Every Diwali morning, long before sunrise, my mother would heat sesame oil on the gas stove. The smell filled the house as she called out, “Come, time for the oil bath!” She would rub warm oil on our heads and then apply nalang manjal - turmeric - over our legs. “It cleanses the body and mind,” she would say. The bath that followed felt like washing away not just dirt, but the weight of the year.
After she passed away, my wife took
over this ritual. The same oil, the same fragrance, the same peace. It feels
like a bridge - between generations, between memory and life.
That’s the power of tradition.
Tradition is more than an old custom.
It’s the living thread that connects us to who we are. It carries the beliefs,
values, and lessons passed down through families and communities. It tells us
where we come from and why certain things matter.
Traditions appear in many forms - festivals,
food, songs, prayers, ceremonies. They give color to our culture and rhythm to
our lives. Whether ancient or newly formed, they remind us that we belong to
something larger than ourselves.
Why do traditions matter?
Because they give us identity. They
teach us values like respect, gratitude, and compassion. They bring joy during
celebrations and comfort during change. They offer stability when the world
feels uncertain.
Traditions also keep culture alive.
Every festival we celebrate, every family custom we follow, keeps history
breathing. They remind us that our lives are part of a longer story, one that
began before us and will continue after.
They build community too. When people
follow the same customs, they share experiences that bind them together. The
simple act of lighting lamps or sharing sweets can unite people across time,
distance, and differences.
Traditions nurture the soul. Rituals
encourage reflection and gratitude. They remind us to pause, to connect, and to
give. In a world rushing forward, traditions tell us to slow down and remember
what truly matters.
But when traditions fade, something
inside us weakens. Without them, we risk losing our roots, our values, our
sense of belonging. We may move faster, but we drift further.
Traditions are not just habits of the
past, they are anchors for the future.
They teach us who we are, remind us what we stand for, and guide us toward a
meaningful life.
And every Diwali morning, as I pour
that warm oil on my head, I know, tradition isn’t old. It’s alive.
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