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Festivals – Are They More Important Than a Global Pandemic?
Life has been so different since the year 2020. And so are the extravagant festivals celebrated in India. Gone are the days when festivals in India meant a surreal experience with fanfare at a different level. I still vividly remember how the first blow to Indian festivities was when the larger-than-life Ganpati celebrations were banned in Maharashtra, followed by the ban on the most-awaited Durga Puja in West Bengal. The pandemic was clutching its grip and the only way to fight it was – SOCIAL DISTANCING. It was a great feeling to experience the country coming together as one and fighting this nasty virus. It almost felt like we have…
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Corona – How Did This Contagious Virus Change Our Lives Forever?
The first time I heard about the corona virus was back in December 2019. China had reported the outbreak of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) from Wuhan and the original source of viral transmission to humans was still unclear. We had seen such instances before, so why would this one be any different? That’s exactly how we acknowledged the onset of an unforgettable pandemic beginning in 2019. After all, the only ‘Corona’ that I had heard of was the Mexican beer! It is already 2021 and the virus has almost become a part of our lives now. Rather, we keep hearing about the new mutants of the corona virus and…
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Birthday Surprises – the New Normal in COVID Times
With a nationwide lockdown in place and a birthday round the corner, our creative juices were bound to flow to make it a special day. Personally, I am not someone who is excited about her own birthday. But, birthdays of loved ones get my adrenaline rushing like nothing else. And then, the year 2020 changed it all. The last year has been very different from the rest of our lives so far. It almost feels like a reset button which life has involuntarily turned on. New set of rules, new way of life – and we just have to adjust and fall in line. Initially, the mindset was slightly delusional.…
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A Nationwide Lockdown – a Long Holiday Nobody Asked For
I still vividly remember the exact day – 15 Mar 2020. It was 4 PM on a Sunday afternoon and I was engrossed in every bit of Michelle Obama’s journey described in her book – Becoming. In the adjacent living room, the news channel was blaring with information on the rising COVID cases world-wide, and how we should prepare for an impending global lockdown. Yes, I heard that right – a LOCKDOWN. Honestly, this was a new word in my vocabulary base. I mean, I could obviously make out what it might mean, but it was the first time I was hearing this word in such a large scale. I…
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What Are Your Takeaways From the Pandemic Year 2020?
Needless to mention, the pandemic year 2020 has been tough. Having survived COVID-19 myself, I can confidently say that each one of us is a warrior in every sense – the ones who contracted the virus, the ones whose loved ones were infected, the ones who toiled hard to protect us, the ones who shielded themselves and the ones who succumbed. Each one of us fought our own battles, in our own mighty way. Time for a round of applause for self. The least that we deserve is a pat in the back for making it so far. It is March 2021, while I sit down and type this post,…
