'Vrat'

 During the Navratr festival, many people undertake a certain 'vrat' or the other. 'Vrat' in this sense means a vow undertaken which must not be violated.  Remember, during his first stint, our PM was on the official tour during the Navratr, and yet he kept his nine day fast?

 Papa, too, had such a vow, but lifelong. He always bathed in/with cold water. Each Diwali, there used to be a battle of wills between him and me. My argument used to be that he should accept at least tepid water for the  Narak Chaturdashi bath. The kind, loving father that he was, he used to give in with some cajoling, but only the first two or three pourings of the tumbler, and then he would revert to his cold water bath! Tough!

Ah, are we getting very serious? Okay, yes, many youngsters take the 'vrat' of dancing away to glory every night in as many 'garba' pandals as is possible. Luckily for such hopefuls, the rains have forgotten their vow of raining non-stop. 

There was this lady in the office of a PG Department where I used to teach. This lady would not speak a word from the first day of the festival till the dawn of 'Dasara'. Tops, as she could not go on leave for nine days, she would use gestures or write down the message; but speak she never would. 

Another lady would not use any footware. For nine days, she would walk barefoot. It might rain which would make roads slushy, dirty, full of dangerous potholes. It might be horribly sunny, and feet would scorch. She would remain true to her vow. 

There is this student of mine who vows not to use the social media for nine days. On her status update, on the very first day, she declares that for nine days, she would be available on her mobile (she provides a certain mobile number which is not her usual one) only in case of some emergency. A good detox indeed this vow is.

What does a vow do to the "vratis", those who undertake some such penance? Sure there has to be some religious consolation, often, may be, against some favour demanded from the deity. Beyond such barter, as their enemies would call it, I suppose, it inculcates a certain self-discipline. In the process, it sure improves the self-image. So long as it does not lead to pride/vanity, and, in the process, disdain of others, any such vow and every such penance is great purification! 

Pratima@I would, however, say that instead of a physical vow, better to take up a penance that purifies the mind, the soul. Which could be a few examples?

 Not to blame oneself eternally for every minor gaffe, to forgive oneself the momentary lapse from one's glorious self-image, not to worry too much, and all such typical habits which destroy your own peace of mind, right? So what is your vow this navratr?