Author:
Publication: Threadreaderapp.com
Date: October 4, 2022
URL:      https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1577302259515674625.html?s=03

More than a decade ago I was pleasantly surprised when on a visit to India a young niece who had been brought up for most of her life in the US recited the Hanuman Chalisa fluently, without hesitation, with her other cousins.

Her mother told me how it came to be.

At the age of 8 my niece asked her parents, both successful & busy doctors, if she could become a Christian…

All her friends had such fun on Sunday with Sunday school, church, camps where they bonded over campfires, story telling sessions & sing along hymns.

When my cousin explored further she found their Sikh friends went to the Gurudwara of course, but also had a Granthi come home for a few days of the month for the children.

As did her friends of the Muslim faith have a Maulvi teach the Quran.

Now when she looked around for own offsprings there was very little available except for - Bollywood dance classes!!

I was told one of the ladies who ran these dance sessions said to the doubting mother -
“O don’t worry we get them to dress up all Hindu!”

Determined, that weekend she began working the phones & in discussion with several parents they got together & co-opted Nanis, Dadis & other senior members in families to put together a group which would, for starters, meet once a fortnight.

Some of her friends were taken aback at her efforts to get this going.

Others frankly told her that all ‘this stuff’ was going to make it difficult for her kids to fully integrate in the American way of life.

But by & large people enthusiastically signed up their kids & worked towards making it a success.

From Ramayan to Mahabharata stories, discussions, prayers & recitations the little group became larger moving from private homes to the community hall…
 
Others soon volunteered to contribute in their own way with rangoli competitions & such like.

The bonhomie & camaraderie among these young people took the community’s participation in festive celebrations to another level altogether.

It was noted across all faiths that at a younger age most children were keenly involved but understandably, as they grew older there was some resistance & dropouts.

But the fact remains that so many stayed on & took that experience with them when they left home for
universities & other townships.

From many accounts it also must be mentioned that they set an example for diffident & disinterested members of their age group who had lived their entire lives in India!

All that was required - was The Power of One!