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Westernization Of Indian Culture Biography
A common and genuine fear among st conservative Indians (specially elders) is that the rampant westernization among st Indians is leading to the gradual decline and eventual ruins of Indian culture and tradition. Western goods, dresses, foods, festivals, style, language and moreover the western thought is suspected to be spreading across the populace. The purpose of this article is to look at the many reasons that cause such fears and analyze them by comparing with reality. This analysis is mainly from the Hindu perspective since that is where the author’s experience lies. The analysis however, would probably apply in equal measure to those Indians of other religious persuasions as well.
Broadly Culture and Tradition can be thought to be made up of:: Celebration of festivals and religious practices, dresses, foods, arts, traditional sciences, language and lifestyle. An analysis on these lines may give us a good handle on the topic and provide a reasonably complete picture.
Festivals and Religious practices
Indians now celebrate a wide variety of festivals cutting across religious lines. Special attention has been focused on Valentines Day, New Years Eve, Halloween, Christmas and such festivals that are considered to be alien to India. The fact that large number of youngsters have taken to celebrating these has aroused substantial fears leading to even threats of, and in many cases real, physical violence.
Christmas and New Years Eve are celebrated these days with gusto amongst the Indian middle and upper classes. Though Christmas is an important religious festival for Christians many Hindus celebrate Christmas. Valentines Day is gaining popularity mainly amongst youngsters. There is an allegation that Valentines Day is a media and commerce introduced venture. Whatever be the cause, it has gained popularity.
Most people celebrating Christmas, New years and Valentines, do it as a celebration rather than as a religious festival. Valentines Day is looked upon as a celebration of love and it provides youngsters opportunities to romance the opposite sex. Christmas and New Years are celebrated more for the consumption of cakes and wines rather than for religious reasons. In a manner, many Indians have adopted these as general non-religious festivals. Interestingly, New Years eve celebrations have started acquiring an Indian dimension and it is not always about drinking and dancing.
We must note that the traditional Hindu festivals are also celebrated in pomp and splendor, increasing by the year. In Mumbai, during the 2-3 days of Ganapathi Visarjan, Mumbai’s beaches are full to the brim. The number of people coming and the number of Ganapathis (Huge ones and small ones) is to be seen to get an understanding of the involvement of people. Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated publicly in every other street. Handi breaking competitions in this period have tough competitions and tougher competitors. Heights of the Handis go up to 13 tiers and prizes of some of the mandals go even above 50 Lakh rupees. Sankranti, Ugadi, Deepavali, Dasara, Durga Pooja, Raama Navami are all celebrated nowadays much more than in the previous generation (around 25 years ago).
We find that many festivals are moving more and more into the public domain while retaining the private celebrations too. The Public Ganapathi pandals in Mumbai attract lakhs of devotees (crores of rupees are collected at Lalbaghcha Raja Ganapathi). The public celebration of festivals provides coverage for those who don’t or can’t celebrate privately.
Regarding religious practices, the activity is now higher than it was in the earlier generations. Group singing of Soundarya Lahari, kumkumārchanas, homās and yāgas seem to be increasing. Temples are overflowing (may be the same with Churches and Mosques). What used to be road side shanty temples acquire full temple status with permanent buildings and committed following. Old temples in several villages are all being renovated and people (both local and those who have migrated) are actively contributing to these initiatives. Religious gurus are attracting more followers and there is a wider audience for their discourses.
Dresses
Western dresses have percolated into the Indian populace quite widely. Some of the Indian traditional dresses such as Dhoti, Turban (for men), Saari, Langa-Blouse-Daavani (for girls) are becoming rare.
The westernization of the Indian dress started much before, during the British rule. The Pants, Skirts, Shirts, Ties, Suits and such have been in vogue for quite some time now.
Indian dresses continue to live well. The traditional dresses are common on all special occasions including amongst youngsters. The Salwar-Kameez, Kurta-Pyjama, Mundu, Saari and such are still commonly used. Western dresses have also been adopted widely, probably from the convenience aspect. The western dresses that are inconvenient to wear such as corsets, large flowing gowns and skirts are quite rare. Here again, traditional Indian dresses don’t seem to be in any danger of being subsumed by westernization.
Foods
The Indian palate has welcomed many western foods (and eastern as well). Pizzas, Burgers, Ice creams, Noodles are all common place in Indian cities and towns. Of late Barbecues, Steaks, Pasta, Lasagna, Spaghetti, Tacos, and other foods are also making their presence felt.
When the major western food joints started operations in India, there were widespread fears that it was the end of Indian foods like Dosa and Idly. No such thing has happened. If any, the Indian foods, with all their regional traditional identities in tact, have grown stronger. There is enough demand for the Appam as for the Rumali Rotis. The Rasgullas and the Mysore paks are both relished with equal fervor. Some special dishes that were getting quite rare a decade ago are now reappearing and are even being marketed commercially. For instance, in Karnataka, dishes such as Manohara, Kunda, Kardant, Todedev are spreading from their earlier regional silos and are addressing larger markets.
There may not be many Indian dishes of value that have been sacrificed at the altar of western / foreign foods.
