Time for a new Wish: A Chant, A Realisation!

This morning, on the second Monday of this sacred Sawan month, after finishing my pooja ritual by the shivling in the temple, I found a quiet park bench to sit with my thoughts. Or rather, to escape them. The emotional hurricane inside me wasn’t having a great day, so I did the only thing that made sense—chant.

The first few minutes were just me vs. my brain, but with every chant, my breath evened out, and the noise slowly faded. Was it divine intervention? Probably or probably not. But it was better than hiding under a blanket of procrastination in my bedroom—alone.

As I opened my eyes, I saw devotees all around, immersed in rituals, seeking blessings from Devon ke Dev, Mahadev. But what truly caught my attention was a group of young girls—draped in vibrant traditional attire, giggling softly between chants, yet firmly holding their ground in front of the shivling. No one could even manage a passing “hello” to Shiva until their prayers were heard—loud and clear. Their determination reflected a heartfelt desire, shaped by tradition and belief. After all, we’ve long been conditioned to believe that the ultimate wish behind solah somvaar fasts and the sacred rituals of Sawan is the same: “a good husband.”

Been there. Done that. Period!

But now, as I sit here chanting and praying to the almighty, my prayer sounds different, my callings have changed. In fact… let’s just say my prayer has evolved. If only these girls peek a little into the future, would they still wish the same?

“When will we start teaching our girls not to wish for a ‘true love’s kiss’, but to wish for strength, financial independence, and a life of self-earned bliss?”

Let our girls pray, yes—but for power, not permission.

For Shiva’s sake.