On March 8, 2023, International Women’s Day, millions of women of all ages and ethnicities around the world celebrated themselves and each other. Some lit candles in memory of mothers, sisters, and grandmothers who had passed away. Others, like Navixha Bagga, threw parties and invited women of all colors and backgrounds to attend. Navixha is the creator of the lifestyle and thought-change platform Organicize Your Life and My Saree, My Story, a group that believes every woman is a powerhouse. Navixha is also the force behind the maiden Saree 5K event, outside of India.
Navixha shares that are getting together with so many incredible females was both inspiring and a reminder that they deserve to appreciate themselves no matter what day it may be.
“First, we had an unforgettable time that evening,” Navixha says. “We felt so much joy as we honored each other’s colors, the colors of life, and all the beautiful shades that come together to make the spirit of a woman. We danced for hours and enjoyed the utterly delicious, signature Kwality ice cream. We had more fun than ever before, played games, and laughed and laughed!”
In attendance at Kwality’s ice cream shop were over 20 women and girls, including Sharifa Jackson, a reporter at WDAF-TV, and Jude Paige Simmons, currently a Magisterial District Judge running for Court of Common Pleas in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Two of the highlights of the festivities were a fundraiser, whose proceeds supported the community, and a raffle, with prizes including a 30-minute virtual fitness session with Triple-Threat Fitness LLC, jewelry sets from local boutiques, and $50 for followers on Shesha and Foram Shah’s Instagram account.
“As exciting as this was, the conversations were even better,” says Navixha. “Sharifa was the perfect host and just lit up the space with her warm personality. She also served as the raffle-picker and drew name after name for prizes. Paige shared with us some of her own challenges with furthering the rights of women and immigrants in America’s judicial system. We were very thankful that both Sharifa and Paige could join us.”
As the women celebrated each other and shared their own experiences, Navixha couldn’t help but think that there should never be a set day for self-love.
“International Women’s Day is an excellent idea, as too many females are undervalued and are unable to live into their purposes and nurture their passions,” she says. “This must change because we have so much to offer our communities and even nations. We have a responsibility to ourselves to explore what makes us unique and powerful and to embrace it.”
Women, Navixha continues, rarely miss a beat when they are encouraging and cheering for others. However, they are rarely so supportive when they look inward at their own hopes and dreams.
“There must come a time in our own journeys when we realize we are truly worthy of our own support,” she reflects. “Why don’t we practice more self-love? That’s complicated, of course, and there are as many reasons as there are women. What it often comes down to is that either our experiences or our cultures have molded us to believe we are not worthy of that same positivity. We focus more on how we stumble than how we recover. We hold ourselves captive to our mistakes even though we try to help our friends overcome their own.”
Navixha hopes that every woman will learn to be their own cheerleader and discover their power. She acknowledges that it can be a difficult idea for many women to understand and follow due to cultural baggage, but she thinks it is incredibly beneficial when they do.
“As you learn to support yourself, you will find that the universe will reverberate back to you with its reciprocity of positivity,” Navixha states. “Nature always reflects the vibe and emotion that we put out. When we value ourselves as women and are grateful and happy, the world around us will be even brighter. Every day becomes a celebration, allowing us to dance as we rejoice over ourselves and our power as women.”
Navixha and the ladies echo a heartfelt thanks to Kwality Ice Cream, Malvern for being the gracious hosts of this mega-exciting Holi and Women’s Day event!
Event photo credit: Lahari Kollipara of Love to Click1
