Contributed by Mridula

Having said that, look around you. How many people in India are willing to take risks and invite the chance of failure?  How do we look at those who do make the attempt? How do we deal with people who have tried and failed?
In India, generally the society tends to denigrate those who are willing to take risks in their lives. We mock them, we speak of them in derogatory tones, and if they do fail, then it becomes a case of “we told you so “. Rather than encouraging them and helping them to try again, we mock them from the side-lines.
Why do we do this?
One of the banes of Indian society is the attitude of “ Chalta Hai ” – or everything is ok – it does not really matter. This acceptance of the world as it is has been one of the main reasons why we do not progress too far. It is this same attitude which makes us look askance at those who do take the risk and try to change what is happening around them.

Contributed by Disha Mehrotra

Status of single women in India is very horrible.  Many taboos are still prevalent in India and the life of single women in India is becoming worse day by day. One cannot imagine the number of problems they are facing. Many divorcees, widows etc are still not accepted by the Indian society. Not only they have to face the loss of companions, but also they have to cope with all sorts of financial problems. She has to live for her children and be brave for them. A woman cannot let her child suffer due to her despair. Women in India often have a Cinderella syndrome. They feel that once they get married, they will get all the happiness in the world. But once their dreams are shattered, everything seems like a burden to them. One loses the capacity to go out and face the world. But not all women are unlucky. Some women possess special skills and talents. Hence, they can manage to expand their business and meet the expenses. However, some have to depend on relatives too.  There are times, where single women are forced to clear their husbands’ debts. Life for them is not a cozy ride anymore. They have to work day and night in order to meet the needs of her family. Some women outside India are lucky enough that they have their own apartment. But a single woman in India has to stay without a roof, once her husband dies. She is denied the basic human right of shelter. In-laws treat her very badly and do not allow her to stay with them. All rights are taken away by them.
Economic problems persist even for divorcees.  She has to face tremendous problems with regards to money. One has to handle the entire responsibility of children as well as household. Husband sends a very less amount of money. This is obviously very insufficient for a woman to manage and meet all expenses. Apart from the financial struggle, a single woman has to handle other responsibilities too. She has to be the mother as well as the father for her children. She is literally drained mentally and physically in the challenge of handling a pile of other responsibilities. Single women have to fulfill all needs of their children and dedicate sufficient time to them. However, in many cases this is not possible. This hampers the child to a great extent. Children are denied of a father figure, which is very important for their development. Hence a mother has to cater to all needs and bring all possible happiness for a child.
Single mothers are not accepted many a times. They are considered as outcasts by the society. Indian society treats divorced women very harshly. Society blames women for whatever happens. Widowed women are given the worst treatment ever possible.  Women who have been kicked out from homes should actually be considered as courageous, but the scene in India is totally opposite. Here women are blamed for spoiling their own marriage. Single women also face hostility, when it comes to taking admissions for children or getting them married. Many a times they don’t get the appropriate family support which they need. They are treated as oddities. Single women in India are largely discriminated and are subject to sexual exploitation and violence.

Contributed by Disha Mehrotra

India is treated as a country of festivals. Indian Festivals celebrated by varied cultures and through their special rituals add to the colours of Indian Heritage. Some festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon. Others celebrate religious occasions, the birthdays of divine beings, saints, and gurus (revered teachers), or the advent of the New Year. A number of these festivals are common to most parts of India.

Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. In West Bengal and Orissa of India it is known as Dolyatra (Doul Jatra). The most celebrated Holi is that of the Braj region, in locations connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. These places have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi, which lasts here up to sixteen days.

Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali, popularly known as the “festival of lights”, is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, celebrated for different reasons, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.