Hello World!

Hi everyone, I go by my virtual name Navaka. I am a girl from two worlds. My idea behind starting this blog is comprised of a lot of factors. In my life, I have attended 6 schools (both in India and USA), lived in two countries, visited 14 states in India and 13 countries in the world which includes three continents. I have always liked travelling and have written about my experiences ever since I was 6 years old. The reason I’m starting this blog is because I want to put my experiences on the table and create memories.

I want to give my readers a chance to explore different worlds through my experiences, relate to them, or simply enjoy a good story. I have just recently turned 15 and am glad to be starting this journey. Having spent most of my childhood in India, I moved to the USA just in time for my 11th birthday. Mumbai is very close to my heart, and there are a ton of festivals and gatherings I have enjoyed as a child. I believe there are two things that brings Indians together: food and festivals!

During every festival, there is at least one dish that is the star of the show. I remember waking up on these auspicious days, the aroma of sweet and savory delicacies wafting in the air. Mouthwatering, I used to get up, the sizzling oil being my alarm clock. Since I belong to a Maharashtrian family, it fits my personality that Ganesh Chaturthi is my favorite festival. Every year, I looked forward to choosing the idol that would represent the God in our home for one and a half days. This festival is very close to my heart, and I believe it’s what makes me love my culture. Making the arrangements, garlands and plucking Durva (holy grass carefully wrapped with three strands each) with my parents is one of my favorite memories. Most importantly, I love chanting Ganpati Atharvashirsh (Indian prayers) 21 times and helping my mom make the delicious Ukadiche Modak (sweet Indian dumplings). We have brought these traditions to the USA, bringing to life our own small world to Redmond.

Speaking of traditions, I am convinced that language also plays a vital role in it as it’s the soul of our culture. Whether it is represented as a melodious voice in songs, or a vivid story depicted in the form of books, language ties our people and culture together. Without knowing my mother tongue, Marathi, there would have been a missing puzzle piece in the Indian side of me. Devoid of knowing the backstory behind the festivals I celebrate, I would blindly be following what’s told like a lehenga lacking color. At every festival, (be it Gudi Padwa, Rakhi Poornima, Ganpati, Navaratri, Diwali, or Holi) I jovially wear Indian attire to school. I feel that in a way it makes the day unique and enables us to celebrate our culture with family and friends. Each seam of the sari, or lehenga is stitched with the most memorable moments a festival has given each family. So this is me, putting my first footprint forward in the virtual world to create an entire trail behind me for the future. - Navaka

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