Westernization Of Indian Culture Biography
A common and genuine fear among st conservative Indians (specially elders) is that the rampant westernization among st Indians is leading to the gradual decline and eventual ruins of Indian culture and tradition. Western goods, dresses, foods, festivals, style, language and moreover the western thought is suspected to be spreading across the populace. The purpose of this article is to look at the many reasons that cause such fears and analyze them by comparing with reality. This analysis is mainly from the Hindu perspective since that is where the author’s experience lies. The analysis however, would probably apply in equal measure to those Indians of other religious persuasions as well.
Broadly Culture and Tradition can be thought to be made up of:: Celebration of festivals and religious practices, dresses, foods, arts, traditional sciences, language and lifestyle. An analysis on these lines may give us a good handle on the topic and provide a reasonably complete picture.
Festivals and Religious practices
Indians now celebrate a wide variety of festivals cutting across religious lines. Special attention has been focused on Valentines Day, New Years Eve, Halloween, Christmas and such festivals that are considered to be alien to India. The fact that large number of youngsters have taken to celebrating these has aroused substantial fears leading to even threats of, and in many cases real, physical violence.
Christmas and New Years Eve are celebrated these days with gusto amongst the Indian middle and upper classes. Though Christmas is an important religious festival for Christians many Hindus celebrate Christmas. Valentines Day is gaining popularity mainly amongst youngsters. There is an allegation that Valentines Day is a media and commerce introduced venture. Whatever be the cause, it has gained popularity.
Most people celebrating Christmas, New years and Valentines, do it as a celebration rather than as a religious festival. Valentines Day is looked upon as a celebration of love and it provides youngsters opportunities to romance the opposite sex. Christmas and New Years are celebrated more for the consumption of cakes and wines rather than for religious reasons. In a manner, many Indians have adopted these as general non-religious festivals. Interestingly, New Years eve celebrations have started acquiring an Indian dimension and it is not always about drinking and dancing.
We must note that the traditional Hindu festivals are also celebrated in pomp and splendor, increasing by the year. In Mumbai, during the 2-3 days of Ganapathi Visarjan, Mumbai’s beaches are full to the brim. The number of people coming and the number of Ganapathis (Huge ones and small ones) is to be seen to get an understanding of the involvement of people. Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated publicly in every other street. Handi breaking competitions in this period have tough competitions and tougher competitors. Heights of the Handis go up to 13 tiers and prizes of some of the mandals go even above 50 Lakh rupees. Sankranti, Ugadi, Deepavali, Dasara, Durga Pooja, Raama Navami are all celebrated nowadays much more than in the previous generation (around 25 years ago).
We find that many festivals are moving more and more into the public domain while retaining the private celebrations too. The Public Ganapathi pandals in Mumbai attract lakhs of devotees (crores of rupees are collected at Lalbaghcha Raja Ganapathi). The public celebration of festivals provides coverage for those who don’t or can’t celebrate privately.
Regarding religious practices, the activity is now higher than it was in the earlier generations. Group singing of Soundarya Lahari, kumkumārchanas, homās and yāgas seem to be increasing. Temples are overflowing (may be the same with Churches and Mosques). What used to be road side shanty temples acquire full temple status with permanent buildings and committed following. Old temples in several villages are all being renovated and people (both local and those who have migrated) are actively contributing to these initiatives. Religious gurus are attracting more followers and there is a wider audience for their discourses.
Dresses
Western dresses have percolated into the Indian populace quite widely. Some of the Indian traditional dresses such as Dhoti, Turban (for men), Saari, Langa-Blouse-Daavani (for girls) are becoming rare.
The westernization of the Indian dress started much before, during the British rule. The Pants, Skirts, Shirts, Ties, Suits and such have been in vogue for quite some time now.
Indian dresses continue to live well. The traditional dresses are common on all special occasions including amongst youngsters. The Salwar-Kameez, Kurta-Pyjama, Mundu, Saari and such are still commonly used. Western dresses have also been adopted widely, probably from the convenience aspect. The western dresses that are inconvenient to wear such as corsets, large flowing gowns and skirts are quite rare. Here again, traditional Indian dresses don’t seem to be in any danger of being subsumed by westernization.
Foods
The Indian palate has welcomed many western foods (and eastern as well). Pizzas, Burgers, Ice creams, Noodles are all common place in Indian cities and towns. Of late Barbecues, Steaks, Pasta, Lasagna, Spaghetti, Tacos, and other foods are also making their presence felt.
When the major western food joints started operations in India, there were widespread fears that it was the end of Indian foods like Dosa and Idly. No such thing has happened. If any, the Indian foods, with all their regional traditional identities in tact, have grown stronger. There is enough demand for the Appam as for the Rumali Rotis. The Rasgullas and the Mysore paks are both relished with equal fervor. Some special dishes that were getting quite rare a decade ago are now reappearing and are even being marketed commercially. For instance, in Karnataka, dishes such as Manohara, Kunda, Kardant, Todedev are spreading from their earlier regional silos and are addressing larger markets.
There may not be many Indian dishes of value that have been sacrificed at the altar of western / foreign foods.
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
Westernisation Of Indian Culture
