Every year we celebrate Ahuna festival and this year was no different. However, unlike other years we wanted to celebrate this festival with a difference. And today I would like to share with you all in what way we proposed to contribute on our part in bringing changes in our society, no matter how small the change may be, also with the intention of reminding the youngsters of our generation to be acquainted with and appreciate our cultural traditions.
We the 21st century generation, regardless of whether young or old, most of us we are slowly being metamorphose into unknown entity. The reason is, we are swept away by other cultures, caught in the onslaught of information technology which gives us so many choices of who we want to be as individuals. Today, if we are to take survey and ask the youngsters the significance our traditions and festivals, I assume only handful will have an idea. We celebrate our festivals with great pomp and gaiety with the who and who’s of the society gracing the celebration. In the midst of such celebration, we forget to relay the important message to the people because I believe such celebration must not only consist of colorful display of our traditional clothes and dances and most importantly food! But I believe such beautiful celebration must be made more meaningful by retelling the stories about the practices of such cultural traditions.
This brings me to our celebration of Ahuna festival with a difference. Ours is a small community, an upcoming Theological College. But no matter how small our community may be or how small our contribution may be, I believe each of us has a role to play in bringing changes to our society. So, this year instead of inviting somebody for financial gain, we invited a person who could enrich our mind and knowledge about our rich cultural heritage and in particular the significance of this Ahuna festival. In that way instead of searching for monetary gain, we search for the gift of true learning, knowing and appreciating our rich culture.
And so today, I write this article not with the intention of displaying of what we had done, but to say that changes cannot come from outside but from within. And the change we hear, write and talk about can take place in our society, if only we the people be the agent of that change. And our contribution no matter how big or small in making a difference to our society will serve as catalyst of change. I do sincerely hope each one us aspires to be the agent of change in our society.
We the 21st century generation, regardless of whether young or old, most of us we are slowly being metamorphose into unknown entity. The reason is, we are swept away by other cultures, caught in the onslaught of information technology which gives us so many choices of who we want to be as individuals. Today, if we are to take survey and ask the youngsters the significance our traditions and festivals, I assume only handful will have an idea. We celebrate our festivals with great pomp and gaiety with the who and who’s of the society gracing the celebration. In the midst of such celebration, we forget to relay the important message to the people because I believe such celebration must not only consist of colorful display of our traditional clothes and dances and most importantly food! But I believe such beautiful celebration must be made more meaningful by retelling the stories about the practices of such cultural traditions.
This brings me to our celebration of Ahuna festival with a difference. Ours is a small community, an upcoming Theological College. But no matter how small our community may be or how small our contribution may be, I believe each of us has a role to play in bringing changes to our society. So, this year instead of inviting somebody for financial gain, we invited a person who could enrich our mind and knowledge about our rich cultural heritage and in particular the significance of this Ahuna festival. In that way instead of searching for monetary gain, we search for the gift of true learning, knowing and appreciating our rich culture.
And so today, I write this article not with the intention of displaying of what we had done, but to say that changes cannot come from outside but from within. And the change we hear, write and talk about can take place in our society, if only we the people be the agent of that change. And our contribution no matter how big or small in making a difference to our society will serve as catalyst of change. I do sincerely hope each one us aspires to be the agent of change in our society.
Inatoly K Sema
Christ for Asia Theological Studies & Mission
The writer can be reached @ tollysumi@gmail.com
