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My routine during and before exams

Ever since my exams have started, my routine has gone haywire. But, nonetheless, I have been trying to cope and I’m doing pretty well. All thanks to my bullet journal. As an avid BuJo-ist, I have a great deal of dependence on my journal. And moreover, as a really forgetful person also, this has helped a lot. So let me begin.

I have full day of classes at the university after the exams are over, so that is why my work hours are still the same. I just get on the bus in the morning, study if I have an exam first thing after I reach the uni, or listen to music if it is later in the day and that’s it. After the exam is over, it is a regular day of classes for me and sometimes I do get free periods, during which I study if I have an exam in the afternoon shift, or an exam on the next day. If I don’t have either I just pick up the book I am currently reading, be it a review copy or a personal choice. On the way back home from uni, in the bus, I always sleep with some music on.

Now, if I don’t have an exam on the next day, I head over to the gym directly after getting off the bus, but if I do, I obviously don’t. I have a pretty relaxed schedule this time so I am able to go the gym as well. I come home and then get freshened up, have my lunch, rewind by watching a YouTube video or two while I have my dinner, and then promptly get to work- study, study some more if I have an exam on the next day, do some review work, and lastly, I do indulge in an hour of gaming before I fall asleep.  

And that is pretty much it - my life during exams. Make sure you comment below if you have any questions or whatsoever you want to know, like and do reblog!

[shareabookindia]

Dealing with exam stress: A Rant!

So I recently was forwarded a picture message on WhatsApp, claiming that Henry Fischel was the first person to invent the concept of examination. Now I do not know how true that is, but honestly, let me tell you, if he really is who the message claims he is, and I had a time machine with me, God couldn’t have saved him. Or any other students’ wrath, I bet.

So today is the day my exams begin. My mid-semester exams to be specific and I am so not ready! As you all know, many of us celebrated the Durga Puja this past week and honestly did not have any energy left to do anything else. And now, it is D-Day for me. I am honestly much tensed, as expected, and while I also keep my fingers crossed, I have studied a lot during the weekend. Well, not so much on Saturday because like so many others, I was recuperating from the Puja hangover.

I’m generally a person who kind of like appearing for exams but this time, I’m so not! It is just that we had such a dearth of time to prepare that I’m dreading it. Nonetheless, I shall obviously try to do my best.

Anyone else having their exams at this time too?? Don’t forget to share your thoughts on this below! Like and reblog!

Love,

Nika

[shareabookindia]

An individual means to promote reading

When I was young, we had a maid – a nice young girl, who was accomplished in all ways except one – she could not read nor write. And so the young ambitious and righteous me took it upon myself to educate her. And so, every afternoon, I taught her the alphabets, (she had a fair idea of numbers), and then we progressed to words. Unfortunately, before I could completely teach her the sentences, except the basic ones, she had to leave. Nonetheless, looking back, I am happy I tried.

In the present times, I suppose the only way I promote reading actively, is by selling my books to interested parties. And I am so happy to see that so many kids my age are excited to buy them from me, that some even come up to me and ask if I might be interested in selling them a particular book.

I also basically force the kids in my family to read! It’s quite funny – some want to and some just detest it. Apart from that, I am just so happy that I am a part of SABIA!

[shareabookindia]

About Durga Puja

Durga Puja, also called Durgotsava, is an annual Hindu festival in the Indian subcontinent that is hed to honour the goddess Durga. It is a ten-day festival, of which the last five are typically special and an annual holiday in regions such as West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha and Tripura where it is particularly popular. Celebrated during September-October, it is a multi-day festival celebrated with great pomp and show. In the contemporary era, the importance of Durga Puja is as much as a social festival as a religious one wherever it is observed.

Durga Puja festival marks the battle of goddess Durga with the shape-shifting, deceptive and powerful buffalo demon Mahishasura, and her emerging victorious. Thus, the festival epitomises the victory of good over evil.

The Durga Puja festival dates coincide with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) observed by other traditions of Hinduism, where the Ram Lila is enacted — the victory of Rama is marked and effigies of demon Ravana are burnt instead.

