Ankith Jha’s Post

Diwali: A Festival of Lights, Not Noise and Smoke (My new article). Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. However, amidst the celebrations, many indulge in fireworks, creating noise and pollution that contradicts the festival's essence. Despite understanding the spiritual significance of Diwali, people often seek the thrill of firecrackers driven by human psychology. The fear of loud sounds and the adrenaline rush they provide evoke endorphins, similar to watching horror movies. Additionally, the display of bravery associated with larger fireworks feeds into our innate desire for dominance and ego boosts. This year, I celebrated Diwali with traditional rituals—homemade sweets, rangoli, and worshipping Goddess Laxmi—before witnessing the stark reality of firecrackers: the severe pollution and environmental damage they cause. Engaging in discussions about environmental impact often leads to irrational justifications, such as comparing personal actions to global conflicts. I believe in advocating for cleaner air and a healthier environment for everyone. Let's work together to celebrate Diwali in a way that honours its true spirit and protects our environment. I welcome your thoughts and perspectives in the comments! #Diwali #FestivalofLights #SayNoToPollution

I’m sharing this on LinkedIn because, as a community, we need to rethink how we celebrate Diwali in a way that’s aligned with health, safety, and genuine festivity. This isn’t just about one person or one city—air quality and the effects of pollution impact everyone, and our choices during celebrations can have lasting consequences. Absolutely, the essence of Diwali lies in light, hope, and not in blaring noise or polluting our surroundings. Yet, each year, I find us witnessing the relentless fireworks, the streets littered with remnants of crackers, and the air so thick with smoke that stepping outside feels hazardous. With AQI levels skyrocketing to 900, Delhi’s air has become unbreathable. It’s a tragic irony that the very festival meant to celebrate life and light ends up darkening the air we all share. If we all commit to a more conscious Diwali, focused on light rather than noise and pollution, we can inspire others to do the same. LinkedIn is a place where we come together as professionals, leaders, and changemakers. I hope this post can spark a conversation on how we can balance tradition with responsibility, not just for ourselves but for future generations. PS - How have we reached a point where celebrating means harming our environment and health? Tradition doesn’t justify pollution, and festivities don’t excuse the harm we’re inflicting on our city and ourselves. The true spirit of Diwali isn’t in the temporary thrill. #diwali

Did you know how long other countries celebrate their biggest festivals? - Christmas (25 Dec): 7-15 days off in Western countries - Chinese New Year: 7-15 days off in China - Eid-al-Fitr: 9-15 days off in many Islamic countries - Songkran Water Festival: 3-7 days off in Thailand Meanwhile, in India, Diwali—our biggest festival—gets just one day off! It's difficult to get a week off in most organizations, flight tickets skyrocket, and there are often no train tickets available. As a result, many of us end up not going home for Diwali. A Humble Request Let's make Diwali a yearly break, giving Indians the well-deserved time to: - Recharge with family and friends - Reconnect with cultural heritage - Refresh their minds and spirits Celebrating Diwali as a significant break could greatly enhance work-life balance and allow people to truly connect with their heritage and loved ones. It's important for organizations to recognize the value of cultural holidays and support their employees' well-being. A yearly break for Diwali would not only help individuals recharge but also foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation. #Diwali #FestivalOfLights #YearlyBreak #WorkLifeBalance #IndianCulture #CorporateLife

This Diwali, Light a Lamp in Someone Else’s Life As the festival of Diwali approaches, homes everywhere are brightened with the soft glow of lamps and the warmth of togetherness. For many, it’s a time of joy, celebration, and abundance. But for countless street vendors and small artisans, it’s a season of uncertainty and struggle. These are the people who bring the very essence of Diwali into our homes—the humble vendor who sells diyas, the artisans who craft beautiful handmade decor, the small sweet shop owners who prepare delicacies with love. For them, every sale during this festival counts, often determining whether they can provide for their families or not. This Diwali, let’s remember that we hold the power to make a difference. Instead of choosing big brands and mass-produced goods, let’s visit the local market and buy directly from those who need it most. With every diya you purchase from a small vendor, every handmade lantern you buy, you’re not just acquiring a product, you’re lighting up someone’s life. Help make this Diwali a celebration for everyone. Your small act of kindness can bring light to a struggling vendor’s home. Let’s spread the true spirit of the festival—hope, kindness, and support for those who need it most. After all, isn’t that what the festival of lights is all about? 🌟 #SupportSmallBusinesses #Diwali2024 #KindnessMatters #FestivalOfLights #SupportLocalVendors

While everyone was having a good time celebrating the #festivalofcolor #holi and exchanging sweets and pleasantries with friends and family. I was observing a different view about #hindufestivals. As a business professional, I see festivals not just as cultural celebrations, but also as strategic opportunities. Here's why Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali are goldmines for businesses: Diwali: The Economic Boom - Diwali, the Festival of Lights, ignites not just homes but also the economy. It's a time for extensive shopping - new clothes, festive decorations, sweets, and of course, gifts! Businesses see a significant sales surge, often exceeding regular targets. Holi: Building Bridges & Boosting Sales - Holi, the vibrant Festival of Colors, is more than just a playful throwdown. It's a chance to mend relationships, strengthen bonds, and create new connections. Think team-building exercises on steroids! This fosters a positive work environment and can lead to increased collaboration and productivity - a win-win for businesses. The Underlying Genius The real brilliance lies in the core themes of these festivals. Diwali celebrates new beginnings and prosperity, while Holi emphasizes social connections and letting go of negativity. These values directly translate to a thriving business landscape. So, this festive season, let's not just celebrate, let's leverage the power of these traditions to create a brighter future for our businesses and communities! #BusinessInsights #CulturalCelebrations #Diwali #naveentheguru #smartcitiesinvestment #realestatevigyan #jewar #yeida #dholera

