top of page


Janmashtmi Celebrations
#WhyDoWe What did Janmashtmi Celebrations look like when you were younger? For me, it was staying up untll midnight, welcoming the...
Vaishali A. Patel
Oct 7, 20211 min read
676 views
0 comments


Dressing in "chaandalo" or "bindi"
#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi... One of the things I looked forward to as a young girl in the 80s -...
Vaishali A. Patel
Oct 6, 20211 min read
208 views
0 comments


Are you just in it to win?
#WhyDoWe Are you part of the race? Do you care if you win or lose? During one of my morning readings recently I came across this...
Vaishali A. Patel
Oct 5, 20211 min read
35 views
0 comments


Jada Blankets
Let's keep in touch on language learning and culture - join my email list!dd#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 25, 20211 min read
53 views
0 comments


Familiar Desi Indian Phrases
#WhyDoWe What is a Desi phrase you heard all the time growing up? "MARA MATHA PAR MOOK" Whenever I asked my mommy where should I...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 19, 20211 min read
454 views
0 comments


Going All-Out for Birthdays
#WhyDoWe So, tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi. 🤣🤣 For the longest time I thought this is how everyone in the...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 19, 20211 min read
120 views
0 comments


Festivals and Celebrations during Shraavan Mahino
#WhyDoWe NAAGPANCHAMI Many of us are scared of snakes. That makes sense, as many snakes are poisonous! However, in a farming country like...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 19, 20214 min read
305 views
0 comments


Do you own a Saavarani?
#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi... If you own a "Saavarani" "zaadu" or "peenchhi" raise your hand ✋🏾...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20211 min read
100 views
0 comments


Shraavan Mahino
#WhyDoWe What was self care and meditative life like for our grandparents? SHRAVAN MAHINO - Shraavan Month. Google may say it started...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20212 min read
58 views
0 comments


Share Your Debt and Sorrow
#WhyDoWe Would you tell people in your circle if you were in debt or terminally ill? “Dukh ane dard ek beejaa saathe vehchavu” (Share...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20212 min read
36 views
0 comments


Rotli
#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi... Rotli no dabbo - Roti dabaa I remember when we spent our summers in...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20211 min read
98 views
0 comments


Do You 'Act' Your Age?
#WhyDoWe "Act your age" "Aa ummare aa badhu naa sobhe ("This doesn't suit you at this age") "At this age focus on Bhakti, raising...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20211 min read
44 views
0 comments


Oombaraa Pujan
#WhyDoWe Have you seen women around you cleaning the door frame (Oombaro) and putting kumkum dots or divo by it? Why do we do...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20212 min read
82 views
0 comments


Raising Daughters Like Sons
#WhyDoWe "I have raised my daughter like a son” (Maari dikari ne dikaraa ni jem moti kari chhe) hmmm... How about “I have raised my son...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20212 min read
120 views
0 comments


Judging Those Who Don't Speak English
#WhyDoWe We look the same, we dress the same, we eat the same food, then why do you say he is Bengali, Sri Lankan, Pakistani? And why are...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20212 min read
39 views
0 comments
bottom of page