VYAS-On-Keys

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Stree Shakthi focuses on Rakshitha who is with a mission of spreading Bharathiya Sanskriti.

Bharathiya Sanskriti is not merely a relic of the past; it’s a living, breathing force that continues to shape modern India. I truly believe that it is the essence of unity in diversity, where different traditions and communities coexist. It’s a culture that is adaptable and ever-evolving. Meet Nagarakshitha Ramesh, an instagram influencer who has taken it upon herself to help preserve the Bharathiya Sanskriti by building awareness through her posts. Her posts are just not beautiful photographs but urge people to embrace and preserve this beautiful culture. Let us get to know more about her mission.

Hi Rakshitha Ji, what was your motivation to start this page and in general creating awareness about Indic values and Bharathiya culture.any future plans of writing a book or a creating a podcast.?

Namaste, thank you for inviting me as your guest. When I initially started my Instagram page, my motive was not specifically to make videos on Bharatiya culture, as my page was a general lifestyle blog. However, when I saw the huge responses from my audience when I made videos on festivals, I realized there is a great need to talk about Bharatiya tradition. As someone who firmly believes in Sanatana dharma, I couldn’t have found a better opportunity to talk about it.

Could you please elaborate on the position of woman and woman related issues in our culture. There is a lot misunderstanding and hypocrisy when it comes to women issues and Bharathiya culture?

The importance given to shtree (women) in Bharatiya traditions is unparalleled. While we are currently discussing the need to respect and empower women, it is noteworthy that our ancestors held women in high regard and accorded them significant opportunities. Throughout history, this narrative may have evolved due to the paramount importance of protecting women from invasions and external threats. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge and appreciate the longstanding tradition of honouring and valuing women in Bharatiya culture.

How has the reception been on social media and how do you face every day challenges/ criticism that come with speaking about our rituals?

My audience has been the greatest motivation for me. Some of the responses I get from followers are beyond happiness. But on the flip side, I do get a lot of baseless comments that people make on Sanatana Dharma; they are often disturbing. But I am slowly getting resistant to that. Being on social media, it would be wrong for me to be scared of hate comments.

What do you see as a small / basic step we all can take to understand our customs and ensure it’s passed on safely to the next generation?

Firstly it’s important for us to whole heartedly believe and celebrate our customs. Kids learn by seeing us more than hearing from us. Then we have to slowly built interest in them by narrating stories that inspire kids like Panchatantra, Ramayana/Mahabharata that are available in kids version. We have to involve them in festive preparation. Small efforts from our side may go a long way.

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A post shared by Nagarakshitha Ramesh (@rakshitha_shivraj)

What are the top 3 modern hypocrisies that you have addressed and how our Bharathiya customs have a more robust and sustainable practise to address these?

Most hypocrites I find are people who talk about traditions worldwide but discard all the Bharatiya traditions as superstitious. Then comes people who portray themselves as too busy to celebrate our festivals. But have all the time in the world to celebrate Christmas, New Year, and Halloween. I also find it annoying when people say “Indian mindset”; you usually hear it only in Asian countries or countries that have been colonized. We have been made to believe that we are flawed as a society, but others are not. It’s the other way around in reality.

Lastly , please share something that you enjoy and look forward to another Navaratri?

Growing up in a very small town in Karnataka and being born to traditional parents, I looked forward to these nine days. Navaratri in my hometown is very special; concerts are going on in many temples, and we visit houses that have the custom of keeping Golu (Dasara dolls) at their homes. Also, it’s a great joy to be curious to know what Alankara has done to Devi in each temple. My mother performed pooja every evening; She and I used to sing a song written on Devi. It’s beautiful to go that memory lane. As someone staying away from Bharat, I try to make it as homely as possible (of course that experience cannot be matched). I perform pooja every evening, visit temples whenever possible, and prepare festive food. But overall, festive days are always special and significant in our lives.

Rakshitha’s instagram feed is infectious and encourages her followers to believe in the mission of preserving this beautiful Bharathiya culture. I am sure when you follow her feed, you will learn a lot, have many myths broken and several questions answered. Join with us to celebrate and to preserve this timeless legacy of ours.