As TIME PASSES, I’m learning how GRATEFUL I AM FOR Traditions and Rituals
Traditions and rituals not only help keep cultures alive, but they also provide meaning to life on so many levels. They unite family. They bridge the old and the young. They bridge the past with present, and the present with the future. They inspire. They motivate. They celebrate. They honor. They teach. They are meaningful on so many levels.
The beauty of traditions is that they are often things, ideas that are passed down from one generation to another. But the actual ritual of them often changes a little with every generation….but keeps the generation before it alive.
My parents married within 10 days of meeting each other and their families. And then they proceeded to move across the world, far from family and all the things they knew within three months of the marriage. Can you imagine doing that now? At that time there was no FaceTime, WiFi or unlimited calling plans that we are now accustomed. Instead they wrote letters which took several weeks on receiving end to reach and called home maybe once every other month—only for a few minutes at time because it was so expensive and the lines were not super great.
Global Citizen Living
Despite the excitement of working towards their big, beautiful American Dream, they never lost sight of how important their culture was to them and how important it was to pass on traditions and rituals to my sister and I. They made it a point to read us the Bernstein Bears, while also teaching us stories about Krishna, my birthday consisted of my favorite curry…as well as pizza & cake and we celebrated both Diwali and Christmas with family gatherings feasts. I’m so grateful for these traditions + rituals that my sister and I do our best to keep up— they not only honor my parents, my grandparents and a long line of amazing ancestors, but they bring my sister and I together…despite living on two different coasts.
Can you imagine if all the immigrants that came into this country didn’t bring their culture or heritage with them?
Our diverse and beautiful country, built on immigrants and traditions from all around the world, would be so _____________ (you fill in the blank). Words that come to my mind are…. depressing, plain, stifling, boring, sad, lonely and not as inviting.
Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.
-Mahatma Gandhi
What are your favorite fall traditions + rituals?
I‘d love to hear in the comments below….
Happy Diwali!
This week in my world, we’re celebrating Diwali (Thur) and our Indian New Year (Fri)…leading up to those days we’ll be honoring the divine Mothers Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kali. It’s the time of year where we stop and take stock of lessons, gratitudes and blessing from the year passed. As well as set bright intentions for the New Year….. especially around spiritual wealth. Praying and setting intentions to cultivate happiness and love, by accumulating compassion, kindness and peace so that we can gain access to abundant wisdom that resides in our hearts and teaches us how to be content through life’s ups, downs and in-betweens.
Happy Diwali, friends!
Onward, upward, inward :),
xo,
Kajal
