Engagged UKKCA

Knannaites have various means to keep their identity in this ever changing multicultural world, the most popular is their own centuries old amazing traditions, which the whole world praise and appreciate. It’s not just the high community value within these traditions, but the younger generations commitments and ability to inherit this.  Anytime Knannaites get together to celebrate or express their unity, you hear NaDa NaDA, NaDayo, which was initially to cheer the bride and bridegroom or to alert the wedding receptionists to complete their final preparations, but is now deep in our hearts, as we inherited it.  Thus it’s time for UKKCA to promote our Knanaya Fellowship to our younger generation using platforms like cultural competitions. By organising competitions for Margam Kali, Purathanappattu, Nadavilly and other specific Knanaya cultural identities will provide an opportunity for our younger generation to experience and inherit it.

Traditions are behaviors and actions that one engage in again and again, regular customs one perform at the same time and/or in the same way. Traditions can be big or small but they differ from routines and habits, but with a specific purpose in mind and require thought and intentionality. It’s said that “Traditions” when done right, lend a certain magic, spirit, and texture to our everyday life.

These are important to our community, which offer numerous benefits to families and individual members, to be known and identified as Kna :

(a) Provide of source of Identity : Traditions and customs often tell a story about a group or a memorable incident, it teach our children where their family originated and give them insights into their cultural or religious history. In a nutshell, traditions can serve as reminders or events that have shaped any community and families.

(b) Strengthen the community bond : Traditions provide an all-too-rare chance for face-to-face interaction, help community and families get to know and trust each other more intimately, and create a bond that comes from feeling that one is part of something unique and special.

(c) Offer comfort and security : Traditions and rituals are the antidote to the harried feeling that comes from our fast-paced and ever-changing world. It’s comforting to have a few constants in our life.

(d) Teach Values  : One of the main purposes of rituals, whether religious or secular, is to impart and reinforce values. The same goes with family traditions. Through daily family prayer, the importance of faith is re-enforced, through nightly bedtime stories, the value of education, reading, and life-long learning is initiated, and through regular interactions using varied activities, community traditions, customs and values are shared and promoted.

 (e) Add to the rhythm and seasonality of life :  Our world and the universe are composed of routine cycles big and small – sunrise and sunset, death and rebirth, winter, spring, summer, and fall, which controls our everyday life. But the memories and experience of happy community celebrations and times remain in our hearts forever.

(f) Pass on culture and religious heritage : Many community/family traditions have been passed down through multiple generations. Continuing them in your own community is a great way to teach your children about your community’s cultural and religious history, thus adding to their personal identity.

(g) Connect generations : Family is the basic component of human existence, which has an important role in any thriving and harmonious society. An individual develops his/her personality from their family, specifically by following or imitating their beloved people. Traditions and customs play an important role in developing the bond within the family, within every family members.

(h) Create lasting memories : Positive childhood memories can help make any child a happier and more generous adult. While social scientists used to consider nostalgia a sign of depression, recent research has shown that reflecting fondly on one’s past actually provides a myriad of positive benefits including counteracting loneliness, boosting generosity towards strangers, and staving off anxiety.