"if rituals did not exist, we would have to invent them. we need ceremonies and rituals to help us define ourselves socially and culturally."

It would be an exaggeration if I say it is the need for us to have rituals and ceremonies to define us socially and culturally. Even though, all individuals are made of same flesh and blood, they exist with different views and beliefs. They are culturally and socially different to each other.

It is not imperative for individuals to accept each other socially on the basis of their culture. Rather it is observed that in some cultures, certain beliefs and views might cause offence to individuals of other cultures.

For example, eating beef in a culture might be a grave offence in other cultures. In Buddhism, while offering prayers, practitioners in Japan are comfortable kneeling down on the floor and offering prayers whereas in some countries like London, practitoners like to sit on a chair while offering prayers and performing rituals. So it depends on us how we can respect each other’s culture and not offend each other’s beliefs and rituals. One has to be flexible if one has to exist with people of different cultures.

It is when we start respecting other cultures, ritually and socially can we be able to manifest mutual understanding. It is very well depicted in India that is a land of diverse cultures and societies. It is not that people have formed bonds because of their rituals they practice but, they have accepted each other’s individualistic beliefs. By respecting each other individually have they formed a humanistic bond .

On the other hand, within a company the employers come from different social and culture backgrounds but together they follow a specific culture of the company. So company culture does unite people of different backgrounds. Similarly, within a school the teacher is not bias to students who are of a particular culture but believes it as a responsibility to follow a common culture of the school to impart fair education to one and all.

Therefore I would like to conclude that rituals and ceremonies are a way to define us culturally and socially but yet, rituals if invented should not offend any other culture.