The primary goddess revered during Durga Puja is Durga, but her stage and celebrations feature other major deities of Hinduism such as goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth, prosperity), Saraswati(goddess of knowledge and music), Ganesha (god of good beginnings) and Kartikeya (god of war). The latter two are considered to be children of Durga (Parvati). The Hindu god Shiva, as Durga's husband, is also revered during this festival.

It is said that during this time, the goddess Durga has come with her children to visit her mother’s place. The festival begins on the first day with Mahalaya, marking Durga's advent in her battle against evil. The mantras start early in the morning on this day and everyone has either turned up the radio to full volume, or have already visited the temples themselves.

Starting with the sixth day (Sasthi), the goddess is welcomed. And the festival formally opens and celebrations begin in elaborately decorated temples and pandals hosting the statues. Lakshmi and Saraswati are revered on the following days. The festival ends of the tenth day of Vijaya Dashami, when with drum beats of music and chants, Shakta Hindu communities start a procession carrying the colorful clay statues to a river or ocean and immerse them, as a form of goodbye and her return to divine cosmos and Mount Kailash. She finally returns to her husband. The general surrounding turns pensive and tears can be seen in the eyes of many.

The festival is an old tradition of Hinduism, though it is unclear how and in which century the festival began. Surviving manuscripts from the 14th century provide guidelines for Durga puja, while historical records suggest royalty and wealthy families were sponsoring major Durga Puja public festivities since at least the 16th century. The prominence of Durga Puja increased during the British Raj in its provinces of Bengal and Assam.

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The major festival that many Indians are celebrating!

With autumn, comes the most anticipated festival of the year for most Indians. Most of you might already know of the #pujo craze that is sweeping away the people with great pomp and show. West Bengal is notorious for the amazing preparations that come up every Durga Puja. Yes, Durga Puja.

Let me tell you something more about it today.

Durga puja or Pujo is a time of the year when cities come to a standstill- offices, schools and basically everything is closed, there are major sales in all retail stores, bazaars and of course online stops as well. As an Assamese (I hail from Assam), this is one festival I look forward to every year. And why, you might ask. It’s because this is simply contagious. Ever since the month began, there was the anticipation in the air- people were talking about Puja and I was not exempt from it. You buy new clothes, new jewelry, new everything- you go on full house renovation and then decoration mode and then go buy tons of new things for friends and family. Of course that’s just the topping, the before-party you could say.

Today is shasthi, or the 6th day, when the Puja begins. The roads are all lit up by miles and miles of fairy lights. There are huge arches put up, all sparkling and new and there is music all around. On the footpaths you see beautiful men and women, all decked up to see the puja pandals (Thank God it’s not hot anymore). And then, when you get together with friends you go pandal-hopping which is basically you go on a sightseeing sort of spree, visiting all the puja pandals that come in your way.

And the jalebis?! Let me just stop and control my drooling. There are so many sweet shops making fresh new jalebis and it’s wonderful really. There are throngs of people at these places, all excited to get their share of this yummy sweet!

Tell me in the comments below, what’s your favourite festival? Is it Durga Puja as well? Have you ever celebrated Puja?

[shareabookindia]

Classic Recommendations for October horror reads!

Since October is here, I thought why not write a recommendations post for horror reads! I know that so many of you prefer reading spooky novels during this time, as Halloween approaches, and so, here it is! Hope this post inspires you to pick up a few books!

Frankenstein – written by a young (read, teenage) Mary Shelley, the backstory to this gothic horror novel is just as interesting. The book from where “You are my creator, but I am your master. Obey!” came from, Frankenstein is a literary masterpiece.

 Dracula – a classic vampire story is Bram Stoker’s masterpiece set in England as well as in Transylvania. The descriptions of the environment itself are enough to give you the spooks.

 Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier’s best-known work, Rebecca is a visually stunning, full of imagery, the perfect horror novel, replete with mystery and romance.

 The Haunting of Hill House – One of the greatest ghost stories of the 20th century, Shirley Jackson’s book has also been adapted by Netflix now!

