Preservation of Traditional Customs and Culture
Societies in general manifest their identities through their specific traditions and custom. Various traditions of s society also present to us an intriguing panoramic view of their socio-cultural life. However, it is observed that the significance of the long practised traditions is now beginning to take a back seat.
Tradition is an integral part o every society. Various feasts an festivals, religious rituals and ceremonies satisfies one’s mental and spiritual hunger. His daily activities are directed and guided by the traditions within which he is born and brought up.
Speaking about the Naga society, Dr. K Gailangam says, “Festivals, feasts and ritual ceremonies are closely intertwined with the basics of the socio cultural life of a human being”. Every tribe in India is known for its rich and colourful activities such as fests , rites rituals, dances, songs, dresses and customs including religious belief.
Gone are the days when man worried nothings about the future of his traditions and customs. It is important to analyze the reasons of or the declining of love and reverence for one’s own culture. Though the reasons are varied, we can notice that the growing urbanizations and westernization have made large contributions to the declining of traditional culture and customs.
The recent years have been marked with a large scale migrations of rural population into urban areas. This happens when people begins to search for job opportunities, comforts in life etc. the busy urban life, usually, alienate people from the traditional fervor of one’s own culture. People in our country especially in cities have developed a concept that everything which is of the west is to be admired and imitated. Though this view is not altogether wrong, it plays a significant role in devaluing one’s own tradition.
Our lack of awareness of loosing the tradition and culture adds to the complex dimension of the fact. However, we are not too late. There are various areas that needs special attention of we wish to preserve our traditions and customs. We need to set our minds on learning more about our own culture, folktales, tribal history etc. the more we know of our culture the more will be our love for it. Preservation of something that we like is not a hard task.
Education in tribal dialect should be given more attention. A child who grows up without proper knowledge of his own dialect will hardly be able to understand the significance of the folktales, cultural songs, tribal history etc. Of his tribe which assume a unique significance when expressed in one’s own dialect.
The respect that one pays for his own culture and that of others’ contributes largely to its continuity. No one should be moved with an idea that he enjoys a certain level of superiority over other’s culturally. No effort should be spared in spreading awareness of the need to preserve the cultural identity of every society. Through awareness programmes as well as publishing of books, articles etc. people should be taught to respect and to love their culture and customs. people will strive to preserve their culture only when they have access to adequate information about the worth of their cultural heritage.
Preservation of tradition does not mean promoting every element found in a culture. Obviously, every culture is a mixture of both positive and negative elements. Every culture stands in need of purification. Superstitious practices like magic and witchcraft, human sacrifices etc. are still prevalent in many parts of our country. They can never be termed as positive and so should be eradicated.
Awareness should be created that the cultural celebrations and festivals are more than a mere pass-time celebrations. It is a period of re-invigorating their fatigued cultural life and an occasion for commemorating their distinct cultural identity. It is a time of renewal of life and enrichment of interpersonal relationships. Festivals are also opportune moments of imparting cultural educations through songs, dances, folktales etc. according to H. D’souza it is an occasion for the younger generation to learn their traditions and culture.
As the saying goes, “Tradition is the voice of the dead”. It is meant to say that there is an uninterrupted continuity between old and new generations through the transmission of traditions and culture. However, today the elders are of the opinion that the unwritten laws and rules of our forefathers which were communicated through the words of mouth (oral tradition) have not been given due importance. As a consequence, many individual squander away their precious time and energy in reckless living.
It is the duty of everyone to keep alive his age old traditions and culture. We cannot go back to the past but we have to move forward we should move forward in the right direction traced out by our forefathers. In this way we can reclaim our culture and history. We need to make concerted efforts and stand together to face any challenge to preserve our traditions, our culture and its beauty.
By
Jerry Mathew SDB
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