Papa Don't Preach’s Post

Revisiting Indian culture In India, our rich traditions and customs are deeply rooted in our culture, but it's essential to revisit and modify them for a more inclusive future. As we celebrate life, let's reflect on how we bless, and gift married couples. The practice of primarily wishing for sons and gifting Krishna's idol to pregnant women can inadvertently perpetuate biases against daughters. Gift them Radha’s idol as well. In many parts of India, the birth of son is celebrated with folk songs but reality hits hard when daughters are born. As an Indian married male, the constant blessings from elders as Putra Vadhu bhav , Krishna jaisa lala ho, Ganpati jaisa ladla ho, is where I believe, we are defeating the purpose of inclusivity. I am still dying to meet one person on planet who blesses you for having a daughter. While we celebrate Durga Puja, Diwali and any other festivals in India and honor the goddess within every woman, let’s commit to creating a safer, more empowering society for our girls. It’s time to shift our focus from rituals to real change. That in true sense will be a Happy Daughters Day. #DaughtersDay #BlessingsinIndia #Revisitvalues #Marriedcouples #India #Devipooja #Culture #Itstimetochange #genderinclusivity #Diversity #Inclusion #Durgapooja #festivals

Freedom and what it means to you? Today Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas. Diwali for us celebrates freedom and liberation. Our 6th Guru liberated political prisoners on this day and celebrated this victory in the holy city of Amritsar. Happy Bandi Chhor Divas to everyone 🙏 What came up for me... In the world we live in now, we prison our minds and life, through judgement and expectation of society and culture. History and Religion gives us so many examples of freedom, and yet people live unconsciously imprisoned, thinking they are free! What does freedom mean to you and how are and do you celebrate your life? This is one of my reasons for creating a community for womxn in the motor trade. Find your true potential and free yourself from whatever is holding you back. We all have thoughts and beliefs that creep up and hinder our progress. Join me on my journey of growing Accelerate in Automotive to bring out the best in you and the motor trade. https://bit.ly/4emtCB3 #womeninautomotive #confidence #resilience #Womenandmotors #genderdiversityandinclusion #revitwithrandeep #accelerateinautomotive

"Staying Rooted, Rising Together" - "Embracing Heritage, Inspiring Impact" This Diwali, I received a call from a friend in the USA, an Odia by origin, who’d noticed my LinkedIn headline: “ଏକ ଗର୍ବିତ ଓଡ଼ିଆଣୀ” (A Proud Odia Woman). She shared something that struck a chord: “Most Odias keep a low profile, both within and outside Odisha, but you and your family are so unique. I love it.” Her words made me pause, and I replied with a simple thought that has always guided me: we shouldn’t forget our roots. In a world where we often get swept up in change and ambition, remembering where we come from grounds us, gives us resilience, and deepens our sense of purpose. For me, embracing my Odia heritage isn’t just about honoring my culture; it’s a way to stay true to my values—values that shape every decision, every partnership, and every effort to make a positive impact. Whether in work or in life, I’ve found that the strongest foundations are built by those who are unafraid to celebrate their roots. This isn’t just about heritage; it’s about the authenticity and strength that come from knowing and embracing who we are. As we rise and build together, may we all remember the beauty of our beginnings. Dr. Damodar Sahu, PhD #ProudOdia #StayRooted #RiseTogether #PurposeDriven #CelebrateHeritage #Authenticity #CulturalPride #ImpactfulGrowth

It's Diwali / Bandi Chorr Divas, and as a Sikh American, child of Indian immigrants, I have mixed emotions... I have a feeling I'm not alone, so here's a thread for children of immigrants who also carry complex feelings about cultural holidays and traditions > I didn't grow up culturally celebrating Diwali... instead, most holidays we celebrated in our house revolved around religion rather than culture. Now, I live in a new city w/ my white husband & I continue to sway b/w a strong sense of ethnic identity & suddenly losing my footing. Being a part of the diaspora may look different during holidays. Some of us may feel rooted in our culture(s) through community we have been lucky to build while others may struggle to feel a sense of belonging. Some children of immigrants may find it difficult to claim holidays as their own. This may result in feeling like an imposter as you figure out how to celebrate a holiday & claim it for yourself, because you WANT to and not because you are EXPECTED to. Or maybe there's a burden you feel to represent as a minority in your workplace or classroom or community. A pressure to be "Indian" or "ethnic" enough for the white gaze while also feeling a pressure to be "Indian" or "ethnic" enough for your cultural community. Maybe there's a fear of being judged for not being able to educate others, because you're also learning. Or a fear of how you'll look if you make mistakes, or admit you don't know, or if you stumble through honoring a tradition, lacking a confidence you expect of yourself. Like a pendulum I continue to swing back and forth between shame and curiosity. I see it with many others who have shared their stories with me, too. It's easy to expect ourselves to know more than we know, and to feel bad that we don't. But here's the thing... There's no right way to claim your identity. There's no right way to celebrate your culture. There's no timeline you need to be on. Traditions are allowed to evolve. You're allowed to continue to learn for yourself. And wherever you are on YOUR journey, you are not alone #diwali #mentalhealth #intersectionality #culturalidentity

