Sitaradevi’s Blog

A fantastic movie based around the story of a young person and his story of growing up in poverty in the city of Bombay (Mumbai) that most people know about called “Slumdog Millionaire” has just walked away with 4 awards from the Golden Globes this past weekend. I am so thrilled to see just how far and wide India and the stories of India is starting to reach when it comes to the western world. I first saw this movie when it came out in the  theaters in November and loved it. I thought it was a fun story, easy to follow for those who are unfamiliar with India and that it had a universal appeal. I had no idea that it would gain the sort of acclaim that it has or that it would really turn the world of cinema into such a frenzy. This movie and its impact on viewers has been so powerful and it shines so much light on the beauty and despair of life in India and I am just so excited about all the awards that have just been won. I cant wait to see what other great ideas come from India that will start to impact the rest of the world in this new year!

–Sitara Devi

Compared to other cities, in my experience, tipping is a huge deal in NYC. With so many people to tip from waiters at restaurants, to taxi drivers, to beauty service providers to the people who run my laundry all nice and pressed to my apartment it is a huge deal to make sure that they are taken care of for their time and energy. As such, it is becoming more important to me to make sure that I know how much to tip them. Usually the golden rule of 15% seems to be the right amount, but then as I cultivate relationships with these amazing people that keep my life running smoothly it is also important for me to give them periodic gifts of money to let them know how much I appreciate them. I try to always make sure that I have enough cash handy to take care of whatever tipping emergency may arise and of course when a smile lights up their face I know that I have done them right and shown how much I value them by gifting them money for their service. Now, I only wish others in NYC were more aware of how much tipping matters to those who provide for us on a daily basis.

–Sitara Devi

     A few days ago, from the comfort of my humble abode in New York City I was delighted to see the soft white flakes of the first snow fall from the skies towards ground creating a soft white foam on the streets from my window. I love the first real snow of the season, especially when I am able to enjoy it from the comfort of my home. As I was able to stay indoors and simply enjoy the change in weather from my home, I knew that although the white snow would turn to a dirty brown soon enough, for the first few hours the joy remained as the white on the ground solidified into chunks of ice and the people on the streets had to step carefully as they walked to avoid slipping and sliding. Snow being relatively new for me here in New York City is a far cry from the winter weather that I was raised with which was in a cold climate with lots of wind but never any snow. As I drank my warm hot chocolate and listened to the news anchor talk with excited animation in her voice about how the snow was affecting the city, I knew that I had found a peaceful and serene moment with myself, the snow and the universal change of time as this snow was a testament to the changing seasons and the movement of time passing forward.

–Lovingly 

Sitara Devi

     Last night I was at a huge event where a few of the older women in my life who are my real mentors were all enjoying themselves over wine and other cocktails. Now, the women in my life who I view as special mentors and are always read to offer me pearls of wisdom are very much like me, classy and smart yet fun and grounded. These women who I consider my mentors who are in their 40’s and 50’s were enjoying themselves and snuggling up together and being very playful on a large couch at a hot NYC rooftop bar. One of my mentors may have had one drink too many, and a sexy song came on which prompted her to start giving another one of the ladies a really hot lap dance. All of a sudden, all the men in the lounge had their eyes on my group of ladies and of course, were paralyzed with looks of amazement in their eyes and their mouths open like hungry puppy dogs.

     My mentor the lap dancer then gets another mentor involved and now both of them are giving the third lady a decadent and indulgent lap dance, all the while I am thinking that I must be in some fantasy because I have never seen them get this freaky with each other. It was amazing to see them enjoying themselves, their bodies, their sensuality and that I got to witness this was such a huge delight. Of course the men started to come closer to us, and the women continued dancing for their own joy while they were being circled by salivating men who just could not get enough. I felt like I was in some sort of dream, watching these women that I look up to enjoying such bliss by rubbing their bodies on top of each other and finding such enjoyment in each others warmth. It sure was a sight to behold, and I am so fortunate to have gotten a glimpse at the naughty girl side that these women have cultivated through the years…something for me to look forward to and enjoy about my own self in my later years I hope!

