“Our culture and traditions are an authentic gift to the society- Realizing it will reap a positive impact”
Here is the celebration of one such dominant knowledge gathered from the festival called Upanayana (once in a lifetime) and (UPAKARMA rejuvenating it every year ) on the full moon day of the Shravan which comes in the month of August. On the same day, Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi festival -a festival of protective connection between the brothers and sisters is also celebrated by all the Hindus and even in other countries like Nepal.
Upanayana Sanskara is one of the major educational rituals mentioned in our Vedas. Upakarma is the re-energizing of the Sanskar that has been transmitted through Indigenous Traditional Knowledge. This is not just a celebration; relatively traditional Knowledge is essential to shielding and supporting the ethnicity of peoples’ cultures & identities towards the protection of culturally appropriate social & economic development.
Upanayana (A thread ceremony) is performed by Hindu religion as one of the major sanskara out of the 16 sanskaras. It is believed that one who has undergone this ritual will attain Vedatva means a re-birth; First birth is taken from the mother’s womb and after accomplishing “Gayatri Mantra” updesha it is considered as the re-birth and liberation towards learning. In ancient India, immediately after the Upanayana, a person will extend himself to further education under the GURU. A traditional knowledge system has not just been culturally followed, but it has positioned a strong foundation for the furthermore education also. This Indigenous Traditional Knowledge of Reciting Gayatri Mantra after the Upanayana and performing Sandhyavandana every day can be a greater strengthening power to mind, body, and soul.
Impending the celebration of the traditional Raksha Bandhan festival is the representation of strong ties of relationships. Sister will tie a rakhi with the intention of seeking protection from her brother. It was a history that tying a thread or rakhi is symbolically representing the protection of the warrior. Thereby Indian Knowledge system is based upon emotional well- being but also builds a strong bond of relationships which is a definitely strong pillar of the emotionally healthy, safe economy and social system too.
One more specialty of full Moon Day in August month is also celebrated as Sanskrit Day. Sanskrit is the mother of all Languages. It is invariably contributing as a greater depository to the Indian Knowledge System. Every mantra, shlokas are in Sanskrit and it’s a language through which all the Vedas and Upanishads are learned.
Indian Knowledge System is embedded with many spiritual though very educative sanskara’s for the strong foundation to create a sensible awareness about life. In Sanskrit there is a beautiful line
“Yad Bhavan Tad Bhavati” - means your inner thoughts make your outer appearance.
All these rituals and indigenous knowledge are generating strong inner thoughts that can lead to a better outer appearance of human beings; which is the necessitating perquisite of the progressing society.
Shwetha Avadhani
Research Scholar,
Center for Educational and Social Studies