🪔 Sanskaari Saturday | thegoodjuju.blog
Namaste 🙏
I’m the mom who’s mixing paint with one hand, cleaning up snack crumbs with the other, and singing “Hari Om Tatsat” under her breath while her toddler turns the wall into a modern art masterpiece. Because spirituality and washable markers can totally coexist. 🎨🧘🏽♀️🖌️
Motherhood today is a high-speed rollercoaster powered by baby wipes, Bluetooth monitors, and unsolicited advice from your chachi’s bua’s WhatsApp group.
But here’s the thing—I didn’t want to choose between my nani’s nuskhe and my pediatrician’s PDFs.
I wanted both.
Welcome to my juggle-struggle journey of blending sanskaar (cultural values) with science—desi style.
Let’s go full #DesiMom Mode, shall we?
1. Baby’s First Solid? 🍛
Ghee Meets Science
My MIL said, “Start with a drop of ghee and mashed banana, beta.”
My pediatrician said, “Wait till six months. No salt, no sugar.”
So I did both. At 6 months, my son had mashed banana with a teeny-tiny drop of homemade ghee—and zero salt. 🙌🏽
After the Annaprashan, of course!
🧠 Science says: Ghee has healthy fats, and in moderation, it supports brain development and digestion.
🪔 Sanskaar says: “Shudh ghee se pavitra shuruaat”—a sacred and nutritious first bite.
💡 Juju Tip: Use traditions as a seasoning, not the whole recipe. Blend what’s safe and sensible.
2. Night Routines: 🛏️
Lullabies + White Noise
Remember when your Thamma sang “Shona ghumolo para jurolo”?
Yeah, I’ve got that on a Spotify playlist now—right before the Sleep Sheep white noise.
🧠 Science says: White noise helps babies self-soothe.
🪔 Sanskaar says: So do gentle lullabies steeped in love and family memories.
💡 Juju Tip: Create a hybrid bedtime ritual—music, massage (hello, massage oil magic!), and snuggles. It’s less about method and more about bonding.
3. Jhaadu, Totkas & Germ Theory 🧼
Yes, I do totka a little black dot behind my baby’s ear to ward off buri nazar 🧿
And yes, I sanitize toys, wash hands obsessively, and carry Dettol like it’s Chanel No. 5.
🧠 Science says: Hygiene prevents illness.
🪔 Sanskaar says: Nazar lagna is real (if you’ve ever seen your baby go from smiley to screaming after a compliment, you get it 😅).
💡 Juju Tip: Believe in both. Protect with Dettol. Ward off with a kala tika. Nobody said it had to be either/or.
4. Daily Mantras Meet Daily Meltdowns 📿
Before I had kids, my morning looked like this: wake up, meditate, light a diya, chant Om Shanti. Being from a Bengali Brahmin family, this was an essential part of my upbringing as well as daily routine.
Now? It’s “OMGGGGG where are your shoes?” while the toddler is getting late for school and the baby is crying full volume because no one picked him up. 😮💨🕯️
Still—I sneak in a 2-minute Sarva Mangala Mangalye while strapping the baby in the carrier. My toddler even hums it (right before belting out “Baby Shark”).
🧠 Science says: Mindful rituals reduce stress.
🪔 Sanskaar says: A few mantras bring peace and grounding.
💡 Juju Tip: Your rituals can evolve. Sanskaar isn’t in how long you chant—it’s in the intention behind it.
5. Immunity Boosters 🥗
Haldi Meets WHO
My toddler gets turmeric milk, but not when she’s running a 102° fever. That’s when we see the doctor instead.
🧠 Science says: Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, but it’s not a substitute for medicine.
🪔 Sanskaar says: Haldi doodh is liquid gold—comfort, care, and culture in one warm gulp.
💡 Juju Tip: Use ancient remedies for prevention, not treatment. Modern medicine for emergencies. No ego, only immunity.
6. Festivals with a Side of Fluoride 🍨
We celebrate Diwali with diyas and lights, 🪔
But we also brush our teeth right after all the mithai. 😁
We chant shlokas during pujas, and also explain to our kids why we don’t light crackers near the newborn’s window.
🧠 Science says: Sleep schedules, pollution control, and hygiene; yes, yes they matter.
🪔 Sanskaar says: Celebrations connect us to roots, values, and joy.
💡 Juju Tip: Adapt festivals to be kid-friendly, safe, and still deeply meaningful. Let the message shine brighter than the crackers.
Final Thoughts 💭 🌸
You Don’t Have to Choose!
I’m raising kids who’ll grow up knowing the names of the Saptrishis and the planets in the solar system 🌌
They’ll get vaccinated on time—and also get a raksha thread tied before school starts ✨
They’ll learn empathy from our epics and emotional regulation from Daniel Tiger.
This isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being intentional.
Sanskaar isn’t a checklist. It’s a compass.
And science? That’s your map.
You, my fellow mom, are the GPS.
Tell me in the comments 💬
How do you mix tradition with toddlerhood? Are you the tulsi-in-the-balcony type or the probiotic-yogurt-in-the-fridge kind? Or do you do both?
Until next Sanskaari Saturday,
With haldi-stained fingers and high-speed WiFi,
🧡 The Good Juju
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