Navratri is celebrated in different ways throughout the country. It is a time to celebrate and enjoy the festivals. There are different ways in which we celebrate the same festival. People keep fasts, celebrate with dandiya and Garba dance, worship Durga maa and some display their collection of dolls which is called ‘Golu’. I believe it’s very important to involve our kids in our festivals and celebrations too.
One thing is common in all this and that is the love for the festival and the enthusiasm which we can see in people during festivals. We have diverse cultures and many different festivals which we celebrate throughout the year.
Talking to our kids about our Indian culture or showing them books to read is a good way but kids learn best through practice. They learn by watching everything around us.
How will they learn about our culture and traditions?
- Our Festivals can help children learn about our culture and traditions.
- Watching the parents and grandparents performing Pooja or celebrating a festival is important. There are some things which books cannot teach them.
- Take them to different places where they can see folk dances or other live performances.
- Encouraging them to wear our traditional clothes during this time can make them aware of our culture.
- Food is another very important part of our festivals. Involve your kids in the festive cooking of sweets and special food items.
Best ways to preserve our culture through festivals –
I feel that already our festivals and celebrations are shrinking and they are not as same as it was earlier. Involving kids in the celebrations the traditional way is very important to keep our traditions going. We do not want our traditions to fade away. Already our culture is getting lost somewhere between new and modern things.
Read here – 5 fun craft ideas to keep kids busy this Dusshera holidays
The best way to preserve everything is to teach our future generations about it. Our country has a rich culture and the best part is the unity in diversity. We stay at a place where our kids get to see festivals from all over India and the way they are celebrated. I am glad that they are getting to witness it all as it is the best way to teach kids.
Are you involving your kids in the festivals and celebrations this Navratri?
Let us know how you involve kids in our festivals?
September 25, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Yes, involving children in festivals is the best way to teach them. A great way of keeping tradition alive. Good topic and post, Deepa.
September 26, 2017 at 12:13 am
Thanks Mayuri
September 25, 2017 at 2:08 pm
This is a wonderful articles.Thanks mama
September 25, 2017 at 2:20 pm
You have put together the play, learning & involving part in context with kids very well. Great read ??
September 25, 2017 at 2:25 pm
Yes,yes! I agree. Most of my childhood memories revolve around the various festivals we used to celebrate. Even the mock dramas and dance we used to have was fun.
Being away from Kerala, my son is learning and liking the festivals of Karnataka.
September 26, 2017 at 12:14 am
Yes Preethi..We get to see different cultures here in Bangalore.
September 25, 2017 at 2:44 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Great idea, I wish I had the bandwidth to participate. Will look forward to reading more entries.
September 25, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Festivals are a good way to instill some habits in kids! Congrats to Dipika 🙂
September 25, 2017 at 3:31 pm
I love this post, making kids a part of the festival make them more aware!
We celebrate all the festivals at home – Diwali, Holi , Eid and Christmas being fav of my kids.
My kids always wear traditional clothes on Eid – white kurta pajamas with topi 🙂
September 25, 2017 at 5:28 pm
I am super excited to dress Bluey up in ethnic clothes and take him pandal hopping. We went for dandiya once and he enjoyed. It’s good to teach children about their culture and tradition.
September 25, 2017 at 11:24 pm
Agree with you. Kids need to understand our culture through such celebrations. As parents we need to introduce them to these things.
September 26, 2017 at 1:16 am
Festivals are a great occasion to teach kids about our traditions, beliefs and values. Kids not just enjoy bit also learn new things that stay with the for long.
September 26, 2017 at 9:14 am
Some of the best memories of my childhood are those of the festival’s we celebrated together as a family. You are so right .. it is only through involving them in the festivities, that they learn about out culture and traditions.
September 26, 2017 at 10:48 am
Pertinent points. I agree. I try to give my son as much exposure to cultural events as possible and he loves it. This time of the year is especially fun because of the number of festivals.
September 26, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Festivals go a long way in instilling our culture and values in our children. But I often ponder that by doing so, do we take away their right to observe and chose for themselves.
September 26, 2017 at 8:07 pm
I too believe children must be involved in our festivals…tey have to know wer they belong, their heritage and culture.. i make it a point to show my son al wat we celebrate…
September 27, 2017 at 1:09 am
I agree with you here, our festivals and culture are getting lost amidst confusion of what to follow and what can be ditched. We are a family of half atheists, hence don’t have much interest in any of the festivals as per us these have already lost their meaning but then we have parents who follow the traditions religiously and we don’t stop our kid from getting involved, we want to leave this decision of choosing his own beliefs and follow the traditions which he feels are right to be followed to him.
September 27, 2017 at 3:22 pm
Hi Deepa! Yes involving kids in a festival is a must and stories related to the festival make the occasion more fun and important.
September 27, 2017 at 3:57 pm
So agree with you Deepa. These celebrations make our kids realize the importance of festivities in life. Also they learn how to cherish different festivals with their specific customs.
September 27, 2017 at 4:32 pm
There is definitely a lot of learning involved. Also celebrating festivals brings families closer together as well.
September 27, 2017 at 6:54 pm
Totally agree .. I always dress her properly .. Though she is really small but try to keep her involved !!
September 27, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Completely agree .. The only true riches we can give our children is our rich culture and the valuable experiences they give ..
September 27, 2017 at 9:36 pm
I feel the same too. Its important to get children to learn these things. We have never been so enthu about celebrating but now iwth a kid around we do put extra efforts.
September 28, 2017 at 11:05 am
Festivals are such a great time for family and friends to get together and celebrate and bond. 🙂 Oh the photo at the top is just adorable! 🙂
September 28, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Involvement is the only way to learn. Same holds true for festivals too. Besides..kids learn team skills.
September 28, 2017 at 6:15 pm
You are right about involving children in festivals. It is like passing on a bit of tradition to them.
I’m linking up an old post but one I think is still relevant.
September 28, 2017 at 8:09 pm
Yes perfectly ok Tulika.
September 28, 2017 at 9:54 pm
This is so true. It is the universal truth – “What they see, is what they do.” So it becomes all the way important to involve them in everything that we want them to do and follow.
September 28, 2017 at 10:38 pm
Thanks Neha
October 1, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Festivals are the best time when you can involve your children in every preparation. This way they get to know the story behind every festival they celeberate.
October 2, 2017 at 10:48 am
Yes Geethica. Thanks.
October 2, 2017 at 5:07 pm
I agree whole heartedly that its important to get kids involved.Thats the best way to keep traditions alive
October 2, 2017 at 9:06 pm
Thanks Amrita