In a world of increasing globalisation a child in India not only celebrates Diwali but also Halloween. A child in Australia not only celebrates Christmas but also experiences Diwali. Road signs in Western countries read ‘Diversion ahead due to Ganesh Chathurthi procession’. The great thing about this is that it promotes an understanding and hopefully a tolerance of other cultures, rituals, ceremonies and traditions. In a world where intolerance and religious disputes are in abundance, teaching children about others and the festival of others can help bridge building towards a more peaceful world. This will only hold true however if we bring the depth of understanding to the rituals that festivals are marked by.
Teach children about the intent of the month of Ramadan. That it is not about fasting and depriving yourself of food and torturing yourself physically and then enjoying a feast every evening. The essence of fasting is to practice self control, self regulation, being thankful for your blessings and giving to the poor. However if this is not explained to the child he will grow up not knowing the true meaning and follow tradition blindly…
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Read Lina’s thoughts on World Schooling here