Before the First Prayer

The office of Radiant Tech was a sea of bright yellow. It was Vasant Panchami, and the smell of sweet saffron rice and incense sticks drifted from the cafeteria. Employees walked around in yellow kurtas and sarees, taking selfies near a beautiful floral display. The plan for the afternoon was a traditional puja followed by a grand lunch.

In the small conference room, a manager named Arjun sat with his lead designers. They were looking at a spreadsheet. They were checking the prizes for the "Best Performer" awards that would be handed out during the celebration.

Arjun’s boss, a senior leader named Meera, walked in. She saw the stress on their faces. She reached over and gently closed the lid of Arjun’s laptop.

"Wait a moment," Meera said with a calm smile. "Let us put the list away for five minutes."

Arjun looked worried. "But Meera, we have to start the music in ten minutes," he said. "The priest is already here."

Meera pulled up a chair and sat with them. "Vasant Panchami is about new beginnings and wisdom," she said. "But before we ask for more wisdom, let us look at what we already have. Who really brought us to this spring season?"

The room went quiet. Arjun looked at his team. He thought about the awards on his list, but then his mind went further. He remembered Rohan, a junior developer. During the big system crash in December, Rohan had stayed up for thirty hours straight. He wasn't looking for an award. He just didn't want the clients to suffer.

Then, a designer named Priya spoke up. She mentioned Sunita, the lady who managed the pantry. "Sunita always knew exactly when the team was exhausted and would bring hot ginger tea without being asked. That tea kept us going during the coldest nights of January," Priya whispered.

One by one, names came out. They talked about the mistakes that taught them lessons and the small acts of kindness that saved their projects. Meera stood up and adjusted her yellow scarf. "When we pray today, we are not just celebrating a festival. We are honoring the soul of this team. Reflection is what gives our traditions their deepest meaning."

When the puja finally began, it felt incredibly profound. As the prayers were chanted, Arjun felt a deeper connection to the ritual because he was thinking of the real people who made the year a success. The yellow flowers looked bright, but the real light came from the gratitude they felt for one another.

As they ate the sweet rice later that day, the team felt a different kind of joy. They realized that the ceremony became even more sacred because they had taken a moment to truly see the people behind the work.

Flash: In our fast-paced work lives, we often rush through milestones as if they are just tasks to be completed. Taking a small pause to reflect helps us reconnect with our purpose and appreciate the silent efforts that often go unnoticed, turning a routine day into a deeply meaningful experience.

Moral: True success is a shared journey, and a celebration only feels complete when we lead with gratitude. By pausing to honor the people behind the progress, we transform a simple win into a lasting bond of mutual respect.

The beauty of a flower lies in the roots that nourished it; the beauty of a win lies in the hearts that built it !!