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Being a part of the global writing community, I’m inspired to explore diverse cultures and perspectives. Growing up in India, a country known for its diversity, exposed me to various cultural traditions from a young age. Interestingly, even within the same country, we find remarkable variations. For instance, New Year’s Day falls on different days in different regions. It is celebrated as Pohela Boishakh in Bengal, Baisakhi in Punjab, Vishu in Kerala, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, and Diwali in Gujarat – each with its unique customs and traditions. Thus, India may seem to be a miniature replica of the world’s diversity. It is so important that we keep teaching kids about cultural traditions and values.
Observing these cultural nuances prompts us to look at the broader view of diversity across the world. In other parts of the world, variations of the New Year include, the Chinese New Year, Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year, Nowruz or the Persian New Year, and Songkran or the Thai New Year. But still on 1st January, we find people from different communities coming together to welcome the new year. Despite the varying dates, customs and traditions, the underlying sentiment remains the same – the hope and desire for a new beginning.
It’s important to understand the shared values that – Teaching Kids About Cultural Traditions and Values brings into our lives~
Cultural Variations in Greetings
When interacting with another culture, the first thing that often comes to mind is the form of greeting. Most people would greet an Indian saying, “Namaste.” This popular phrase means, “I bow to you.” However, it is not the only form of greeting in the country. For instance, in Bengal, the greeting is “Nomoshkar,” while in Punjab, it’s “Sat Sri Akal.” Other forms of greeting include “Vanakkam” in South India, “Khamma Ghani” in Rajasthan, and “Adab” in the Muslim community. The common sentiment behind the various greetings is recognizing the divine in others as a uniting force.
Shaking hands is perhaps the most common way of greeting. Still, we come across various forms of greeting across the world, varying in their degrees of formality and informality. Greetings can range from the respectful bows in Japan to the warm hugs in America. It can also be as simple as a casual wave. However, we may not be familiar with every culture’s term for greeting. But if we recognize the shared value of connection and approach each with understanding and an open mind, we can avoid awkwardness.
Traditional Craft: A Tangible form of Cultural Diversity
Culture also finds expression in traditional arts and crafts, embodying the timeless relevance of artistic expression in human life. Traditional crafts showcase the ingenuity of emerging artists and the wisdom of ancestors, ultimately contributing to human achievements.
Bengal’s terracotta pottery, Bihar’s Madhubani paintings, Kashmiri shawls, and teak woodcraft are some common household names in India. Among these, terracotta or baked earth stands out as a common element in traditional crafts across many cultures. The iconic Bankura horse of Bengal is a great example of this.
From the terracotta tradition of Bengal to Chinese pottery traditions, the common goal is to preserve and nurture the community through creativity. Similarly, Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, the Batik textile art of Indonesia, American quilting, and African basketry all reflect the human instinct to create, preserve and leave a legacy.
Festivals: Celebrating Shared Values
Festivals are another significant aspect of culture, involving not only customs and rituals but also deep meanings and emotions. India is known as the land of festivals. Diwali, the most well-known Indian festival, is commonly associated with oil lamps, fairy lights, fireworks, rangoli, and sweet treats. However, despite shared religious roots, Diwali is celebrated differently across regions. For some, Diwali marks the triumphant return of Lord Rama, while others invoke the goddess of fortune, or worship the mother goddess. At the heart of the festivities lies the shared purpose of celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Similar to Diwali, we find the significance of light in other cultural festivals too. Candle lighting during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the lantern festivals across Asia, and the use of fairy lights during Christmas all share a common goal – to dispel darkness and invite light into our lives. All festivals regardless of religious or cultural differences ultimately share the human desire to connect, share and celebrate life.
At the Heart of Diversity
Understanding diversity is not just about being aware of our differences, it’s about appreciating the shared values that remind us of our common humanity. When we are rooted in this feeling of oneness, we can stay authentic to our identity and also appreciate the diversity that surrounds us. The threads that weave our cultures together make this world a complete masterpiece. While our shared values unite us, the diversity of our cultural traditions adds colors to the world and enriches the human experience. By embracing our shared values, we can create a harmonious and deeply connected world.
Our world, comprising diverse communities, is our shared home. The ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, offers a beautiful phrase, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which translates to “the world is one family.” If we could hold on to this idea in our hearts, we would truly feel at home regardless of where we are. So Keep On Teaching Kids About Cultural Traditions and Values.
Adrita Goswami is an India-based children’s book author and a co-author of several anthologies. She has been published both traditionally and independently. Her chapter book, ‘Tia and the Terracotta Horse’ showcases the diversity of India through the travel adventures of a young Bengali girl and her magic horse. Apart from writing, Adrita finds joy in reading, music, photography, and learning new things.
