A gentleman came to meet me this past Friday and informed me about a "Punjabi Mela" (fair) he and his friends were organizing. His philosophy was to bring together people from a similar background and to cherish the "Punjabi" heritage. I was struck by his sincerity for the cause and to make this event a success.
Our roots, our heritage is the accumulation over generations, of beliefs and customs that define our culture. Sometimes certain customs defy logic, but they do have a history behind them. In our formative years, we develop certain ideas, ideals and standards. This code defines us as adults---morals and principles we live by and teach our children. Over a period of time, things do change with the flow of time, and we should too. That's called being flexible, as opposed to being rigid. But at the same time, we all do make a conscious effort to preserve traditions that have stood the test of time. Traditions that define a part of us and provide us a glimpse of our ancestral history.
So why are we all so drawn to our roots? Probably because to understand Today, sometimes we have to search Yesterday. Its a desire to find out where we belong, to find out our moorings. How will our children know who they are, if they don't know where they came from? Our past, our culture, our traditions have had an important role to bring us where ever we are today.
"Remember your history. To forget is not to belong." ~ Charlotte A. Black
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P.S. - Check out the "Punjabi Mela" on 8/14/10, at the Bull Run regional park in Manassas, from 11 am to 8 pm, for a day of family fun!
