Makar Sankranti- A Festival To Learn
The festival we enjoy the most is just a couple of days away. As a kid, the only festival which I have been passionate about is Makar Sankranti. Don’t know how, and don’t know why, but somewhere there are a lot of emotions which flow throughout that day. Determination to Win, Patience, Fear, Greed, and the list would go on.
I was blessed to spend my childhood growing in the streets of south Mumbai especially Girgaum where the celebrations are at its peak from 7 in the morning to 12 in the night.Today after completing 10 years as a Chartered Accountant & as a Certified Financial Planner, I find a lot of similarities between Makar Sankranti, the festival, and financial planning and what one can learn from this festival and implement in their financial life.
Disclaimer: Some of the terminologies related to kite flying are intentionally used in Hindi as honestly using English would just be an insult.
Some of the glaring similarities found between flying kite and investing are :-
Choose what you need – The first step when it comes to this festival is choose the right stuff, and your decision will decide how your day goes, It varies from the type of manjha whether it is jada or patla, Bareli or surti, 12 taar etc… or the type of kites you want, so pick the manjha which suits you according to the conditions you are going to fly inevery year.Whenever I fly kites, mornings are always with barik manjha due to less wind and afternoon with jadda manjha when it becomes windy. You might argue that it is the skill of the person that is more important and not the manjha but I always prefer it the other way. Maybe now it has become a habit.
If I have to relate the above with financial planning. Not everyone has the skill to make the right call with regards to his/her financial life, yet a disciplined habit attains satisfactory results. Use the right investment options and choose what you need or ask an advisor, evaluate your risk appetite and I think you should do well.
I did not have anyone to guide me how to use my resources. You will always have.
Prepare yourself
Provisions for emergency – Make provision for Water, have ample no of kites, manjha, cap, sunglasses, tape, set up dhinchak music, and the list is ready. Similarly, if you are planning to fly your financial kite make sure that you have your emergency fund in place so you don’t have to run from pillar to post when any need arises.
Right protection– If you are flying kites and you don’t cover your finger with band aids and tapes then you are in serious trouble my friend. At least that’s what I learned in a year after I started flying. Similarly have all your insurance in place. There is no harm in playing safe and cover the areas which are going to be affected the most.
Standing in the sun – There is no gain without pain, we stand the whole day flying kites, determined to make use of the day and deal with every kite in our own way. Thus being an investor, be prepared to be there for a long time. Not every kite flies high. Some get katofied while some get torn, the one which gives us immense pleasure is the one which flies high (tikli) but for that we have to be prepared to lose some.
Manjha is money
Some have less, some have more, those who have less manjha don’t stop flying their kites. Similar for investing too, you don’t need a lot of money, even small contributions are fine, atleast start flying!!
Those who have a decent flow of manjha can surely give dheel (keep investing) and set their path to attain high growth, (tikli).Many fly together, many get cut, many torn to pieces, yet the optimist sees many kites flying high in the sky! Set your financial path and make it a habit (Invest in SIP).
Tilgul ghya god god bola (eat sweet and talk sweeter)
Every festival has its flavours and you make sure you enjoy them it starts from tilgul to undhiya and puranpoli gathiya chivda sweet Pongal and the list is never ending. Similarly enjoy your journey and enjoy whatever life gives you financially. Yes money is important but as wise men say “if you are not able to enjoy your wealth then it’s not worth it”.
Pass on the Legacy
I have noticed over the years the craze for this festival is slowly dying. May be due to no bank holiday or high rise building or people have just moved on in life, but it hurts to see when the next generation is not aware about it, I would urge all of you to please enjoy the festival with your family and involve your kids too…Similarly, always make sure that your family is aware about all your investments liability and financial transactions. It will always help in case you are not available.
End the day on a high– Every festival comes to an end but what’s important is that you are content when it ends. So enjoy the day and enjoy your life.
The best learning which I have learnt from kite flying is “Nazar sada ho uchi sikhati hain Patang!!”
So enjoy the Festival enjoy financial Planning!!!
KAI PO CHE!!!