What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?
As society changes over time, traditions evolve. Tracing the evolution of traditions, particularly in Indian culture, is a fascinating endeavour. Festivals like Deepawali and Ganesh Chaturthi showcase deep-rooted customs that vary across communities and families. These traditions serve to connect people to their heritage and nature. Fast urbanisation and changing lifestyles affected traditions. A scientific approach to tradition is essential. It encourages the abandonment of superstitions.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Traditions in Indian culture evolve over time, influenced by urbanization and changing lifestyles.
- Festivals like Deepawali and Ganesh Chaturthi highlight the importance of customs, connecting people to their heritage.
- Family traditions can vary but usually stay rooted in larger communal customs.
- Superstitions are regressive and threaten societal cohesion, emphasizing the need for a scientific approach to tradition.
- Changing family structures, like the shift from joint families to nuclear families, challenge the preservation of traditions.
Introduction
Thousands of earthen “Diya” illuminated the dark new moon night of the “Kartik” month of the Vikrami calendar. As the sun set, people began preparing for “Pooja” (devotion and oblation) and lighting small earthen lamps (Diya). A deep-rooted traditional festival, Deepawali celebrated with fervour. A part of vibrant culture, festivals are a special occasion to celebrate in traditional fervour.
Festivity
(a) Tradition
The age-old tradition of festivals, their religious fervour and devotional spirit give vigour and a sense of self-purification. Festivities start from Ganapati Pooja, which falls in Bhadrapada (usually in August/September of the Gregorian Calendar). The tradition of celebrating new crops is ancient. They allow us to thank the Almighty for His bounties.
Besides community traditions, family members follow family traditions. Family traditions run independently under a common umbrella of faith. Family traditions can differ from one another, but the common thread is the large community to which they belong. The marriage ceremony is an appropriate example.
(b) Feeling obliged to the Almighty
Festivities are traditionally and gracefully observed. People keep in mind the obligation of the Supreme Soul. He showers His blessings in the form of grains, fruits, seeds, and nuts to keep us healthy and strong. It cascades down from generation to generation. It succeeds the same old way with slight variations according to space and time, of course.
(c) Paying respect
Traditions vary according to the customs of a society. The seed germinates, grows and develops into a tree. So are the traditions. Laid down by the sagacious primogenitors, these are the ways to remember and pay respect to Nature.
Pious traditional occasions
(a) “Ganpati” festival
Primarily observed in Maharashtra (India), the Ganapati festival, also known as “Ganesh Utsav”, is an apt example of tradition. The great leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak started it to unify the people. The ten-day festival celebrated across the state with great enthusiasm and gaiety. Chaitra Navratri culminates in Dussehra or Vijayadashmi, which occurs after the Ganapati festival. Dussehra celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the reinstatement of righteousness.
(b) “Shardiya Navratra” – Durga Pooja
It is the period of devotion, self-purification and self-emancipation. Beautifully crafted idols of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati with Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya are worshipped. Artistic and graceful“Pooja Pandal”, enhance the glory and tradition of the occasion.
(c) “Vijayadashmi” – Dussehra
Vijayadashmi or Dussehra falls on the tenth day of “Navratri”. It is the day to celebrate the victory of virtue over wrongdoing. People believe that Lord Ram eliminated the demon king Ravana on this day. Huge effigies of Ravan, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran traditionally consigned to fire with much fanfare.
(d) Deepawali – Festival of lights
Twenty days after Dussehra is over, the festival of lights, Deepawali (Diwali), begins. It serves as a reminder of the victory of light over darkness and symbolises knowledge over ignorance. After Deepawali Govardhan and Bhai Dooj follow. Govardhan signifies the event when Lord Krishna saved his village folks from the ire of Indra. He made a quick arrangement for relief and shelter in the caves of Govardhan Mountain. Bhai Dooj signifies the innocent and pure love of sisters towards their brothers.
Culture
Engraved in the psyche of people and society, long-standing customs and traditions become culture. The sum of customs and social behaviour, culture is a special identity that gives a society its uniqueness. Every community in a society has traditions that it follows according to its faith and customs. (Government of Uttar Pradesh, India)
(a) Wedding ceremony
The rituals observed during a wedding ceremony are common. Families try to stick to their customs. It is, nonetheless, noteworthy that they don’t deviate from the common faith they belong to. The family traditions are weak in nature in the sense that obeying them is not strictly mandatory. Deviation or blending of two family traditions by mutual consent is common.
(b) Ashram and Sanskar
In antediluvian Indian society, there used to be four Ashrams in the life of an individual. These Āashram were Bramhcharya, Grihasth, Vānprastha and Sanyās. It was obligatory, and people would follow them religiously. Similarly, in a family, there used to be sixteen rituals (Sanskār). These sacroscant Sanskars performed to invoke the divine element in a newborn. This included imparting education and the purification of mind and soul.
Traditions changed with time
With time, most of these rituals became obsolete. Irrelevant rituals and repetitive drills discarded. Life is ever-changing, so are individuals and societies. It is also reflected in the observance of traditions. Some are customary and necessary, while others are orthodox. To suit the changing times and situations, flexibility is allowed.
(a) Shift in the way of celebration
(i) Deepawali
The change in attitude is also seen in festivities. Electric decorations have replaced traditional earthen lamps (Diya) in Deepawali. The festivities have undergone significant changes. Similarly, other festivals have also evolved to meet contemporary needs.
(ii) Durga Puja
A shift in the tradition of Pavilion making and its decorations is often seen. Even experiments in creating idols of the Goddess are also commonly seen. Contemporary challenges and issues are clearly represented in today’s celebrations. The traditional, elegant pavilions are being replaced by ostentatious and loud pavilions and statues.
Changing family traditions
Family traditions are fast changing, and some of them have vanished. As said earlier, the change in tradition is due to changed conditions and outlook. Sticking to irrelevant and useless traditions that become a burden needs to be shed.
Superstitions are regressive
An old wives’ tale is regressive. Ilogical, unscientific and inert beliefs lead to doom. It is like a trap. Gullible people usually follow myths spread by fake godmen/godwomen. They meticulously try to impose the burden of beliefs on false notions. People need to be aware of such traps. Unquestioned beliefs are superstitions that weaken individuals, families, and society as a whole.
Tradition of Joint family
(a) Nuclear family
A scientific tradition is worth pursuing. Indian culture and ethos are rich. It is self-supporting, which doesn’t need external support. A few traditions are waning due to pressing social conditions and structures. Traditional joint families, for example, are waning fast. Nuclear families are taking their place. It was unimaginable, but it is a reality. Increasing family members and their progenies gave rise to many avoidable confrontations and commotion. The eldest member of a family (Patriarch or Matriarch) used to be the supreme of all family members. This system is losing control. Despite the benefits of the joint family system, it has cracked and collapsed. Now, it has become a ruin. (Census 2011 India)
(b) Infighting
In a joint family system, property was a joint responsibility. As the strong feeling of “mine and thine” crept in, infighting started. Powerless patriarch/matriarch, incapable of control, became helpless. Despite dissatisfaction with the joint family, the refutation is not vocal. The advocacy for the joint family seems hollow.
(c) Urbanisation
Increasing urbanisation has led to a decline in rural areas, and the reduction of arable land contributes to family disintegration. Families migrate to cities for employment, often living in cramped, unsanitary conditions.
In a nut shell
Traditions are becoming difficult to follow under pressing economic and social conditions. Above all, like other things, traditions are also changeable. New trends are emerging, and old, worn-out traditions are fading. Lugging them ad nauseam is impractical. The sooner the better lest it is too late.
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