Dear Fellow Knananite,

Knananites stand out in a crowd and have people make a notice of them. It is the culture and tradition that knananites have makes them shine from inside out. Knanaya culture, which has come from Jewish Christian traditions, has influenced our dress, cuisine, elements of life-cycle ceremonies, folk religion and folklore. We are proud of our culture and traditions. It is our culture and traditions that pushes us to set ourselves apart, to make our mark in the world.

"Human beings are born equal but cultures are not,". "They are human-made and for the most part man-made. Culture and tradition ought to be considered today as the whole collection of distinctive traits, spiritual and material, intellectual and affective, which characterize a community or social group. It comprises modes of life, human rights, value systems, traditions and beliefs.

Some cultures and traditions are just more evolved than others. I believe that our unique culture and traditions makes Knanaya Community superior to others. Our culture and traditions are destined to play a far more powerful role in the future than they have in the past.

Our culture is going through a period of pronounced transformation and change. I feel that there is a profound change going on in the composition, dynamics and characteristics of Knanaya culture and traditions. Mainly,
1. There is an erosion taking place in cultural values, traditions, identities and ways of life that have been built up over generations.
2. There is increasing threat of cultural conflict and confrontation to our youth.

Knanaya Community is wrestling with these changes, and with it, the need to determine how we would like our culture to evolve in the future.When the world is moving into a period of intense cultural interaction and change, it only makes sense for knananites to broaden, preserve and deepen our understanding of own culture.
Given all the changes going on with respect to culture and traditions, there is an urgent need for Knananite youth to learn more about their culture and traditions in the broader, deeper and more fundamental holistic sense.

As responsible guardians of our culture and traditions,
1.How can we play a constructive role in developing , preserving , broadening and deepening our youth's understanding of our culture.
2.How we can equip our youth to function and live effectively in our culture/traditions set-up and play a constructive role in the development of our community.

Please Suggest...............

Regards,
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Vinod Kuriakose(Moderator)