Sattva : Issue 06
Shiny happy plants, Creating intent, Getting you set for hot summer days and more
Sattva (सत्त्व) is a beautiful Sanskrit word that has many meanings—spirit, true essence, good sense, wisdom, quality of purity, energy, consciousness and mind, among other things.
Through this fortnightly newsletter, I want to bring to you all things good, which will make your life better. My focus will be on topics such as mindfulness, productivity, slow living and sustainability, accompanied by genuinely useful recommendations of products, books, music, links to read, and of course food and recipes. Through these, I hope to instil some Sattva in your life.
Happy new year - Putthandu Nalvazthukkal
Many Hindu communities in India celebrate their new year between 13th and 15th April -Tamil Putthandu, Yugaadi, Ugadi, Vishu, Baisakhi, Gudi Padwa, Bohag Bihu, Pohela Boishakh and Chetti Chaand to name a few. Those following the solar calendar have a fixed date in April which is either 13, 14 or 15 while the dates could vary for those following the lunar calendar. It is also the start of Ramzan. My greetings and best wishes to all those observing the holy month.
An ingredient that plays an important role in the new year feast for Ugadi is surprisingly neem flower. Flowers and tender leaves are gathered from the neem tree that is in full bloom at this time of the year. Neem flowers lend the bitter component to Ugadi pachadi. This new year dish prepared in Andhra and Telangana is a mingling of six flavours - sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and spicy; a metaphor for life itself. Ugadi pachadi signifies an acceptance of the fact that life is not always sweet, but it is the ups and downs and the variety of experiences that make life what it is.
In Karnataka, there is the tradition of preparing bevu bella (bittersweet in English) for Yugaadi. Jaggery and finely chopped neem leaves are rolled into balls, as an analogy for the sweet and bitter moments that make up life. I find these to be beautiful lessons in acceptance while we start a new year. I wish you and your loved ones more sweet times in the coming year.
Shiny happy plants
Neem oil should be in the arsenal of every home gardener. A regular neem spray keeps the pest attacks away, especially in kitchen gardens. Indoor plants have been a source of joy and comfort during the pandemic. The foliage and greenery bestowing a touch of nature in our concrete homes. The dusty months of April and May can make your indoor plants look dull. Here’s a tip inspired by Lida / @spiritofplants (Instagram) that I have been using on my indoor plant babies, especially those with large leaves. In a bowl of water, add a few drops of dishwashing soap and one drop of neem oil. Mix well. Using cotton gloves or cotton cloth, wipe the leaves. This can be done once a week. They will turn shiny and healthy.
Bonus tip: I also use large-sized cotton socks (usually given in long flights, anyone remembers a long flight anymore?) for this purpose. I put my hand into the sock, dip it into the prepared solution and wipe the leaves down. These are easier to wash than cotton gloves and this is a good use for a pair of socks that are too flimsy to wear anyway.
Create intent in your life
A new year is a good time to infuse some life into your goals. While learning to accept the present can reduce our internal resentment, there is no harm in wanting to change certain aspects of our life for the better. The first step is to clearly define the intent. For example, if you're unhappy with your current job, rather than just say "I don’t like my job", it would be better to clearly define your intent "I would like a job that brings me creative satisfaction and more money" or “I am going to put in 20 minutes every day to work towards finding a job that will make me happy”. Do this exercise for whatever your goal may be. This may be a small shift, but it gives your mind a concrete direction and subconsciously puts you in the best mindset to make your intentions come true. Just telling this to yourself every day or writing it down in your personal journal will help set your intent right.
Getting you armed for summer days
A round-the-year pleasant weather city like Bengaluru is seeing uncomfortably hot days. 31 celsius at 6 PM is quite a shocker. Even though I have an open kitchen and it is well ventilated, standing in front of the burners and cooking feels like a punishment these days. I try to meal prep a few ingredients at one go so it is easy to make a big salad for dinner using these ingredients.
If you would like to try out the same, do check out a post on my blog that I’m sure you will find useful - Summer meal prep for a whole bunch of salads.
A good thing about these summer days is that I am hydrating more than before. Here are 5 beverages that I love drinking in summer beyond just iced tea, including a super easy Korean summer beverage too. You’ll find accompanying videos from my Youtube channel for each recipe, so I do hope you will get around to trying them.
New book news
If you like my newsletter, chances are you will love my new book Everyday Superfoods. Those who have read it say that it is non-preachy, no-nonsense and like a friend guiding you towards a life-long sustainable healthy lifestyle.
I had an interesting freewheeling chat on my journey from a medical doctor to full-time author and columnist, on superfoods and antioxidants, on vegetarianism and more with Krish Ashok, the author of bestseller book Masala Lab. This chat organized by Crossword bookstores can be viewed here.
I would love your feedback on the newsletter. If you like what you read, please share it with your family and friends. I am grateful for your help in reaching my newsletter to a wider audience. See you in two weeks time!
Nandita Iyer
Books: Everyday Superfoods | The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian
Blog: https://saffrontrail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saffrontrail
Instagram: https://instagram.com/saffrontrail
Facebook: facebook.com/saffrontrail
This newsletter may contain affiliate links for some products. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase something by clicking on my link, at no extra cost to you. It helps support the newsletter.
None of the product mentions are sponsored unless explicitly mentioned. Thank you :)
Image of S Elayaraja painting credits: https://www.artzolo.com/painting/flower-making