So the Ongoing trend of suggesting "Long Diwali Leave to be declared in India Offices in line with Western Culture of Christmas / Thanksgiving Holidays" - This goes directly against India's Diverse & Rich Culture!! Rather, employees should be encouraged to take leaves for their respective religious beliefs - in a sense - organization culture should be such that employees feel good (& not dreaded) about taking time offs to celebrate their festivals with families - be it Diwali, Pujo / Navratri, Chrismtas, Onam, Pongal, Bihu, Eid, Janmashtmi, Holi, Lohri / Sankranti, Rakhi.. it can be any festival which is celebrated in India's any region. The time off can be spent at home / outside home / any way it is liked to be spent - bottomline is employee should feel happy about it rather than organisation imposing the long off. This whould be more inclusive way of celebrating !! #Festivals #Diwalileaves #Corporateculture

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮🇮🇳 A country where ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ were considered the power, the main source, the goddesses above the gods, where they were worshipped are being tainted with the sinful and monstrous hands of men. A country where ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ never used to wear blouses under their sarees because it’s not good for their health, are being forced to wear bras because it’s “vulgar” to not wear one. A country where Mahabharat and Ramayan happened because the men who tried to befoul ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ, are now told to “wear better clothes”, “to cover themselves up”,that they’re “asking for it”, and they should take “precautions”. A country where people consider just two humans loving each other disgusting but not all these men just roaming around, raping the innocent. We do candle marches, riots, we scream, we shout, so why are we never heard? The “Rape culture” has become so normalised in India that we dont even realise it, that we have started victim-blaming so much, that at this point, if someone hears that someone was raped, the first question is, “what was she wearing?” We celebrate Dussehra every year and Diwali with so much love, lights and passion but do we change our mentality, we never learn what our culture is meant to teach us. Because we never emphasise it. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟. 𝐀𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? #smilecarefoundation #scf #happyindependenceday writeup by - Tanisha Pal

- 🌟 Triumph of Light Over Darkness: Just like Diwali celebrates light over darkness, lawyers work to bring truth and clarity to justice. - 🔍 Dedication & Preparation: Diwali involves preparing our homes and minds, much like how lawyers meticulously prepare for each case. - 👨👩👧👦 Community & Connection: Diwali brings families together, and the legal profession connects individuals, fostering justice and societal harmony. - 🕯️ Spreading Light & Justice: Both the festival and law illuminate paths, promoting integrity and compassion. - ⚖️ Balance & Responsibility: Just as diyas brighten our lives, lawyers play a role in guiding society toward fairness. - ✨ Celebrating Justice: This Diwali, let’s embrace the spirit of justice in our profession, lighting up a brighter future. If there’s any way I can assist with anything, please let me know. #Diwali2024 #FestivalOfLights #JusticeAndTruth #LegalProfession #LawyersOfLinkedIn #IntegrityInLaw #CelebrateJustice #CommunityAndConnection #SpreadingLight #BalanceAndResponsibility

🪔 When Light Conquers Darkness: A Diwali Message The air sparkles with possibility as millions around the world celebrate Diwali. You can feel it. That unmistakable energy of new beginnings. Isn't it fascinating how a festival of lights perfectly mirrors our professional journeys? We hustle through dark patches, navigate uncertainty, and emerge stronger. Always stronger. To my fellow professionals celebrating today: May your ventures shine as bright as diyas. And may your success light the path for others. Not celebrating? No problem. Let's all embrace this moment of global unity. Because in our interconnected business world, understanding and celebrating diversity isn't just nice - it's necessary. Think about it. Every diya lit today represents a small victory over darkness. Just like every milestone you achieve in your professional journey. Keep shining. Happy Diwali! #diwali2024 #diversity #inclusion #leadership #culture #globalcommunity #india

EID HAS BECOME VICTIM OF CORPORATE INSENSITIVITY- I hope India becomes a country where multiculturalism is truly practiced. A key part of this is allowing people to share and celebrate together. However, corporate leave calendars often exclude Eid, the biggest festival for India's largest minority. While festivals like Holi, Diwali, and even Christmas are well recognized, Eid is often an optional holiday or ignored entirely. This neglects India's pluralistic ethos. To build a society where everyone can live peacefully, we must celebrate all communities' festivals. In the USA, Diwali is celebrated not just because of the large Indian population, but to help everyone appreciate their neighbors' cultures. India should adopt a similar approach to foster mutual respect and unity. It is high time that corporates and big companies started facilitating policies that truly reflect the country’s pluralistic ethos, rather than paying lip service to social responsibility. Not doing so would mean abdicating their responsibility towards communal harmony and peaceful coexistence—something our country, which has often seen communal tensions, can ill afford. If there is a rupture in the secular fabric of the nation, they are equally culpable. #equality #justiceforall #corporate #indianlaw #indianconstitution