The Hindu : New Delhi News : A colourful insight into Indian tradition

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Thursday, Jul 31, 2008
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New Delhi

A colourful insight into Indian tradition

Madhur Tankha

A home-maker decodes age-old rituals for Generation X

NEW DELHI: At a time when Generation X is increasingly incorporating alien Western values into its cultural life, writer Anju Poddar has penned a book to promote our traditional festivals and traditions.

Anju’s book, “Our Festivals Our Traditions”, which was launched by India International Centre-Asia Project Chairperson Kapila Vatsyayan at India Habitat Centre here this past week, takes a look into the rich culture of Indian festivals. It also shows the uninitiated the modus operandi to celebrate them so that they can understand the meaning behind the rituals.

Speaking about this bi-lingual book that has been printed by Samay Books, Anju says she didn’t want the younger generation to perfunctorily perform the rituals: “It is a practical handbook for a discerning home-maker, a working woman or for any person interested in understanding Hindu religion and its cultural heritage. My readers would be familiar with the cross-cultural references and relate it to the religion and culture they belong to. Our country is rich in traditions and has an innate potential to assimilate diverse cultures. I hope the book would be able to inculcate respect for traditions in our younger generation who are currently being swept away by Western culture.”

Author of “A Journey to the Heavens” and “A Wedding in the House”, Anju was exposed to Hindu traditions and culture on a daily basis. “I belong to Uttar Pradesh and was married into a family in Kolkata. Now I am settled in Hyderabad; therefore I have been influenced by both northern and southern cultures. My latest book outlines the important festivals of the country in an attractive manner, sprinkled with paintings, interesting facts and useful ‘shlokas’ for daily ‘poojas’,” adds the author.

Source of inspiration

Describing herself as a successful home-maker, Anju says: “As I am deeply fascinated by Hindu traditions and festivals, I wanted to propagate their significance to the young nuclear family of today. The source of inspiration for this book was a marriage of my friend to a non-resident Indian. During the nuptial ceremony both the couple were absolutely clueless about how a Hindu marriage is solemnised. I learnt that people of various states and communities perform their festivals in a divergent manner so I wanted to write a comprehensive book,” adds Anju.

Comprising various traditions and rituals celebrated across the country, the books divides all the festivals month-wise. It also includes a chapter on people’s last journey where the author tries to explain the last rites and their significance.

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