Alright, so, Paryushan 2025 – let me tell you how I prepped for this, it was quite the journey!
First things first, I marked it on my calendar. Obvious, right? But you’d be surprised how many times I’ve spaced on important dates. I set reminders, like, a month out, then weekly, then daily as we got closer. Can’t miss this!
Then, the real work started. I started thinking about what I wanted to get out of Paryushan. Not just going through the motions, you know? I wanted to actually improve myself, reflect on my actions, and become a better person. So I grabbed a notebook and started writing down things I wanted to work on – bad habits, areas where I could be more compassionate, stuff like that. It was a long list, haha.
Next up was planning my meals. You gotta eat simple during Paryushan, right? I looked up some recipes for sattvic food – you know, the kind that’s supposed to be pure and calming. I made a grocery list and went shopping. Ended up buying way more than I needed, as usual, but hey, at least I was prepared!
I knew I wanted to spend more time in meditation and prayer. So I cleaned up my meditation space – got rid of the clutter, put on some calming music. I even found some guided meditations online that I thought would be helpful. Tried a few out beforehand to make sure they were a good fit. Some were way too new-agey for me, but I found a couple that were really grounding.
One of the hardest things for me is controlling my speech. I tend to blurt things out without thinking sometimes. So I made a conscious effort to be more mindful of my words in the weeks leading up to Paryushan. I tried to pause before speaking, think about what I was going to say, and whether it was necessary and kind. Definitely didn’t succeed all the time, but I made progress!
I also started decluttering my life in general. Paryushan is all about letting go of attachments, so I figured I could start with my physical possessions. I went through my closet and donated a bunch of clothes I hadn’t worn in ages. Then I tackled my bookshelves. Felt good to get rid of stuff I didn’t need and give it to people who could use it.
During Paryushan itself, I stuck to my plan as much as possible. Woke up early for meditation, ate simple meals, spent time in prayer, and avoided unnecessary socializing. It wasn’t always easy, especially when I got cravings for my usual junk food. But I kept reminding myself why I was doing this, and that helped me stay on track.
And you know what? It actually worked! I felt more peaceful, more grounded, and more connected to my faith. I definitely didn’t become a perfect saint or anything, but I made some real progress on my personal goals. And that’s what it’s all about, right?
So yeah, that’s how I prepped for Paryushan 2025. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. Highly recommend giving it a try yourself!