Keeping traditions alive is important to any society; this should be done with much pride and respect. This is according to proprietor of the B&M fashion Ganesh Ramlall.
According to Ramlall, culture is part of an individual’s identity and should be passed down to generations to come. During a reflective interview with this publication, Ramlall revisited his childhood days where he remembers vividly, a rich cultured environment.
It is because these values were instilled not only by talking about them with his elders, but also by seeing them being practised on a day-to-day basis. “It is because of these reasons that traditions are alive in my life still, Ramlall explained.
“Every morning in my household we would wake up, offer prayers unto God at the altar and we do our religious functions etc on special occasions”.
Based on his strong support for culture, Ramlall said that he has continuously supported and will continue to offer his input to activities that are promoting culture in Guyana.
“On every cultural holiday like Phagwah, Diwali, etc I would participate in and also lend support to the hosting of events”.
In his efforts to promote culture further, Ramlall and several others have played a part in the establishment of the Uma Maheshwar Mandir at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara.
He said this is one way to ensure that the Indian traditions are kept alive, especially for the Hindu religion.
Additionally, Ramall has named his mother as his role model in upkeeping his traditions. He attributed his lifestyle to the values that she had instilled in him as a child growing up.
The proprietor urged the younger generation to make culture top of priorities and remember from where they are rooted, even as the world brings diversity to the table.
He stressed that it is imperative to teach children about cultural values, so that in time to come it would not have been faded from society.