Tying Traditional with Modernity

Whether it’s lighting a lamp with purified butter and a wick, or ringing a bell when singing hymns, and the aroma of incense sticks, these are the most basic of rituals in every Hindu prayer. But, with each generation, followers of the faith are slowly forgetting these traditions.

Twenty-four-year-old Alyssa Ramsingh can relate. She lives in Toronto and was born and raised in Canada by her Trinidadian parents.

“My mom is Hindu and my dad is Christian,” Ramsingh says. “Growing up I used to attend the temple and church on alternate weekends.”

Ramsingh had a difficult time following both faiths, while trying to understand

Recently Ramsingh got engaged to her long-time boyfriend Amrish. The bride-to-be has decided to have two weddings. She wants to pay respect to both cultures.

“I want a traditional Hindu wedding. From the henna party all the way to the 10-pound embroidered outfits and jewelry,” “I also want to do the whole Christian wedding. “Experiencing the rehearsal dinner and wearing a white fitted dress…walking down the isle…with classical music playing!”

Pandit ShriKantha Acharya has been officiating at South Asian weddings for over 25 years. He

says it gets more difficult with each generation because of a growing language barrier.

“To hold a book for an entire ceremony, which lasts between an hour and a half to two hours is difficult,” Pandit Acharya said. “Memorizing becomes a key factor, as a priest has multiple tasks to complete while chanting.”

The hardest part of being a teacher is helping his students learn Sanskrit.

“It is one of the more difficult tongues to speak in, when one doesn’t already know Hindi,” Pandit Acharya said. “I try my best to teach the correct pronunciation and translate the text into an English format, so that my students can read it.”

Shane Dutt has been a student of Acharya, for the past three years. He feels that Acharya has sparked that influence to learn about Hinduism and follow the faith.

“I wasn’t very religious before, and when attending Indian weddings would either fall asleep or walk outside because I was just bored,” Dutt said. “It was frustrating because I had no idea what was going on.”

Acharya has translated numerous Hindu texts into English, including a step-by-step guide on the South Asian wedding ceremony. Acharya is committed to teaching second and third generation South Asian brides and grooms about their language and culture.

“This book I created helps when I’m preforming South Asian weddings, as it allows those who don’t speak Hindi to follow along with the ceremony and educate themselves on the significance of these traditions.

In order to keep the Sanatana Dharma [Hinduism] alive for generations to come, Pandit Acharya encourages parents to open up the discussion on religion, with their children.

“It starts at home. If the parents know and practice Hinduism, then they should teach their children about the history, the various Hindu texts, including songs and mantras. In that way, when their children get married they will understand the reasons behind the rituals preformed during the wedding,” Acharya said.

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