Since prehistoric times human beings have invented a number of rituals and ceremonies some of them are good and others detrimental. These are practiced mostly for their symbolic or practical importance and have gradually become part of our lives. There are many rituals and ceremonies from the time a person is born till the death have some importance in person’s life and as for entire community. I am of view that rituals and ceremonies definitely help define ourselves social and culturally.

Firstly, if rituals don’t exist, do we need to invent them? In my opinion Yes! Rituals have to be invented. The credit for invention of rituals and ceremonies goes to our ancestors, they were not aware of natural phenomenon and thus rituals were created. These rituals help us to keep us on the right path; to have belief, gives us inner strength and peace of mind. For instance worshiping god going to a church, a temple or a mosque and offering prayers gives us the identity of a religion. Moreover the religious rituals help us to develop bonds, trust and brings closer to our community.

Secondly, some rituals support the person at happy and sad times while others are seasonal and filled with fun. To exemplify, wedding, birth, graduation are happy moments enjoyed with family and friends. In contrast funeral are moments of grief, the rituals brings all people together and support the family members. The rituals like Diwali of Hindus, Id of Islam, Chinese New Year or Christmas are annual and bring entire community together. Furthermore ceremonies like food festivals, Tomatina of Spain etc. are just for fun to have a break from monotonous life. The installation of Presidents or chairman at clubs or in an organization, Oat taking ceremony of President of a country brings a kind of discipline in the system.

In addition rituals help us to identify ourselves. For instance Hindus and Muslims are identified by their colorful festivals and ceremonies, Buddhist and Jains by their principles of “Ahimsa” which means non-violence, Chinese for their ‘red colored’ new year. Thus rituals also identify religion as a whole. This identity in is transferred to the generations which in turn introduces them the

With the exception of some rituals which involve pain and agony to human, the rituals in true sense gives us an identity, belongingness to a group or a community. Moreover in the contemporary world where earth is a “global village” we need to differentiate ourselves from the others, socially & culturally. In my opinion rituals and customs are important for religious belief, for a brake from routine life etc and if they don’t exist we need to invent them to define ourselves and our community as a whole.