|
"Rituals and ceremonies help define a
culture. Without them societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of
who they are"
Sample Writing 2
The speaker affirms that rituals and ceremonies are needed for a group of people
to define their culture and their identity. Without them the groups have lesser
identity or altogether lose their identity. I agree with the author that rituals
and ceremonies define a culture and give distinct identity to a group but they
are not the only ones, which give identity to a group. There are many things,
which preserve cultural identity of a group.
The purpose of rituals and
ceremonies is no doubt to preserve the group culture. If we look at the tribal
in various nations like Red Indians of the U.S.A or aboriginal tribes of various
other nations like Australian aborigines or original inhabitants like Nagas,
Mizos, Santhals etc of India or Khampas of Tibet, they have developed their own
identity by developing some unique rituals and ceremonies. These rituals and
ceremonies are performed when there is a birth or death in a family, coming of
the age of boys and girls, marriages and betrothals, other festivals and worship
of tribal gods and goddesses. These are outward demonstrations, which maintain
the unique cultural identity of the group. Some groups have even distinct war
dances and music.
In the present day, many nations and governments are making efforts to
assimilate the tribal and other distinct groups into the National main stream.
These groups are then in danger of losing their distinct identity. Many tribal
resist this assimilation and want to preserve their own identity and culture by
jealously safe-guarding these rituals and ceremonies. But there are some
countries, where the governments are encouraging the tribal and other distinct
groups to maintain their cultural identity by performing rituals and ceremonies
within the national stream.
|
