Tips for Window Shopping! (Please, Do Forget Your Wallet at Home.)

Post Written by Payal Singh

We shop till we drop! Indeed, I love shopping too and I know you also want to buy everything you want to have in your wardrobe, shoe rack, jewellery box and accessory section. But it’s not necessary that whenever you take a trip to a mall or you walk on the street with a gang of girls, need to empty your purse by browsing all the window displays, catch your eyes. If you are saving money and spending a lot on shopping is really not a good side for your money management. To control the lure of shopping and balance your wants with your needs, I have got few tips for you.

Take these tips, go for a Window Shopping and come back with a positive experience.

Tip #1

Use your Wi-Fi to research on your Product!

Go for online window shopping first, you will get a clear picture about the item and price both. Do search about all the stores where you need to visit to check that item. I will suggest you to go to a place where you can find multiple shops and can save your energy and time both.

Tip #2

Kill your spare time! Go for a window shopping!

Window shopping is the best rescue when you have ample free time at hand. Rather than getting bored at home, take yourself to a trip in a wholesale or retail market where you can see all type of buying stuffs and can compare as well. . You can scrutinize an item for hours!

Tip #3
Window Shopping is a trial before spending!
If you want to buy an item which is ongoing trend in fashion then instead of buying it directly take your time out on the weekend check it out well, try and then spend on it according to your flexibility of buying.

Tip #4
Go with your buddy, make it a gossip day!
If you’re going for a window shopping, invite your friends as well who has similar choice, can give you better suggestions and prevent you from purchasing. Do walk, talk, eat, explore and enjoy, make it a gossip day.

Tip #5
Take snap, save it in your gallery!
It’s an era of taking selfie! If you have taken the trip to a mall. Try the outfit you liked and capture it.

Tip #6
Please, do forget your wallet at home!
Remember, you are going for a window shopping and it’s at free of cost. Your purse has no work to do. You can use a small amount of your digital money for tasting something yummy or to holding a cup a coffee.

Significance of Bindi and Sindoor

Post Written by Payal Singh

The 'Bindi' is arguably the most visually fascinating of all forms of body decoration and 'Sindoor' is a sign of wedlock.

Origin of Bindi and Sindoor 

Bindi: In ancient India, thin and tender leaves used to be cut into different shapes and pasted upon the forehead and these leafy bindis were also known by various name: 'Patrachhedya', 'Patralekha', 'Patrabhanga', 'Patramanjari'.

• In the ancient Aryan society, a bridegroom made a 'tilak' mark on the bride's forehead as a sign of wedlock. The present practice can be an extension of that tradition.
• Sandal paste and other natural stuffs were used for decoration not only on the forehead, but also on the chin, neck, palm, breast and in other parts of the body.

Sindoor: The history can be traced as back as 5000 years ago when hinduism started showing it's seeds into the culture and traditional outlook in India and around. Historians have also discovered that during the existence of Harappan civilization, it was applied along the partition of a woman's hair and it was the most prominent mark of her being married.

Bindi and Sindoor Are Mentioned in Hindu Epics

• Instance of practice of placing kumkum is mentioned in ancient texts like the Puranas, Lalita Sahasranamam, Soundarya Lahari etc. 
• Radha, the companion of Sri Krishna transformed the Kumkum into a flame on her forehead.
• In Mahabharata, Draupadi wiped her sindoor in utter dismay and despair at the time of stripping off her saree in the Hastinapur Court.
• In Ramayana, Sita used to apply sindoor to please her husband, Lord Rama.
• As per traditional belief, Maa Parvati also applied sindoor and shared her sacred sentiments on marriage and sindoor with her women folks.

Significance of Bindi and Sindoor

The origin of the bindi and sindoor can be found in the ancient time but has lots of significance in modern life.

• Bindi is worn by married and unmarried both women and no longer signifies marital status, age or religious background and has purely decorative in function available in a variety of colors and shapes, applicable according to the fashion and trend.
• Generally a married woman wears red bindi between two eyebrows which symbolizes the power of womanhood, love for her husband and 'shakti'.
• Sindoor is applied for the first time to a hindu woman during the marriage ceremony when the bridegroom himself adorns her with it during the ritual of 'Sindoor Dana' which is a transformation of her status from unmarried to married.

Spiritual Significance of Bindi

• The area between the eyebrows on the forehead is the spot of 'Ajna Chakra' (third eye) where one applies the bindi even it is considered as the point of wisdom and here,one finally loses sense of individuality and achieves self realization or higher level of spirituality.
• Every morning, a hindu woman takes bath and sits for prayer and she leaves the prayer room putting a mark on her forehead which reminds her activities and her purpose of life throughout the day and takes her towards her achievement and self realization by seeing others' mark on their foreheads.

Spiritual Significance of Sindoor

• In traditional Hindu society, wearing sindoor is considered must for a married hindu women as it is visible expression of their desire for their husbands' longevity.
• Traditionally, therefore a widow do not wear sindoor and red bindi, but allowed to wear black bindi which is considered as a symbol of sorrows ness after losing her husband.

Socio Significance of Bindi

• The social purpose was to ward of evil eye of the young unmarried girl by making her wearing a black bindi.
• In southern India, girls chooses to wear kumkum or a bindi, while in other parts of India, it is the priority of married women. 

Socio Significance of Sindoor

• Sindoor signifies that a woman is under the protection of her husband. Hence, no one should make mistake to cast an evil eye on her.
• In Indian culture, both sindoor and kumkum are auspicious, stand for good fortune and signs of 'Soubhagya' in the case of married woman.

