by Rudri | Oct 24, 2014 | Everyday life, Hindu
The day after Diwali marks the Indian new year. Wishing all of my family and friends a hearty Sal Mubarak and Happy New Year. This year I am vowing to lower my expectations of others. When we expect, we assume. Detaching from expectations, I hope, will pave my... by Rudri | Oct 22, 2014 | Hindu
A period of time existed when I didn’t quite understand the significance of Diwali, other than receiving gifts from my family and eating a special meal with some of my favorite Indian foods. Celebrating Diwali gained a different momentum once I had my daughter.... by Rudri | May 23, 2014 | Hindu, Stillness
I am siting in the middle of my guest room closet, my legs crossed Indian style with my eyes closed. For the next thirty minutes, my house is my own and the closet becomes my cave of choice. After reading and contemplating meditation, I’ve decided that this new way of... by Rudri | Nov 4, 2013 | Everyday life, Hindu, Loss, Memory
I coaxed myself out of bed this morning and as our daughter dressed for school, I said, “Happy New Year!” She said it back to me, but I could see a glint of confusion on her face. Yesterday we celebrated Diwali, our Festival Of Lights, and today marks the... by Rudri | Mar 27, 2013 | Hindu, Religion
A splash of colored powdered sand leaks out from the plastic bag. The blue, green, yellow, and pink color spill over. These vibrant speckles are waiting for a place to land, on someone’s face, hand, or on a white kurta worn by a young girl. Today, in small... by Rudri | Nov 12, 2012 | Children, Hindu, Life Lessons
As a little girl I remember my first Diwali celebration in India. It was two months into the school year and my parents pulled me out to let me experience a real Diwali in their native home. “You don’t really know Diwali until you spend it in India.”...
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too. Read More