Anika Choudhary

Today, on the pious day of 12 October, 2024, we are celebrating Dusshera; a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.  Dusshera is not just a festival but a celebration of the virtuous values it represents. At the heart of this festival lies the epic tale from the Ramayana, where Lord Rama won in battle against the demon king Ravana. This legendary battle symbolizes the victory of righteousness, courage, and the ultimate victory of light over darkness. The celebrations of Dusshera are a spectacular blend of rituals, performances, and communal harmony. The sculpture of Ravana is set ablaze, signifying that the light of goodness shall always put an end to the gloomy shadows of evil.  In various regions of India, Dusshera is celebrated with unique customs and traditions. In North India, particularly in cities like Delhi and Varanasi, grand Ram Leela performances narrate the story of Lord Rama's life, drawing large crowds. In Mysore, Karnataka, the festival is known ...

Let's explore one of the most pressing issues of our time that often goes unnoticed amid discussions on climate change and pollution.  Habitat loss is defined as the destruction of natural environments (such as forests, etc.) that are inhabited by wildlife. The destructions of these habitats leads to a decline in the biodiversity. Habitat loss is a serious problem which has quite a few causes.  1.  Urbanisation: Due to the growing population, the need for housing and better facilities also grows. This leads to the expansion of urban areas by the conversion of natural landscapes into residential and commercial areas to meet the people's demands.  2.  Deforestation: Cutting down trees to serve as firewood, create paper etc. lead to the destruction of forest ecosystems.  3.  Pollution: Contaminants in air, water and soil can lead to the degradation of habitats making it unsuitable for the survival of wildlife.  The consequences of habitat loss are pr...

"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet" -Vietnamese Proverb Raksha Bandhan, the festival celebrating the beautiful depth of sibling love, will be celebrated on 19th August, 2024 with joy and enthusiasm across India. This festival holds deep significance in the country's cultural heritage, symbolising the bond between siblings.  On this day, sisters tie rakhis around their brother's wrist, signifying their vow to protect their brother. In return, the brothers give gifts to their sisters, promising a commitment to their well-being.  The origin of Raksha Bandhan leads back to the ancient times of India. There are several different stories as to how this festival came into being. Here is one of them:  According to Hindu mythology, once Lord Krishna had cut his finger. Draupadi (the wife of the Pandavas) tore a piece of cloth from her saree to bind his bleeding finger. In exchange, Krishna promised to protect Draupadi whenever she needed it. This simple act p...

When we start something in life, trying to continue it can become quite hard. One moment, everything is going the way we want and the next day, the situation can be completely opposite. We feel compelled to leave what we started. That is because we feel that continuing it is just useless. But remember, dedication, consistency and commitment always pays off. It is indeed difficult to find the strength to keep going. But once you do, you are already halfway to achieving your goals.  So no matter what happens, never leave what you started. Who knows? Perhaps it may bring you some fun and unexpected surprises. So when you feel like you want to give up, just stay calm and keep going on. 

Feeling overwhelmed is a feeling we may feel constantly in life. As we grow older, our responsibilities increase drastically. And we can't always cope up with that, which may not always feel acceptable to us because of our inner mind telling us that we aren't doing enough. So, we keep pushing ourselves to go further. This tiny endless cycle keeps on going until we can't find the motivation to push ourselves anymore. Then what do we do? Getting more overwhelmed is something that happens to us unconsciously in these types of situations. But that's not the right approach to problems like these.  Instead, look outside your window and remind yourself of something that you are thankful for in your life. It doesn't need to be anything big and robust. Even if it's a small detail, it doesn't matter as long as you are satisfied. Remember and immerse yourself in that detail. And for a while, you may find yourself feeling happier, energetic, less overwhelmed and most of...

" To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe" -Anatole France Being determined is one of the hardest things you could ever do. It is the barrier between putting off your work and moving forward to achieve your goals. Life can throw us under a bus sometimes which can make ourselves feel demoralised. We may begin to think that our efforts are just futile. But, that is when we are supposed to remember that hard work and determination always pay off. Your will power is nothing less than an actual superpower. It is what divides successful and unsuccessful people. Harness this power. Nuture it, support it and let it grow within you. Even when you feel like giving up, just keep going on. Hard work is difficult. But to preserve the determination to go on is much harder.