 We Have Always Lived In The Castle – Another one of Shirley Jackson’s book, We Have Always Lived In The Castle is written in the voice of eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine "Merricat" Blackwood, who lives with her sister and uncle on an estate in Vermont. Six years before the events of the novel, the Blackwood family experienced a tragedy that left the three survivors isolated from the rest of their small village.

I have included only a few from the humongous list of horror novels. Is there any that you think must be read by everyone? Or even by me? What’s the most underrated horror novel you have ever read? What is your favorite horror novel? Don’t forget to comment below!

[shareabookindia]

On Reading…

Here on Tumblr, we find so many people with so many different tastes. And I hope that for those who love to read, and call themselves avid bibliophiles, bibliotaphs and all the rest of the biblio-words, find in these articles, something to relate to, and something to help them.

Reading, for so many people, is a passion- it’s something they always turn to, at the end of the day. Because it is reading, that at the end of the day, that can provide them solace, and make them content. I say that because it is the same with me. Leading a hectic life is some all of us millennials and Gen Zs are used too. Life today is so fast-paced with cut-throat competition everywhere. And to stay on top is everyone’s priority. In the midst of all this chaos and whirlwind, the man often forgets to give some time to himself. Self-care is something so many of us often always overlook. And so, I always think that having an activity that you can fall back upon, time and time again, is a really healthy and beneficial thing to have.

And for me, it is reading. I read whenever and wherever I can. I always have a book on me at all times. And as such, I always get a bit of relaxation every now and then. Nonetheless, reading is that thing for me. What is yours? Share in the comments below!

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Of the mind, its weaknesses and related books…

Mental Health is an issue that I am happy to say, is not a taboo any longer. Our generation is no longer afraid to speak out and address this issue that has never been treated like any bodily disease might have been. But today, we see more and more people being conscious about it and even reading about it. It also helps that so many books on mental health are released every day.

A few weeks back, I personally faced this issue. I was doing a lot – had a lot on my plat, to be honest – and it took a toll on me because I couldn’t balance it all. On top, I panicked. And that, my dear readers, is the reason why I haven’t been posting these past couple weeks. But now, I am back and I intend to go on doing this thing – writing is a beautiful activity and I intend never to give that up again. Nonetheless, moving on with the article, here are a few books that deal with mental illnesses. Trigger warning: some talk about self-harm, suicides, etc. in a very realistic and raw manner and if that is something you cannot handle, kindly pay heed to this. But, these are some very wonderful books that I think people who wish to know more about this issue, should give a read.

 1.      The Astonishing Colour of After – In this dazzling debut, author Emily X.R. Pan has created a spellbinding narrative about love, family, and what it means to grieve. A sweet and poignant story about loss and letting go, this book is a great introduction for young readers who are trying to understand mental illness and its potential consequences. There are also elements of magical realism in this book.

 2.      Life is What You Make It – One of the best fiction books by an Indian author, Preeti Shenoy’s Life is what you make it, is a favourite book of mine. The protagonist deals with bipolar disorder and we see how damaging and harrowing the experience can be. It is also a very inspirational story overall. I still go back to it, time and time again.

 3.      First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety - Inspiring and insightful, this part-memoir, part-guidebook is the perfect read for anyone struggling with their own mental health. In First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, the author draws from her personal experiences with chronic anxiety and the years she devoted to researching her illness to create a completely new outlook on living life with the disease, one that believes in embracing, not running scared from, the condition.

 4.      All the Bright Places – Jenifer Niven’s book is a personal favourite of mine and it deals with bipolar disorder, depression, suicide attempts and the aftermath of recovery. Truly touching and raw, this is a must-read contemporary book for not only literature students like myself but everyone in general.

 5.      The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath’s classic is a wonderful and emotionally crippling text that is taught in schools and colleges today as well. This semi-autobiographical novel has become a classic for its brutally honest portrayal of the writer’s own depression. Through the use of the hypnotic stream of consciousness technique, she describes the emotional and psychological breakdown of Esther Greenwood, a woman struggling against self-destructive thoughts and overwhelming darkness.

Tell me about your reading experience when it comes to this category of books. Any book you would like to recommend?

Love,

 Nika