Rekindling the joy of chanting
To keep lockdown blues at bay, many people including Bollywood celebs, are finding solace in meditative prowess of chants. Be it the Gayatri Mantra or Buddhist chants, they are helping people to stay calm and away from anxiety.
“I was introduced to Buddhist chanting a while ago, but I never took it forward. Now that I have time and the situation is stressful, it helps me stay calm. I chant everyday for 15 minutes and it brings me so much peace. I’m happy throughout the day,” says actor Aahana Kumra, who says her nephew has also joined her in this.
Even the ones living away from family and friends are doing it together over video calls. “Chanting and meditation have become a major part of my lifestyle during this time. My sister is in New York (US) right now, so sometimes when we watch world news, it gets stressful. That’s when chanting and meditation really help me stay positive and calm,” says actor Mannara Chopra.
Actor Adah Sharma also shared a video of herself, chanting a ‘stotram’. “Closing your eyes and thinking of positive things will do well. It helps one learn to be with oneself,” she says.
Psychologists also believe that chanting helps one stay happy, as during the process we start thinking of positive things and ignite a feeling of gratitude. “People chant about positive things, things they would want to realise in their life. It is like meditating, and meditation helps calm your nerves,” says psychologist Harsheen Arora.