Customs and Traditions indicate practises of a community or group, having developed over a period of time and bearing socio-religious significance. The unique diversity of India is the reason behind the large number of customs and traditions prevalent in her lands.
Without rationality, it often leads to obscurantism in the following ways:
1. Untouchability was a custom which segregated people of lower castes as an exclusive group.
2. Abortion is considered a sin in Christianity irrespective of its need.
3. Female Genital Mutilation in some communities is a horrific tradition based in patriarchy and denies bodily autonomy to women.
4. Superstition dominates daily life and is an indicator of lack of reason.
5. People in many places have been accused of killing widows, elderly women on accusations of witchcraft.
6. Child marriage is a tradition rooted in seeing girls as a familial burden.
However, not all customs and traditions lead to obscurantism, especially when applied with a rational mind and based in morality. For e.g.:
1. Abstaining from Non veg food is a century old custom in Bishnoi community, aimed at protection of animals.
2. At many places in West Bengal, the soil for moulding idols is taken from a marginalised-community house: Signifies Social inclusion
3. Fairs, ceremonies, festivals are tools for ushering values and cooperation among society.
4. Our traditions and customs have been adopted globally. E.g.: Yoga, etc
As society transitions, we see a transition in ideas and thus in customs and traditions. However, today we see world going the Indian way and it is imperative for us not to stick to narrow paradigms that govern restrictive interpretations and practises that plague our customs and traditions.
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