hurting someone or ruining someone elses fun dont make one person the subject of your jokes and banter it may lead to volatile situations one good way to avoid gossip if you are in the midst of people who love talking about others is to keep listening without adding anything you can also pretend to be busy and move away from the session if you feel someone is getting uncomfortable change the topic or ask that person to accompany you to do something fun or help you out with festive work perfect couple pressureits a completely useless pressure that you put on yourselves theres no such thing as the perfect anything let alone a couple present a happy front even if you arent feeling it but resolve your issues before the year gets over festival is a time that makes you count your resentments this year jot them down and promise to deal with them as soon as diwali gets over by christmas and new year you shouldnt be thinking about resolutions you must be midway to executing positive changes in your life children running riotlet children run riot they dont get pampered by grandparents as we were apart from safety precautions while bursting crackers or imparting advice like not talking to strangers or wandering off during pandal hopping in crowded areas you need to let children just be themselves and run riot what to weardecide early lastminute panic over this one can spoil your mood the first thing thatll strike you is the pictures wont look good on social media try on a few outfits before the festival days so that you are sure about the fitting and how the colour looks on you mix your new saree with an old choli or try a new fusion look by searching your wardrobe for some old stuff this is the age of sustainability lastminute beauty runa facial needs to be done at least a week before also remember hair colour only shines in 10 days after the session keep that in mind and youll not find yourself in the parlour except for a manipedicure or setting your hair which take less time these days you can book a massage and beautician at home through several apps dont fret over your favourite guygal at your favourite parlour be ready in time and youll feel relaxedpuja pundit pandemoniumcannot be avoided period no matter how much time and effort has gone in there will be some lastminute pandemonium for instance pujari ji is getting late one key ingredient missing people not getting ready when the puja begins seating arrangements of elders is not complete just be prepared for lastminute madness if you recall in hindsight all of this would make for great storytelling old recipesthe pressure to cook and present family heirloom recipes on festive days can sometimes take the fun out of eating it just follow the recipe to the t dont budge from what you know no matter how