As a name gives an identity to a person, family traditions differentiate a family, making each and every family unique and special.
My family starts off each day with a prayer to thank God for what we are and who we are, and to ensure his presence in our day. Also, dinner-time conversations are valued in my family. Friday nights are also looked forward to as time spent together playing board games, cards, or watching a movie. .
Holidays mean a lot to my family, for they help build everlasting memories and enrich our culture. Some important holidays in Hindu culture are Holi, Ramnavmi, Janmastami, Navratri, and Diwali. Each holiday has its own meaning and importance, and celebrating them with their true meaning makes them especially joyful. Holi is the festival of colors, and it marks the beginning of springtime. We celebrate Holi by praying and playing with colored powders. Ramnavmi and Janmastami are two holidays which celebrate the birthdays of the God Rama, and Lord Krishna. Our family fasts on this day, and we spend our evening at the temple singing hymns in praise of our Gods. Navratri is a nine-night holiday. It is in honor of the birth of a Goddess. On these nine nights, we wear traditional outfits and gather in groups of about 500 and dance to traditional Indian music. Our dances consist of very elegant stick dancing, and tricky hand movements. Diwali marks the end of the current Hindu calendar year and the beginning on the new year. Diwali is the festival of lights and is celebrated much like New Year's Day. Our whole family-immediate and extended- gathers and exchanges memories and gifts.
Our family traditions are passed on from generation to generation, and help define the true meaning of my family.