BACKGROUND
Traditions are integral to a country’s identity as they signify its people’s values, beliefs, lifestyle and faith. All countries have specific traditions rooted in their cultural background, which make them unique and attractive. Traditions in the East differ significantly from traditions in the West, ranging from family, social, student and professional life. Let us dive into the ancient traditions of India, which have historical meanings associated with them, and see how the wisdom that Indian traditions convey contrast with the Western traditions.
INDIAN TRADITIONS
Every Indian tradition conceals a moral story that conveys its significance and explains why and how its practice connects with Indian cultural values. For several ages, Indians have emphasized the notion of respect for their elders, and this value can be seen immediately when you see how Indians greet their elders by touching their feet and seeking their blessings, as they believe that their wishes come from the heart and are manifested by the universe to come true. Touching the feet of elders is not only limited to parents or grandparents but anyone they meet for the first time, with a generation gap between them. Elderly respect is not limited to people with whom you share a generation gap, as in India, it is considered disrespectful to even address your elder siblings by taking their names. Thus, Indians use standard terms in their language, like bhaiya (elder brother) and didi (elder sister), to express respect to elders with a minimal age gap. Moreover, when Indian children meet with their friends’ parents or their parent’s friends, they address them respectfully by saying ‘uncle’ and ‘auntie’ rather than referring to them by their names, as such terms are widely used in India to communicate with elders.
In Indian traditions, specific topics are considered taboo to be discussed with elders or at family gatherings, such as death and masturbation or sex. Indian families will talk about anything with their children apart from these as they are deemed inappropriate and known to invite bad luck. However these topics can be discussed among friends or cousins belonging to similar age, but there is a strict restriction on these when it comes to elders. As a result, children equip themselves with sex education independently through the use of the Internet or communication with peers. Following this theme, public romance is primarily discouraged in Indian society, and people look down upon you with shame if you start kissing your spouse or touching them romantically, be it in a shopping mall or a park. In worse cases, people start labelling you as a person of low character and questioning your upbringing when you try being physical with your partner openly.
WESTERN TRADITIONS
Western traditions vary from Indian traditions and often contrast with many of them. To begin with, in the West, it is perfectly normal to address anyone you meet by taking their name regardless of the age difference. Many times it is observed that children address their parents or grandparents by their names when introducing them to their friends. Contrary to the Indian tradition, everyone in the West meets by shaking hands with each other, and it is considered strange here if you start touching the feet of elders. Most Westerners contradict this Indian tradition by affirming that it is weakening the self-respect of youngsters by teaching them to bow down to the feet of elders and portraying them as superior. Western people believe everyone should be treated equally by not adhering to such customs.
In Western families, topics like death and sex are discussed openly without fearing humiliation, as Westerners believe it is a part of life. It is common to see families debating family will and reserve a spot in advance in the graveyard to be well-equipped when death happens unexpectedly. Furthermore, parents take an active interest in giving sex education to their children as they grow up by explaining fundamental concepts like masturbation and how the body feels when sexually aroused. They firmly believe it is vital for them to educate their children about these processes without feeling embarrassed, as it is essential for their child’s development.
In the West, romance is encouraged, and it won’t be a surprise if you see a couple kissing or holding each other like the Titanic pose.
CONCLUSION
Indian and Western traditions can get conflicting due to their differences. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand that each tradition is based on the ancient value system developed by ancestors of a particular country, so questioning someone’s tradition is like questioning their identity, which makes no sense. Every country’s tradition is precious and holds deep knowledge of its meaning.
