–
Holi is the festival in which we celebrate the killing of Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika. The story goes like this…
Holika was a demon and the sister of Hiranayakashyap, the demon king. When Hiranayakashyap died in the hands of Narasimha thanks to Prahlad’s prayers, Holika wanted to take revenge on him. Holika had a special boon that prevented her from being harmed by fire. So she had an idea of testing her strength against Prahlad’s bhakti. A huge bonfire was made and Holika walked into the fire with Prahlad in her arms.
But as soon as the fire started raging, Prahlad started chanting his favorite God’s name, Om Namo Narayanaya. Vishnu was so touched by Prahlad’s devotion that he reversed the boon granted to Holika. Holika burnt in the fire while Prahlad emerged unscathed.
The idea of Holi is to remind us to kill the demonic forces within and around us. We must kill the ugly and start afresh with new energy. Holi also happens during the season of spring where everything is fresh and new.
What are you waiting for?
–
– 0 –
Things To Do In Atlanta
Beyond GenAI Pilots: How Enterprises Build Scalable AI with Governance and Trust
Current State of AI Affairs If you're a transformation leader at your organization, or lead any type of team, you must have seen multiple memos by now from senior leadership on the need to innovate and incorporate AI into your existing workflows. These can come...
Empowering Women to Lead in AI: Inside the ElevateHER Launch Event in Atlanta
A Keynote On Women Leaders In AI On March 20th, I attended the launch party of ElevateHER, a non-profit dedicated to building an ecosystem for women to lead in AI. It felt like the perfect opportunity to step into the world of AI firsthand and see what...
Building Trust and Safety: How Accountability Strengthens Law Enforcement and Communities
I have lived in the United States for nearly twenty-four years. This is my home. I am a person of color, and so are my children. In my city of Johns Creek, a suburb northwest of Atlanta, I often see police officers on the roads. I respect the work they do. They show...
I Stumbled Upon a Baby Shower in a Café. It Became a Reminder That Joy Finds Us Anywhere.
It's safe to say it's been a while since I've attended a baby shower. I don't even come across infants on a regular basis. I last saw a baby (almost 1 year old) was at a party this past Thanksgiving. My friend had a grandbaby in 2025. So, that's that. And also...
Living in America’s Melting Pot While Confronting the Housing Crisis No One Talks About
It’s safe to say that even in America, as a true blooded Indian, I live in my own world of Indian food and Bollywood style parties. What little I understand about how everyone else lives is mostly through shows like Friends, Seinfeld, Sex and the City and movies like...
Finding Peace on a Walk Across America: What a Dog, the Deep South, and a Buddhist Monk Teach Us
How Do We Find Peace? “By practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the medicine we all need.” This was the answer given by a Buddhist monk at the Walk for Peace event yesterday in deep south Georgia. And what a moment it was. A Pilgrimage of Peace in...
Writer-At-Large – The 2025 Indian-American Documentary – Final Part
Continued from Part I HERE JULY My son sent me pictures of the Harvard university library from his visit to Boston and I lamented to him that it's the right place for me, and then got back to my life here in ATL. After all, I had to wash all our Indian...
Inside The Moth Atlanta: A Night of Stories About Belonging, Bravery, and Being Human
At the Moth spoken word storytelling event yesterday, the stage was literally set. But, I was never meant to be there. Who pays $80 and drives to downtown Atlanta on a weeknight to listen to five ten-minute stories? I had told myself. But then came a last-minute nudge...
At Atlanta’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, The Line Between Faith And Football Is Blurred
I just walked out of a Georgia Tech vs. University of Pittsburgh football game at half time. And it was not looking good for our Yellow Jackets, let me tell ya. Yup, by the time I finished writing this, my son has told me, we've lost. When our 21 year old got us...
The Invisible Brandons Hiding in Plain Sight – Read by Rachana
https://youtu.be/m64m4MyMcIM - Want To Listen To The Article Instead? - A Night To Remember I came home and couldn’t go back to bed without cleaning my kitchen countertop with my hands. As I cleaned, I thought of Brandon and how he was a...
When East Met West Under the Georgia Sky: A Fusion Wedding at Serenbe
Two Worlds, One “I Do” What can two families born 8000 miles apart yet raising their kids in the deep south of the US have in common? Their children, who inspite of cultural differences, might go on to make promises to love each other forever. And that's what I...
This Diwali, Let’s Seek the Light Within
- Surrendering to our Two Worlds There's no better time than the fall in the US where I see the beautiful dichotomy of our lives. I love learning from my children who effortlessly navigate their two worlds - America when outside in public places and India at...