Monisha Bharadwaj was raised in Bombay where she is now an acclaimed author and television producer. She is the author of The Indian Spice Kitchen.
In The Indian Luck Book, a brisk and well-designed paperback, she demonstrates the preeminent role luck has played in Indian culture. Divination has been practiced here for centuries. People are used to reading the signs of everything from mountain breezes to moles to birdsong for meaning. Fortune tellers have tallied up the future in shadows, flames, and the sum of numbers. Many people have horoscopes drawn up to use throughout their life and consult with astrologers on a regular basis. Some Indians draw lucky symbols outside their houses to insure prosperity. Hindu symbolism is expressed in architecture, dress, and furnishings. For instance, birds are depicted in fabrics or floor patterns to bring good luck into the home.
Indians, according to Bharadwaj, believe in the power of positive thinking as a way to manifest good luck. But there are many other ways outlined in this book, which is divided into chapters on Luck Tools, Health, Family, Love, Money, Career, and Happiness. No matter what your sign, your favorite color, or your favorite number; you will find plenty of material here to make the most of your auspicious moments. Check out the manifold ways that colors, gems, symbols, and metals can work for you.