With Love,

Sitara Devi

     After doing a bit of holiday shopping in SOHO, the rain caught up with me and I dashed to a cab in order to stay dry. I got home, flipped on the T.V. and realized that CNN was showing a great special titled “Planet in Peril” to get a glimpse, check out the site: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/planet.in.peril/ 

     This special which was well over an hour long included Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Lisa Ling and Anderson Cooper traveling to different parts of the planet to understand the rapidly growing and alarming issue of too many people and too few resources which we are currently experiencing on our globe. A plethora of issues are discussed and the show takes a look at places all over the world. From poverty in Nigeria and a fight over oil, to viruses passed to humans through wild animals in Africa to the ivory trade and extinction of elephants in Chad to pollution of air in Peru, this special was fabulous. Both vivid in what they aired as well as interesting in the stories covered and the people who were interviewed along the way, this special really got me to slow down and think deeply about what is happening in the world around me. NYC being the capital of capitalism, especially during the Christmas shopping season its quite easy to forget about all that is going on in other places. This CNN special really got me as the viewer involved in what was taking place on the screen, and really glued me to the screen and had me texting some friends telling them to turn on CNN.

     Its so important to me to keep perspective on what is taking place in the world around me, and I know that now I need to brainstorm some ways that while I enjoy my wonderful life in NYC, I can still help those out there in the world who are not as fortunate as myself and also do my part to help preserve our planet.

Warmly,

Sitara Devi

Last night I was lucky to attend a screening of a very deep and touching documentary called “Call and Response” at the Tribeca Cinemas in SOHO. This documentary which is sprinkled throughout with commentary from activist educators like Cornell West and Hollywood starts such as Ashley Judd tells the current day story of the slavery of people all over the world with a primary focus on the slavery of children. This film takes a look at the sex trade in countries such as India and places in South East Asia, the history of slavery of Africans brought to the United States and how slavery is even more rampant in 2008 than when Africans were first brought over the the new land many many years ago. The film also speaks about the perils of adults in domestic slavery, and workers in bondage. This move which really takes its audience on a huge emotional journey really aims to get those of us who have privilege and power to really raise our voice in defense of those who are unable to speak for themselves and who are affected by slavery even as I type this post.

     One thing that the movie makes clear is that there is no way of creating a grand plan to free people from slavery, but it takes each one of us to do something within our control to help the situation worldwide. My first step is to write this post to encourage my readers to visit the website for the film at: http://www.callandresponse.com

Please check out the website, learn more about this issue and see if it moves you to share this issue with others. The slavery of people is a huge crime and while I know that I am fortunate to be able to make my own choices for my lifestyle and decisions for my own life, I know that there are many brothers and sisters all over the world who are not nearly as lucky as I am and it is my responsibility to share what I experienced last night with all of you.

In solidarity,

Sitara Devi

The weather sure is getting cold around here..brr! A lady like myself can feel the chill from the tip of my toes to the top of my head on days when the weather hits below zero. How to dress and what to wear certainly becomes a real issue when planning for the day ahead of me, especially when I know that I wont be home for most of the day. How to keep warm and especially how to keep warm below the waist (when I am alone for all of you naughty boys out there I clarify this), is becoming a central topic of concern. One item of clothing that sits in my cabinet drawer that catches my eye time and time again are a pair of really pretty pink and fuzzy leg warmers that I have owned since the 80’s. Leg warmers were such a trendy item then, women would wear them with their jazz exercise clothing as well as over jeans and stretch pants. These days, they seem to be popping up again and I am unsure how I feel about adding them to my attire.

