Things do change, and for continuity, there are two things, or make that three, four or more things, that will ensure it where mere ritual fails to drive enthusiasm
Food specific to each occasion (nombu adai with butter for example), dressing up for the occasion and getting together, or for navaratri, arranging golu and even competing with other families in the area in whose golu has a more imaginative theme, calling neighbours over for sundal and bhajans.. In other words, if you have others from a similar cultural background near you, you will be drawn into group events just for fun or to satisfy your nostalgia. Personal habits like being fanatic about patthu tend to either go away, or some vestiges of it unconsciously persist by force of habit. Growing up around a grandmother who passed away when my kid sister was in her late teens means she knows the weird and wonderful distinctions between what is patthu and what is not, and can at least go through the motions of following it when she visits her elderly mother in law, who is in her mid 70s and still a believer. I never did care about either concept and my wife was not bought up in a house that followed it either. So.. That said, I seriously doubt that my daughter, or either of my nieces will know or care about patthu --srs (HTC One X) ----- Reply message ----- From: "Thaths" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: [silk] Can you separate tradition and culture from religion? Date: Fri, Jul 27, 2012 5:32 AM On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 4:53 PM, Shoba Narayan <[email protected]>wrote: > I find a curious disjointedness between my generation and my parents'. > The things that mean a lot to my mother's generation, for instance, like > Varalakshmi Puja, doesn't seem to resonate so much with mine. Indeed, many > shun it. As an agnostic, I am the same way. But I like the traditions. > What will Indian culture (or any culture) be like without religion? > Is such a disconnect unique to (y)our generation? Does your mother follow all the traditions that your grandmother practiced? My mother, for example, does not seriously believe in the Tambram concept of "patthu" or "yecchai" in her day to day operations. My grandmother was a strong believer in this and would never allow anyone in her household serve themselves (food) once they started eating. Thaths -- Homer: Hey, what does this job pay? Carl: Nuthin'. Homer: D'oh! Carl: Unless you're crooked. Homer: Woo-hoo! Sudhakar Chandra Slacker Without Borders
