A child’s smile can light up the world and his tears and sometimes even lack of it, can send people into panic. When I was born, I was told that I did not cry at all. The doctors told my parents that I was unable to breathe and I had to be kept in the incubator for two weeks. I was a very weak, frail child who would always be quiet. My parents, scared that something would happen to me, were extremely overprotective. Thus I grew up in a very ‘safe environment’ with no exposure to dirt or dust.
Only when I was old enough to join kindergarten, was I allowed to be a little free. But that had an adverse reaction on my health. My immunity was extremely low and I would fall sick very often. Soon, the doctor’s clinic had become my second home until my grandma intervened. She scoffed at the allopathic treatment and told my parents about Ayurveda.
Instead of taking pills daily, I started incorporating Chawanprash and amla into my diet. When I refused to eat amla, grandmom made amla candies and amla achar to make me take it. They would smear Chawanprash with butter on bread and make sandwiches for me to eat.
My lunch dabba would be full of fruit salads, curds, fresh vegetables and roti sabji. Slowly and steadily my health started improving. I got the colour back into my cheeks and stopped looking weak and delicate.
I participated in races, especially the biscuit eating ones, and would often walk away with the first prize. My home, which used to be dull and grey suddenly seemed to be full of life. I started appreciating the nature around me and would rush to the nearest park to build sand castles every day. Yes, I was allowed to indulge in sweets, junk food and ice creams but I always had wholesome meals to ensure that I was well nourished.
My mom had a smile on her face instead of worry lines on her forehead and my dad was full of joy. And when my sister was born, all of us, even the 4 year old me, ensured that she did not get as sick as me. Both of us grew up to be strong strapping young children who were heard and not seen. J
Ayurveda and ayurvedic products have become an integral part of my life and I cannot think of having breakfast without a slice of bread smeared with butter and Chawanprash every day. After all, thanks to Ayurveda my house became a happier place full of joie de vivre.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of Chawanprash, do visit https://www.liveveda.com/daburchyawanprash/.
We remember the day seven years back when were travelling in a Mumbai local trying hard to come up withe a name for our blog when struck us; Khushboo was always called a Jack of all Trades. The name stuck (with a slight modification, of course) and Minni was born. Six years, over 100 collaboration, lakhs of readers and several awards later; our love for blogging continues to grow. We continue to write on an eclectic range of topics from the funniest autorickshaw signs that we have spotted in Mumbai to how to bathe an elephant. We are true blue Munni of all Trades and we hope to continue on this joyride with our fellow Munnies and Munnas.