It is that time of the year again, the time of festivities in India. Until a couple of years back, this time lent a spirit of joy and celebration to our surroundings. The streets were lit up, numerous pandals welcomed excited pandal-hoppers and the entire city used to be brimming with so much hustle and bustle. This period was all about donning new clothes, getting acquainted with our culture and traditions and visiting each other’s homes with gifts and sweets.
A popular festival that marks the victory of good over evil, Dussehra, is one of the most awaited festivals in our country. The nine days that precede it are celebrated with as much enthusiasm as the tenth day itself. This year Dussehra is being celebrated on October 15th, but due to the pandemic the celebrations are expected to be low-key. While we may not be able to enter pandals in large numbers or crowd around to see Ravana’s effigies being burnt, there are still many ways to celebrate a safe Dussehra.
Here are a few ways you can enjoy the festival while being safe:
Maintain social distancing: The easiest way to prevent the spread of the virus is to remain socially distant from people. Most pandals will probably not be set up this year or will have a restriction on the number of visitors. Follow the safety guidelines ordered by the government and maintain distance from other pandal visitors. If possible, try and go at odd hours so as to avoid a crowd.
Send gifts to your family and friends: Just because you may not be able to physically visit them, send across a gift to let them know you are reminiscing the past celebrations with them. Move beyond sweets and chocolates and this year try and promote a healthy lifestyle – you can start the trend by gifting affordable and stylish fitness band watches from Timex. The Timex Fitness Band Digital Black Dial Unisex Watch or the Unisex Timex Fit Smart watch are a few timepieces that will bring a smile on anyone’s face, especially if they are already into health and fitness.
They have a wide collection of some of the best smart watches for boys and girls, choose some for your loved ones. Organize a zoom session, dress up and catch up like you would have otherwise – just virtually! What’s best is, you can avail a discount of up to 40% on all Timex timepieces this festive season. So, make it a point to celebrate this Dussehra in style with your favourite Timex timepiece.
Keep your face mask on: You may not be able to completely avoid stepping out of the house. Even if it is to buy basic celebratory necessities for the home or a visit to family. Make sure you do not remove your mask. This situation has been going on for almost two years now and people are starting to get complacent and let their guards down. Streets and markets will be crowded, so it is only wise to keep your mask on for your safety and that of your family.
Carry a hand sanitizer and avoid touching things: When you meet people try not to hug them or shake hands, instead adopt the traditional ‘namaste’ route. If you end up shaking hands or touching a surface, sanitize your hands right after. If you are invited for a meal, make sure you sanitize your hands before eating. These are some basic things to keep in mind to remain safe this festive season.
Online darshan: A lot of pandals these days offer an online form of the darshan. This is an ideal way to celebrate the festival. If you have children, show them how effigies were burnt back in the day online. Take them through a Ramayana movie so they have a clear understanding of the background of this festival. This is the best way to get acquainted with cultural history as well as stay in touch with your roots.
Other than the above-mentioned precautions, try and stay at home as much as possible and avoid crowded markets. Indians tend to analyse a celebration by the crowd that it can collect, however festivities needn’t be synonymous to grandeur. As long as the festive spirit is alive and we are connected with our friends and family, a low-key virtual celebration will be just as wholesome.
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