Diwali is just around the corner, and it's a great time for us and for the Indian economy, too. Festivals play a big role in boosting our economy. They help sectors like retail and tourism and support small businesses and artisans. Diwali can contribute up to 30% of retail annual sales, leading to record sales, especially on e-commerce platforms. During this time, consumer spending often rises by about 40%, benefiting FMCG, travel, and hospitality industries. Many businesses see 30-50% revenue increases during the festive season. The spending during festivals boosts our GDP and creates millions of jobs. Even during global downturns, these cultural events significantly impact our economy. How do you think festivals and weddings impact your local economy? What are your plans for Diwali this year.

DEEPAWALI: Deepawali or Diwali means the festival of lights and diyas. This is one of the major and most prominent festivals of Hindus, which is celebrated almost across the world, where Hindu community resides and they celebrate this festival with immense joy and happiness. People celebrate and enjoy this festival with their loved ones and family members to the fullest and they make the beautiful memories with each other on this auspicious festival. According to Panchang, Diwali is celebrated on Amavasya Tithi in the month Kartik. As we all know that people have this confusion about the celebration of Diwali festival. This year, Amavasya is falling for two days and that's the main reason of confusion. But, don't worry about it, we are here to clear all the confusions and will try our best to make you understand the reason behind and for that you first need to understand the importance of Amavasya Tithi as this festival is mainly celebrated on Amavasya so just scroll down the article and check: #snsinistution. #snsdesignthinkers. #designthinking. #article. #snscop.

Last week, I noticed many posts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and WhatsApp discussing why Indians don't get extended holidays for Diwali? People often compare this to the month-long holiday season around Christmas and New Year in the West. So, why don’t we get a long holiday for Diwali? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞: While Diwali is indeed the biggest festival for Hindus, India is home to a rich diversity of cultures and celebrations. With over 51 official festivals in India, of which 17 are nationally celebrated and 34 are regional (as per the Government of India list of festivals- Rajya Sabha, 2013) festivals observed across the country, imagine if we took extended holidays for each one! Every community has its own major festival, and if we had lengthy breaks for all of them, we’d hardly have any time left for work. Celebrating with shorter, more frequent breaks allows us to appreciate the beauty of each festival without putting life on hold. It’s a unique rhythm that makes India what it is – festive, vibrant, and always on the move! What's your take on this? #fintechwriter #fintechcontentwriter

Happy Diwali to everyone. But how can we say that? Dewali is a festival of lights, so instead of hurting someone or making their life less happy, show them how luxurious you are by flaunting it on social media to see how many likes you get. those people who are happy before your luxuries . And now they are just comparing themselves to others, and do you really think you can please the goddess or your god after that?carry on Every festival, including Diwali, is meant to be a time for celebration rather than rivalry. We are squandering more than half of our money in order to appease Goddess Lakshmi, but in reality, we are just burning crackers. So we can celebrate and have fun. Do you even know what the cost of your fun is? I am not saying this only for Diwali, but for every festival we celebrate, you are burning crackers. And polluting the air, giving courage to people who make dangerous crackers. Poor working conditions for workers In order to let everyone know that we are celebrating, you are burning crackers all over the place. Why? The street animals, who are extremely sensitive, suffer greatly as a result of your immature behavior. But who cares due to fire crackers someone house or warehouse, or they will perish in a fire as well, but why should we care? We believe in goddesses. Will bless us if you really want to celebrate Stop the competition and spread love. Stop bargaining with roadside vendors. Distribute sweets forgive people that you hate Ask for forgiveness from someone you hurt Distribute clothes and sweets to needy people as gifts. Play and laugh with your loved ones. Stop competing with others and start the real celebration. Thank you for reading. Happy Diwali. To all of you 😊❤️

Whether it is Diwali or Halloween, festivals play an important in sustainable lifestyles and perhaps even development. For countries like India, sustainable development relies heavily on the growth of farm economies and local economies. These festivals, not only act as a time to bring us to our communities- a necessity to develop resilience against climate change through creative solutions- but also allow us to support local artisans. Sure, many of us turn to more commercial celebrations through cookie-cutter gifts, buying fast-fashion and more, but the festival can be celebrated with valuable gifts, slow- fashion outfits, and time with loved ones if we have the resources. Which leads to the question, this Diwali what is your brand doing to enable people to reach this? Are we all a part of a sustainable India this Diwali? Do you have a favourite sustainable brand you think deserves some diya-light this Diwali? Let me know in the comments! Oh, and before I forget- have a great festive season. #sustainable #diwali