Are You Still In Touch With your Roots?

When I stepped into Motherhood, within very first month at my native place as part of the tradition I was asked to worship a well and seek its blessings. Engineered by modern education and beliefs I simply smiled and shrugged it off – Why do I need to worship a well, that’s insane! My mother told me - As a well is full of water quenching thirst to many, in a similar manner, you ask well to fill your breasts with milk, so your kid is satisfied and never hungry.

A simple tradition and holds such an important message, but I was wired to ignore it! How many of us living in urban areas feel the same way? Globalization, technology and information that is now at fingertips, but aren’t we missing the human touch?

It is the tradition of spirituality that binds India together, not communities Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• How many of us can still smell the “saundhi khusbhoo” [sweet smell] of the earth after first rains? Not many, thanks to Air conditioned Offices.
• How many of us would go on a vacation to their natives to celebrate the traditional festivals? Not many, thanks to trips to Malaysia, Maldives and Thailand being cheaper.
• How many remember the upcoming festivals, unless it is under a holiday list in your Office or your kid’s school diary?
• How many of us know how to cook traditional recipes for a specific festival?
• How many of us prefer celebrating festivals that fall on the weekend?

One of my friend Sandeep [Changed on request] who loves travelling and is a blogger says – Urbanization has at one hand provided us with a lot of opportunities to explore, experiment and experience other traditions but on the flip side has distant us from our traditions and values. He continues, just for example at our place the first chapatti made is served to cow, now it’s hard to find a cow outside India or even in metros in India, where you can go and feed them. So you simply ignore it.

Another lady, a mom of five months old says – Nuclear family is one of the prime reasons of getting disconnected from the roots. Blame it too hectic work schedule [when earlier work used to end by 5 pm] that by the time people return home they are exhausted. We usually wait for “weekends” to do something different and unluckily our festivals not necessarily fall on the weekends. However, once you have a kid, you want to pass your traditions to them and maybe that’s when you get into celebration no matter what, as I am planning to dress my little as Krishna for upcoming Janamasthmi.

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and the soul of it's people – Mahatma Gandhi.”

Another girl in her twenties believes an elderly at home can make a lot of difference in how we value our traditions. She says – When my parents are at home, I feel like someone’s waiting at home. And as you knock the door, the incense sticks fragrance and the fresh lemon rice aroma connect you more deeply. We may be busy with our busy schedule, but the oldies still have a lot of time, and they make sure that even we are connected. With parents and in-laws at home, it is said the house is blessed!

We could site ‘n’ number of lame excuses or obligation to drift away from our roots, but is it not our choice of living? We choose to apply an antiseptic rather than turmeric, we choose to wean away a kid from mother’s milk because she has to return to work, we choose to be guided by others rather than our instincts, we choose ….

Keep Faith
Chakoli :)