     Of course leg warmers would keep my calves and ankles warm, but I wonder if they are a bit outdated. They are nice and soft to touch, but I wonder if they would look tacky. I see a few ladies wearing them, and I find myself wondering if they are viewed as more functional or more fashionable or both or does it even matter how others perceive these warm wonders from the 1980’s? For now they sit pretty and quiet as a memento from my childhood in my cabinet waiting for me to make up my mind what to do about them, as I figure out my own thoughts around this novelty item my legs continue to freeze and my ankles continue to desire warmth as I walk through the icy cold of the East Coast.

Heres to trying to keep cozy,

Sitara  Devi

Today is a rare Sunday when I am able to be lazy and just relax and enjoy my own rapture at home. After a quick workout involving weights and cardio and a yummy breakfast of an egg white omelet, I have had the privilege to just chill out and relax without feeling under pressure to get anything done. I love these days and they sure are few and far between. I’ve been able to catch up on the news by reading the headlines on-line for CNN, BBC and The New York Times. I have had a chance to really get in touch with my body by enjoying a lovely bubble bath and caught up on the phone with a few friends. Contemplating what I might want to do this evening..perhaps some great home delivery Thai food and a Bollywood DVD to cap off my night? Perhaps getting my favorite massage therapist to come over for a full body rub down if he is free? Maybe just watching “I Love Lucy” reruns which I have taped? I don’t know what I will end up doing, but I love the feeling of just being able to make plans as I wish for a change 🙂

–Sitara Devi

Last night I had the most sumptuous Thanksgiving with a group of friends that I adore and relate to as if they were my family. My adopted big brother and sister and two other friends who I treat like older sisters for I have learned so much from them in such a short time. In fact one of these older sisters was and has been my mentor in my journey as Sitara Devi and another really got me started on blogging. As we were sitting around the dining room table enjoying our mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy we started our meal with going in a circle and talk about those things that we are grateful for. Some of these gratitude’s I really wanted to share with you.

     First, I am really grateful for the friends and family that I have developed for myself in the last few years since I have been on the East Coast. I have a great group of people in my life that all serve different purposes and add to the journey of my soul in various ways. Second I am really grateful to a lesson in love that I learned this past year which really caused me to expand my heart and love in a way that is deeper and bigger and more forgiving than I ever thought possible. Another thing that I am grateful for is that although the terrorist attacks happened in Mumbai where some of my friends and family live, luckily no one close to me was affected in any truly tragic way. And the most important thing of course that I am grateful for is that I can look back at my year and really feel blessed for my good health and all the great experiences that I have enjoyed on my own and in my own company and my own delicious rapture.

–Sitara Devi

 Having lived in New York now for just a few years, one thing that I have yet to get used to is the way New Yorkers greet each other and depart from each others company. On the West Coast where I have spent most of my time, people greet each other with a simple hug, and then leave each others company with a quick hug or handshake. In New York however, it certainly seems that people like to get a bit more cozy and often kiss each other on one cheek or even both cheeks. While I love intimacy and cozy moments, getting used to the double kiss/single kiss has really been a bit awkward. I have been known to simply give a person a quick hug while they are leaning in to kiss my cheeks. And then by the time I realized that they were attempting to kiss my cheeks when I leaned in again to accept their cheek kiss, they had already backed away. I also am quite clueless as to how to tell whether someone wants to kiss both cheeks or just one cheek. Of course the kiss is not even really on my cheeks, its simple holding my cheeks next to another persons and kissing the air. I certainly do wish that there was some sort of a cue that I could take very quickly after initially meeting someone to foresee how they felt most comfortable greeting me and saying goodbye, as it seems that for this gesture New York offers no Golden Rule, but a variety of greetings/departures that one must keep in the back pocket and pull out in any given situation depending on what the other person is getting ready to do. This has lead to a bit of confusion and some funny moments for me, if anyone has any ideas on how to gage whether I should kiss one cheek/two cheeks or even pinch someones nose to greet them, do let me know as I am trying to figure out some standard greeting that I can use simply in every situation that I come across.

With two cheek kisses in the air and a warm snuggle,

Sitara Devi