Navratri and the Tragedy of Indian Women

It’s that time of the year again when loudspeakers turn into sleepless alarm clocks, pandals pop up at every street corner, and the nation collectively becomes the brand ambassador of the divine feminine. For nine whole days, we bow, chant, and shower flowers at the feet of the Devi. And then, on the tenth day, as if someone flipped a cultural switch, we go right back to catcalling her at the bus stop.

Welcome to the Great Indian Double Standard a tragicomedy performed by none other than the Desi Male.

Let’s face it: Most Indian men adore the idea of worshipping goddesses. The keyword here is idea. Real women? Ah, that’s where things get tricky. Suddenly the same man who is belting out “Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu, shakti-rupena samsthita” is also belting out an unsolicited “Hi baby, looking sexy” across the street. Talk about range.

The contradictions are almost poetic.

• Durga with ten arms? Revered.
• Your colleague asking for equal pay? “Arrey, why so demanding yaar?”
• Kali with her fierce rage? Worshipped.
• Your girlfriend expressing anger? “So much attitude, must be her ‘time of the month.’
• Saraswati, goddess of wisdom? Offered prayers.
• Daughters wanting to study more? Just get her married higher education is expensive . She is her husbands headache now 

The hypocrisy doesn’t end there. Indian men will touch their mother’s feet in the morning and then, by evening, be found squeezing past women in crowded pandals like they’re auditioning for India’s Got No Boundaries.

And let’s not even start on social media. Every Navratri, timelines explode with posts of “Jai Mata Di! Respect Women!” followed by reels of those same self-proclaimed devotees sharing “funny” memes about their wives’ shopping habits. Respect be damned 

The truth is, men in this country often want their goddesses in temples and their women in cages. A goddess who slays demons? Yes. A woman who slays in a boardroom? “Too intimidating.” A goddess riding a lion? Inspirational. A woman riding a bike? “Characterless. Your legs are showing !!!

So here’s a thought for this Navratri season: before picking up the thali, maybe put down the double standards. If you’re truly the masculine you claim to be, stop lying, stop pitting women against each other, and for heaven’s sake, stop thinking feminism is a threat to your manhood. Respect isn’t a nine-day ritual …it’s a lifelong practice :) 

Anti Fragile

I carry the quiet curse of being alone and resilient. I’ve fallen so many times that the falls no longer frighten me — they simply tire me. There are moments when the weight of it all makes life feel hopeless, but lately I’ve begun to read those low points differently: not as punishments but as furnaces. Like iron forged in fire, I am shaped by the heat. Some people seem to glide through life untouched; others learn the hard lessons. As a Scorpio sun and moon, transformation is stitched into my story !! recurrent endings that become unexpected beginnings. The downs sharpen me, and the remakings remind me I can return, altered but intact. Sometimes I wonder: if nothing ever breaks, am I really living? The question is less a complaint and more a compass. I don’t crave pain, but I have come to accept that growth often arrives disguised as hardship. I am learning to meet my own endurance with tenderness, to let the forging do its work without losing myself in the flames.

Musings

Life is a series of meetings. Every person we encounter – whether a fleeting stranger, a passing colleague, or a lifelong companion – enters our story for a reason. Some become permanent chapters, while others appear for a page or two before disappearing. Some transform before our eyes, while others remain much the same. Why does this happen?

1. People as Mirrors

Many believe that we meet people to learn about ourselves. A friend’s encouragement may show us our hidden strengths, while a difficult colleague may push us to confront patience, resilience, or boundaries. Once the lesson is absorbed, the connection may naturally fade  not because it lacked meaning, but because its purpose was served.

2. The Flow of Timing

Timing plays an invisible role. Some relationships thrive because both people grow at the same pace, walking side by side. Others drift apart when paths diverge. It’s rarely about fault; often it’s about life’s rhythms being out of sync.

3. Why Some Stay

Certain people become anchors. They stay because the bond evolves with time, adapting to each person’s changes. Shared values, deep trust, and mutual respect act as glue. These are the friendships and relationships that withstand seasons of change.

4. Why Some Disappear

Not all departures are dramatic. Sometimes people disappear quietly  careers shift, priorities realign, or simply the connection no longer fits who we are becoming. Letting go doesn’t erase the moments shared; it just acknowledges that not everyone is meant to stay forever.

5. Why Some Change  and Some Don’t

Change is inevitable, but not universal. Some embrace it, shedding old layers and stepping into new versions of themselves. Others resist, preferring the comfort of the familiar. The way someone chooses to grow (or not) often determines whether we continue walking together or take separate routes.