Religious Significance of Bindi

• Wearing kumkum with white sandalwood of a woman or Brahmin woman or bhakta of Sri Krishna signifies purity.
• After completion of all the puja or worship as blessing women take kumkum from god's feet and wear it as bindi on their forehead. 

Religious Significance of Sindoor

• In North India, it is customary for a husband to apply on his wife's forehead during Navratri and Sankranti.
• In West Bengal, there's a custom of 'Sindoor Khela' during Durga Puja on the day of Vijayadashami when all Hindu Bengali women smear each other's forehead with sindoor which is symbolize the power of womanhood and protecting their husbands and children from all evils.

Astrological significance of Bindi and Sindoor

• According to Hindu astrology, Mesha Rashi or the House of Aries is on the forehead. The Lord of Mesha is Mars and his color is red. This is why red sindoor or kumkum as bindi is applied on the forehead and sindoor is applied at the parting of hair.
• Both are sign of good fortune and female energy.

Health benefits and physiological Significance of Bindi

• A bindi is much more than a fashion statement or a sign of tradition and religion. This cultural practice actually has health benefits.
• Positioning of the bindi in between the eyebrows is significant. Experts say this area Ajna Chakra ( The 6th Chakra) meaning 'command' and controls various level of concentration attained to meditation and pranayam can activate the chakra's energy.
• In Chinese Acupressure Science, this point is considered to be a converging point of nerves and a massage is believed to relieve headaches.
• Ayurveda also believes messaging this spot relives stress and insomnia.
• Kumkum is hygroscopic in nature and greatly assists to remove excess water from one's head.
• Turmeric has anti bacterial properties.
• Chandan or sandalwood is renowned for it's 'cooling' properties.

Health benefits and physiological Significance of Sindoor

• Sindoor contains mercury, turmeric and lime. Mercury acts as a catalyst that helps keeping brain active and alert which is a necessity for a newly married bride to take care of her new family.
• Mercury also helps in controlling blood pressure, activating sexual drive and libidinal energy. This is why unmarried or widow woman are forbidden from applying sindoor.
• As per the Hindu tradition newly married women must wear sindoor till the back but the scientific reason behind it is sindoor should be applied right upto pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered.

Find happiness in the smallest of things

Post Written by Payal Singh

In our pursuit of happiness, we tend to focus on the more monumental things in life — like landing a dream job and earn many digits to buy happiness or having a fairy-tale wedding. But no matter how good those things can make us feel, the bursts of intense joy they bring will fade once the excitement wears off. So, don’t bet your happiness on big events and grand successes. Instead, school yourself in the art of finding happiness in the smallest of things.

We’re normally so focused on the big things in life that we tend to completely overlook the small ones that nourish our body, mind and soul. Unlike big life events and brag-worthy accomplishments, it’s those little things that can bring real, lasting happiness. Not that fleeting rush of pleasure, but a deep sense of well-being that sustains us in good times and bad. In today’s reality, it’s even more important than ever to be proactive about creating and appreciating these little moments of happiness.

LEARN TO SAVOUR THE LITTLE THINGS WITH 6 NEW HABITS

Start inviting lasting happiness into your life today with these new habits. I wrote because I adopted them, why don't you?

1. YOUR MINDFULNESS IN TINY MOMENTS

Cherish the little moments in life that often go unnoticed, especially in times of crisis. If you’re mindful of the small things that are seemingly mundane or insignificant – like splash colors into your life. Decorate everything with colors according to your choice. Eg: White for your bedroom to make your room more peaceful, colorful boho decor for your dinning, keep lots of air purifier plants, make a perfectly happy work from home set up if you are working form home, keep your kitchen clean. Spray jasmine or lavender air freshener. Open yourself up to the happiness those tiny moments can bring.


2. APPRICIATE WHAT YOU HAVE

Regularly expressing what you’re grateful for in your life makes you feel happier. Gratitude has demonstrated positive effects on our physical and mental well-being – it increases the brain’s happiness hormones, decreases stress levels and improves sleep. So why not practice a two-minute thankfulness routine every day? Get a notebook that will be your dedicated gratitude journal, and write down what you’re grateful for each day. And also don't forget to pray before you sleep.

3. REMEMBER, YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO YOURSELF

If you are physically fit, you are mentally stronger and happy to be happier. Take little time out in the morning to have a warm sunbath and be friendly with mother-nature, do Yoga to focus yourself more, pamper yourself with a book and mug of coffee or a glass of wine, add healthy food in your diet, do exercise to burn your extra calorie, look into the mirror and smile to yourself. 

4. BE YOUR OWN FRIEND

Practicing self-kindness is just as important as being kind to others when it comes to feeling happy. Treat yourself like you would treat a dear friend. Brew yourself a hot cup of tea on a cloudy morning, be non-judgemental, set aside some time for yourself, treat yourself to some pampering, embrace your imperfections, talk to yourself and love yourself whole-heartedly. 

5. BE KIND TO OTHERS

Neuroscientists have found that performing acts of kindness and compassion has a stimulating effect on your brain’s pleasure and reward centres. But we actually don’t need brain scans to know that helping others can make us happier. Being kind to family, friends and even random strangers opens up lots of possibilities to deepen meaningful connections and make new friends.

6. CONNECT WITH YOUR CONNECTIONS

Set aside time to spend quality time together, plan a video call with friends, play games, plan a sudden trip with your buddies and just be present in your relationships with others. And remember, positive interactions and conversations will boost your oxytocin levels, also known as the feel-good hormone, which will in turn reduce any stress you may be feeling.