Once every two weeks, the blog world unites to blog about a common topic. The topic this time : "What traditions do you keep ?
I cant think of traditions without thinking about my roots. I was born in a city called Chennai in Southern India, where my parents grew up and went to college. However, we lived in different places until I was 5, and when it was time for me to attend regular school, settled down in a place I consider home, Bangalore.
In India, traditions (religious and cultural) vary from state to state. Although we have a lot of national holidays that are celebrated by the entire country, the way the religious festivals are celebrated widely differ, sometimes even falling on different days. There is always a set of conventions that each family follows, each fine tuned to suit their individual preferences.
Growing up, my family always celebrated all the religious festivals that our family traditionally celebrated at home, but with a local flavor. One thing common between all of them was food, new clothes and sharing - a tradition I still continue to maintain.
Of course, moving halfway across the world changes things. Living in a different timezone and following a different cultural calendar is confusing, add to that being married to a guy whose husband's family follows a slightly different cultural calendar ; and things are seriously complicated.
One tradition I still continue to keep through all of this, is the one I was raised with - celebrating all festivals with a local flavor. The number of occasions has increased - from 1 to 3 different sources, but I'm not complaining !
I cook traditional meals for Pongal and Diwali, bake a traditional fruitcake for Christmas, complete with dry fruits that have been soaked in rum for a week. Considering that my family here is too widespread to visit, thanksgiving is the time to celebrate with friends who have become family here.
So I guess I should say that the only tradition I really keep is amalgamation !
Here's a list of other participating posts:
I cant think of traditions without thinking about my roots. I was born in a city called Chennai in Southern India, where my parents grew up and went to college. However, we lived in different places until I was 5, and when it was time for me to attend regular school, settled down in a place I consider home, Bangalore.
In India, traditions (religious and cultural) vary from state to state. Although we have a lot of national holidays that are celebrated by the entire country, the way the religious festivals are celebrated widely differ, sometimes even falling on different days. There is always a set of conventions that each family follows, each fine tuned to suit their individual preferences.
Growing up, my family always celebrated all the religious festivals that our family traditionally celebrated at home, but with a local flavor. One thing common between all of them was food, new clothes and sharing - a tradition I still continue to maintain.
Of course, moving halfway across the world changes things. Living in a different timezone and following a different cultural calendar is confusing, add to that being married to a guy whose husband's family follows a slightly different cultural calendar ; and things are seriously complicated.
One tradition I still continue to keep through all of this, is the one I was raised with - celebrating all festivals with a local flavor. The number of occasions has increased - from 1 to 3 different sources, but I'm not complaining !
I cook traditional meals for Pongal and Diwali, bake a traditional fruitcake for Christmas, complete with dry fruits that have been soaked in rum for a week. Considering that my family here is too widespread to visit, thanksgiving is the time to celebrate with friends who have become family here.
So I guess I should say that the only tradition I really keep is amalgamation !
Here's a list of other participating posts:
2 comments:
I'm sure you get a lot of attention from Americans who have not known a person from India, but I did find your take on this subject very interesting. And it's true that you are most comfortable with what you grow up with. By now you know how we feel about Thanksgiving. I have a cousin in Australia where the day is unheard of! She's not married, but I suspect that if she were, she would do what you have done, find a way to marry her traditions to those of her new husband and new country.
I'm sure you get a lot of attention from Americans who have not known a person from India, but I did find your take on this subject very interesting. And it's true that you are most comfortable with what you grow up with. By now you know how we feel about Thanksgiving. I have a cousin in Australia where the day is unheard of! She's not married, but I suspect that if she were, she would do what you have done, find a way to marry her traditions to those of her new husband and new country.
Post a Comment