gINKgo | The RARE Newsletter | Happy Deepawali | Vol 103 | October 2024

Shreyas Retreat, our partner of two decades have the?'Joy of Giving'?program for guests. It empowers guests while on a retreat here to collect vegetables and greens from the 25 acre farm that it is set in, chop and prepare the food themselves with the help of the kitchen team, who always cook to soothing mantras in the background. The meal thus made is served personally by guests to children in the nearby orphanage and residents of an old age home. I have personally seen the love and peace this simple half-day chore brings to guests. Some tear up, just seeing the children eat. There is no gratitude seeking, the children and the elderly just thank God for the day's meal and continue with their day. The giver on the other hand walks away with a sense of gratitude for getting this opportunity to serve, vital in one's journey towards spiritual wellbeing.

This festive season,?you may want to rethink the entire festival economy and who it benefits. A good gift is thoughtful, is used, and in today's context doesn't sit as clutter or is passed on for another occasion. An important question you may wish to ask yourself is – is your gift a genuine offer of gratitude or a transaction? For in the service industry, among friends and family, and to people who already have everything in multiples – a gift has no relevance. Instead, it is feeding consumerism and leaving a trail of garbage both as packaging and 'uselessness', putting more vehicles on the roads for delivery adding to traffic and pollution.

A true gift in these times is a personal visit, a personal greeting and a promise to continue to serve better. And if you do have funds in excess that you have designated for festival times, don't forget innumerable people do not have the luxury of even a full meal a day, animals are waiting to be looked after in shelters and forests that need rejuvenation.

Remember Sudama's handful of 'poha' (patted rice) was enough for Krishna to experience the pure joy of thought and friendship.

Shoba Rudra

Our recommendations for?'Joy of Giving'

1 Pardada Pardadi?was started to tackle the issue of generational poverty and break the patriarchal cycle by providing free education to rural girls and creating a new generation of self-reliant and independent girls.

2 Salam Balak Trust?provides wholesome care for street and homeless children. It provides the children with the opportunity to experience the joys of childhood through its various centers across the city of Mumbai.

3 Wildlife SOS?is a not-for-profit wildlife and nature conservation organization, actively working across India to protect and conserve wild animals and their habitats, study biodiversity, conduct research, and create alternative and sustainable livelihoods for erstwhile poacher communities or those communities that depend on wildlife for sustenance.

4 Dolphin Nature Conservation Society?is committed to the causes of nature conservation, environmental protection, research, education, and awareness. The organization's activities are intended to instill a love for nature and conservation among people, especially among the younger generation.

5 Waste Warriors Society?is a not-for-profit solid waste management (SWM) NGO. Their journey began with Jodie Underhill and Tashi Pareek in the littered hills of Upper Dharamshala with just an empty bag, a pair of gloves, few volunteers, and a vision to clean India.

Here are some ways to spend a mindful 'RARE' Deepawali with owner?hosts and experiences that range from worshipping an ecosystem to quiet retreats and getaways.

Known as Swanti in Bhaktapur and Tihar in other districts, Deepawali is a big celebration in Nepal. While the festivities with lights, diyos (lamps), and food share similarities with how it is celebrated in India, here, crows, dogs, ox/cows, goddess Lakhsmi and people are also worshipped.

Set in what feels like the middle of nowhere, Ramathra Fort offers a quiet Deepawali away from the chaos of urban life. With views of Daang plateau and Kalisil Lake, sunrises are especially spectacular. At twilight, one can watch herds returning from the jungle or blue bulls grazing in the forest scrub below.

The proximity to the Mukteshwar forest, approaching winter and clearer skies makes Sitla Estate the perfect getaway from pollution and noise. Quiet walks, scrumptious meals and unending conversations with the stars are what one can expect here this Deepawali.

This riverside retreat with Panna National Park just across the river sits on eleven acres of land. The beautifully designed mud cottages are modelled on local village houses, and blend in harmony with the landscape of the region. Deepawali is a communal affair here that guests can be a part of.

BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025,?scheduled for 3,4,5 April?is a conference that champions sustainable and experiential travel in the Indian subcontinent. The conference is brought to you by RARE, a pioneer who has promoted individual hoteliers and small indigenous groups from India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, each with a bent for responsible tourism, for over two decades. BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 is in its second edition with BRIDGES by RARE 2024 setting the trend for a conference dedicated to responsible travel.

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