Love in the time of Diwali

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All festivals are celebrations of love. When two souls, who have distinct beliefs and cultures, are bound together in marital bliss, the celebration of festivities have a deeper meaning to them. After all, it showcases tolerance, patience, understanding, sacrifice, respect and love.
In today's society, which often has zero tolerance for a neighbour's choice of lifestyle, it is gratifying to read about how mixed-race couples have not ?only co-celebrated the religious beliefs of their better halves but have whole-heartedly embraced them, gaining better insight into their culture and traditions (Diwali 101: Introduction to couples celebrations, Oct 30).
Lighting diyas, firing crackers and donning sarees are symbolic of the love and unconditional acceptance of a partner's beliefs. They are wordless ways of revealing that it is not so much their faith that makes them cherished but their inherent morals and values.
It is heartwarming to realise that the offspring of such unions will probably grow up to be tolerant and educated citizens of tomorrow. We need to be more accepting of inter-racial and inter-community marriages for in them lie the potential for a much more peaceful world.
Such marriages are on the rise, especially in melting pot cultures, like the UAE.
Being far away from their homes and families while living in the UAE, and married to a partner whose culture is vastly different from their own, such couples go the extra mile to keep their traditions alive, while also celebrating the unique beliefs of their spouse.
Love is the only answer to the biggest problems in the world, one of them being religious and ethnic intolerance. And there's no better way to resolve this gaping issue than to join two opposing forces in matrimony, the ultimate bond of love and respect in society.
- Hemant Kunkolienkar
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» The disease of loneliness
I was filled with inexplicable sorrow as I read the article 'Most serious senior health issue? Loneliness' (Oct 30). Most of us hurtle through life at great speed, playing out various roles as parents, siblings, friends, professionals, etc. Though we complain unceasingly about the lack of time, we do not realise how enriched our lives are because we have so many activities. Amidst the entire hustle and bustle, most of us are surrounded by the affection and care of loving families.
However, the picture that emerges of us in our old age is not a happy one. We have all the time in the world but nothing much to do. We yearn for hugs and the feel of a gentle touch. We extend our hand but there's a vacuum. We are left with this debilitating illness - loneliness, and it is a sad scenario, indeed!
Thank you, wknd., for opening our eyes to this important social issue. I am sure that many of us have reconnected with the elders in our families now, because the best gift we can give anyone is our time. It would also be prudent to plan for retirement. The tips given for the same in the article make a lot of sense.
Mother Teresa once said that 'the most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved'. Let us put in an extra effort to ensure that the elders in our families and communities feel loved and wanted.
Hari K, by email
» Enritsching lives
Hats off to Stefan and Megan Ritsch for having the courage to start a business to help people develop a positive sense of mental wellbeing. The article 'Do not suffer in Silence' (Oct 30) is a thought-provoking one that gives us a chance to put ourselves in others' shoes.
Although mental ailments can have multiple causes, one predominant factor in this modern world is stress - and that is something that affects everyone, irrespective of age. Stress damages our health without us even realising it. It affects our quality of life as well as our relationships and, as they get damaged, insecurity creeps in. This makes people become all the more withdrawn. It is a vicious circle and, because of the stigma attached to people whose mental health is questioned in the slightest, people are too afraid to ask for help. Everyone needs someone to confide in, which is why the steps taken by Stefan and Megan to provide access to expert advice, while keeping it all confidential, are astounding. I salute the step made by the couple to tackle this problem.
- Jisha Louis, by email
» Battle of the chefs
Being a fan of shows like Hell's Kitchen and Masterchef, Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White remain two of my favourites; for different reasons, though! White, with his piercing eyes and imposing presence, invokes fear in even the best chefs. But, Ramsay is definitely the more popular of the two. His good looks aside (and yes, that definitely scores him brownie points over White), his witty one-liners are unique and hilarious. Ramsay makes sure his shows, like his dishes, have variety. This is what keeps him relevant to the business even after so many years, while his contemporaries have faded out.
- Valiny Rodrigues, by email