Celebrating the joy of happy accidents, lucky turns, and unexpected connections this Serendipity Day

The joy of chance encounters, the charm of unexpected fortune — serendipity dances to its own tune. Life, in its quiet wisdom, often alters our course through moments we never saw coming. This Serendipity Day, we honour the gentle magic of life’s ‘fortunate accidents’ — the unplanned turns that lead us exactly where we’re meant to be…

Chance career

Raised by a single father, 16-year-old Gagan had a mission that set her apart from most of her peers. Determined to ease the double burden her dad carried — as both provider and homemaker — she was intent on making her own money. A dancer through her childhood, Gagan would often impress her friends with her moves. One day, a friend preparing for a dance competition asked for her help. Gagan gladly agreed. In return, she received Rs 50. “For a 16-year-old me, it was a moment of pure serendipity — to realise I could use my talent to earn. Where else could I have worked at that age?” she reflects, years later. What began as a happy accident soon blossomed into a fulfilling journey. From belly dancing to Zumba and a range of other dance and fitness forms, Gagan has continued to learn, teach, and grow.

Kindred spirits

For artist Diwan Manna, a cultural exchange trip to UK in the early 1990s led to a lifelong friendship with fellow photographer Mark Lockett and his partner Eirene Craney. As part of the program, Diwan was to be hosted in the principal’s house of the each participating school. However, at one particular school, the principal, Janet Warwick, was unable to host him due to a personal emergency for a week. Stepping in was another staff member, Eirene Craney, who warmly received Diwan and showed him around Wales on the way to her home — where her partner, Mark, greeted them. A farmer and a passionate photographer, Mark quickly bonded with Diwan over their shared love for photography. “Over the years, we worked together, visited each other, and no trip to England ever felt complete without meeting the duo and our like-minded group of friends Elizabeth, Adrian, Neil — and Janet too,” Diwan recalls. “Sadly, Mark passed away due to an ailment during the COVID pandemic. But I Eirene and other friends still meet like before during my visits to Wales. It’s amazing to think that a small accident of circumstance — Janet not being able to host me — led me to some of my dearest friends. A lovely stroke of serendipity, I believe.”

Mountain magic

For theatre director and filmmaker Zubin A Mehta, a bike trip with his friend Rajesh Khera to Spiti in 2021 turned out to be heartening experience. “On our trip, we stopped at Sangla for the night where we met a young boy Sahil, who invited us to his grandmother’s house, tucked deep in the mountains. We laughed and had absolutely no plan to go,” shared Zubin. The next morning, something pulled them towards the trail. They took this mesmerising trek with Sahil through thinning air and rising altitude. Zubin started feeling altitude sickness. As they made it to the place, the house was locked. Zubin laid back on a wooden plank, closing his eyes. “I woke up to a very kind, wrinkly face bent over concerned, Dadi had returned. She made me this most refreshing cup of tea I have ever had,” shared Zubin. “We sat together, taking of mountains and bears. Being part of that old woman’s life, who lived all alone with her cattle, even so briefly, is my serendipitous encounter that I

hold close to heart,” avers Zubin.

Lifestyle