A WINDOW TO ASIAN
CULTURES
The unexpected major snowfall on the first day of
Spring did not dampen the spirit and energy of the
seventh annual Asian Festival at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory
School in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year, the Festival
was another colorful showcase of multi-cultural exuberance
and fun for the students, faculty, parents, and friends
of Brebeuf. The Festival, sponsored by The Asian Club
and moderated by English faculty member Mrs. Janice
Singh, is a major anticipated cultural event by students
and others. The leadership at Brebeuf is supportive
of this event and is deeply committed to promoting
and delivering diversity. The Festival takes place
during school hours so that the maximum number of
students can experience and enjoy it.
As in past years, the Festival strives to create
a learning laboratory with much to enthrall the senses
and tastes. There are cultural booths representing
many Asian countries - India, Iran, Israel, Japan,
Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand,
and more with creative educational displays, artifacts,
posters and banners of several countries that today
make up the giant Asian continent and exploding economic
powerhouse. Besides other decorations in the multi-purpose
room, a colorful Indian sari-clad canopy forming a
beautiful ceremonial "mundup" highlighted
the space in front of the stage featuring a photographic
enlargement of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, India.
The 2006 Asian Festival offered a feast of favorite
Asian culinary dishes - chicken tikka masala, channa,
cauliflower-potato vegetable preparation, and rice
pilaf prepared North Indian Punjabi-style by Mughal
Cuisine restaurant. For the nearly 500 who attended,
there were also other favorites - Chinese fried rice,
chicken and noodles, and delicious Chinese, Filipino,
and Korean egg rolls, varied desserts and popular
soft drinks.
The main attraction of the Asian Festival is always
the entertainment, with the major component provided
by the students themselves. This year was no exception.
There was the Filipino candle dance, Polynesian drum
dance, and the Israeli Hora dance. Mrs. Frances Russell,
a Brebeuf friend and community volunteer, presented
the festive Chinese lion dance; and Maumita Das, a
Brebeuf student gave a beautiful performance of the
famous classical Indian Dance, Bharat Natyam. The
popular Bhangra, the colorful and energetic harvest
folkdance of the Punjab, was performed with much vigor
by Brebeuf students, representing diverse ethnic and
cultural backgrounds, to the rocking sound of "Sardaran"
by Punjabi singing-sensation Jazzy B. The beautiful
guest artiste, Gabriela, gave a wonderful performance
and demonstration of Arabian belly dancing.
The spirit of the Asian Festival is to offer a hands-on
experience, a place to learn about and appreciate
other cultures and traditions that are different from
our own. The Festival strives to develop respect and
understanding among students about the expanding cultural
and spiritual representation at Brebeuf, in the community,
and nation. The Festival is an invaluable introduction
and opportunity to make new friends and to learn about
other citizens of the world in our midst and in faraway
lands.
OUR EXPANDING CULTURAL BRIDGE AND SPIRIT
This is a critical time in the history of our civilization.
The traditional boundaries, physical and cultural
barriers, antiquated ideas about cross-cultural exchanges
are being fast replaced with the incredible flow of
people, talents and services, global travel and information,
rising expectations, and the need to learn about other
cultures and nations.
This is the new Renaissance of our times - an unimagined
gathering of diverse people and transcendence of cultures,
adventurous pioneers, breath-taking innovation and
technology, and a growing global marketplace for exchange
and sharing that is shaking the old order among nations
and communities as never before. This unprecedented
transition is nurturing an environment of interdependence
and intense competition among nations for their share
of emerging opportunity and anticipated prosperity.
Today, our world is a gathering place of myriad traditions,
ways of life, races and ethnicities, religions and
cultures, amazing colors, textures and rhythms, and
multi-faceted attractions. We must know and understand
the universe that surrounds us and actively engage
in and experience this richness; recognize and celebrate
this multi-cultural world in all its wondrous and
intriguing manifestations and develop respect for
our cultural and ethnic differences. We should explore
ways to integrate this diversity into a tapestry that
represents and reflects our collective heritage, hopes,
and legacy as a human civilization. We must make room
for ideas, experiences, and perspectives different
from our own. We must embrace and integrate wisdom
that echoes our own; expand interest, appreciation,
and sensitivity where we may be at opposite ends of
the spectrum of understanding that guide us; discover
threads that offer welcome hope and change in spirit;
and find common ground to our intertwined destiny
and future.
We have the moral responsibility to abandon indifference;
dispel ignorance, unfounded perceptions and prejudices,
and stereotyping of entire communities that continue
to divide us and foster unfortunate mistrust and suspicion.
We must gather into ever-widening courtyards like
the Asian Festival and countless other such endeavors
where we share light and laughter, hope and gifts,
and energy and understanding to shape a better day
for all humanity. We must have the courage to cross
thresholds of "we cannot" into those where
our heart and spirit exclaim in unison "we must"
and build bridges that we, others, may travel across
in friendship. Such a dream begins at home, schools,
churches, intimate gatherings, community forums, and
in our hearts before it can become a reality. From
what we are witnessing, there is great reason for
optimism and much work to do.
Kanwal Prakash KP" Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
www.KPSinghDesigns.com
