of Relationships

The Quiet Arithmetic of Relationships by Dr Anindita Roy ( PhD) , DesignEducatorDelhi@gmail.com We rarely call them transactions. We call them friendship. Family. Professional courtesy. Networking. Being there for someone. Yet, somewhere beneath the warmth of these words, there is often a quiet arithmetic. I called you when you were unwell; surely you will call me when I am lonely. I remembered your birthday; you should remember mine. I helped you get that opportunity; perhaps you owe me one. I listened to your troubles for years; why aren't you listening to mine now? And without realising it, we begin keeping accounts. Some relationships are born transactional. They are honest about it. A client pays for expertise. A teacher gives knowledge and receives a livelihood. A colleague helps because collaboration benefits both. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. A fair exchange can be healthy when both people understand the terms. The trouble begins when we disguise the transac...