A FAMILY TRADITION BASED ON BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS

  

Family tradition, also called family culture, is defined as an aggregate of attitudes, ideas, ideals, and environment, which a person inherits from their parents and ancestors.

 A family tradition is an activity or pattern of behavior that reflects a family's values, interests, or beliefs. Once established, it will hopefully be passed down through the generations. It represents your specific family unit and is like your own family culture.

 Family traditions are activities, routines, and behaviors that are repeated and passed down from generation to generation within a family. Family traditions can be as simple as a weekly dinner night or as involved as a play, rehearsed and showcased for the extended family each year.

Everyday traditions can have just as much impact as annual traditions. Something as simple as a weekly family dinner can bring everyone together and create routine and stability. Game nights, movie nights, and other regular activities can be a fun way to connect and unwind after a busy day.

Overall, traditions provide a healthy understanding of self from a young age, which they can continue to build on as they grow up. Traditions help strengthen family bonds. Established rituals help family members trust each other. These traditions provide a set time for families to interact and build a solid foundation.

If your family tradition is elaborate, expensive, or requires a lot of props or supplies, you are less likely to keep it going. Often, the simplest traditions are the best ones, anyway. Family traditions and family rituals can be as simple as playing games, having meals together, and sharing a laugh.

Family traditions foster a rich, shared identity that bolsters individual self-worth. Taking part in shared rituals makes us feel part of a greater whole. This sense of belonging boosts our confidence and strengthens our sense of self.

 Shashtanga namaskar / touching the feet of our elders is one tradition I'm proud of. In South India, the tradition of touching the feet of elders is less common than in other parts of India, such as the north and center. Instead, South Indians prefer to perform a full-length prostration known as "shashtanga namaskar". 

Southern elders always are startled when we bend down to touch their feet. In the south, you get blessings during festivities or celebrations by full namaskaram.

 For some reason, it shows your respect for the other elder person in your life, and you feel their hand on you when they bless you, kind of like a reassurance that we're watching over you, daughter.

 It is an elaborated form of performing Charan Sparsh, which is a Sanskrit word that means "touching the feet". 

Hindus always touch the feet of their elders as a matter of respect and expressing gratitude. It is believed that these customs originated in the Vedic era. Hindus call this act of respect, known as "Charan Spasht" or "Pranam”.

It may be seen in temples during darshan (viewing of the deity to pay obeisance). This related type of pranama is most common in Indian culture

We have read in the epic Mahabharata, that Yudhistra stated that touching the feet of the elders gives strength and a feeling of greatness. Even Rishis have observed four beneficial factors of touching the feet, i.e. it gives strength, intellect, knowledge, and fame.

 

This blog post is a part of Blogchatter's half-marathon : https://www.theblogchatter.com/campaign-registrations/blogchatter-half-marathon-2024 

(Prompt: Favourite family traditions)