<p>^ Awesome 
Punjabi music makes for really good party music too lol</p>
<p>^Okay fine, bhangra. yay. Have you noticed how many Indian cultural activities are so close-minded and self-inclusive? How many white or black or Asian people do you know who partakes in bhangra??</p>
<p>How many white people do you know in karate (an Asian form of art)? Are there as many in Bharatanatyam?
Movies like karate-kid and Avatar the Last Airbender promote Chinese/Asian cultureā¦do you know any such movie in American pop culture that promotes bhangra?
A lot of white and black people visit the Chinese garden. Are there as many visiting Hindu temples? A lot of white people date Blacks and Asians and Latinos. Are there as many dating Indians?
How many non-Indian girls out there picture their perfect dream guyās ethnicity as Indian? Almost none!!! Usually theyāre white, Asian, or Hispanic/Black.</p>
<p>A lot of whites, blacks, and Asians go to Panda Express or KFC. Are there as many going to Chaat House?</p>
<p>My point is we are close minded.
And yet almost ALL the Indians I know (my family inclusive) have this superiority complex, thinking Hinduism is absolute and that our culture is supreme and we must protect it through self-constricted arranged marriages.
I mean its just sicking. This is partly the reason why I despise āIām Indian! Yay Indian pride!ā groups.</p>
<p>If we Indians are so great, why the hell arenāt we world power? The Indus Valley civilization has existed long before BC, and according to Hinduism, the Eras of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna has taught Indians much in the skills of Vedas and whatnot.</p>
<p>Yet look where we stand now in the world. We have a HUGE difference in class. A huge population where a significant number are living in poverty. People mistake us for middle eastern terrorists (Iāve been called this many times) and hate us. We donāt do crap in the Olympicsā¦we have so many people and we barely managed two Gold medals.
Weāre still abiding by the WRETCHED caste system. </p>
<p>So why do Indians think theyāre superior? Maybe instead of being snobby, we should be more open-minded. We should be more appreciative and self-conscious of our place in society.
As of now, Iām just really ashamed of being Indian. Iām sorry.</p>
<p>China is also like Indiaā¦actually they have limited resources. Yet theyāre inches away from world power. Theyāre recently outclassed Japanās economy and made it for # 2 world wide.</p>
<p>@quantum having indian pride and participating in indian activities doesnt make us think that we are so great, and it just depends person to person about how to accept and carry out the indian culture. </p>
<p>not all of us are close minded, and there is whites and other races who take part in indian activities, i understand not that many. </p>
<p>indian activities are not close minded, its just depends how you perceive it, we do stuff like kathak or bhangra because we want to and enjoy doing it.</p>
<p>I agree with funnypunjabi. Itās nearsighted in itself to say that all Indians are like the way you stated. Also, people CHOOSE to do karate/visit the Chinese Garden. Iāve seen tons of white/asian people at Indian restaurants because they CHOOSE to go there. Others may not have any interest in those kinds of things. People just donāt integrate Indian culture into their lives because it hasnāt become a part of mainstream society yet. Chinese culture arriving in America goes way back to the early 1900s when Chinatown became a part of New York City. Indians started immigrating here in the 60s and 70s, so their practices have not become common.</p>
<p>But I do agree that Indian temples/etc. are exclusively Indian. It will take time for those to become more diversified. </p>
<p>With all that being said, not all of us are like āWooo Indians.ā I live in a town with no other Indians, so the other groups would be much more āsuperior.ā I accept all different cultures, religions, and practices. Interracial marriage is still something new, especially since our grandparents were probably the first in our families to come to America. All they were probably looking for is common ground with other people, and I guess Indian culture is one of them. Sharing the same culture makes it easy to understand each other. But interracial marriage is emerging slowly. I wouldnāt go so far to say that us Indians are being shallow; maybe some are, but definitely not all of us.</p>
<p>interracial marriages are emerging but i think most indians would want their kids marry someone who is indian, because of the culture understanding and carrying on the traditional, but there is also some indian parents who are open about their kids having interracial marriages.</p>
<p>bhangra empire, a bhangra team in the us, actually performed at the white house, a big accomplishment for the indian culture, so the indian culture is growing day by day in america, little by little.</p>
<p>[Why</a> nations should pursue āsoftā power](<a href=āhttp://www.ted.com/talks/shashi_tharoor.html]Whyā>http://www.ted.com/talks/shashi_tharoor.html)</p>
<p>@quantum do you take part in indian activities or other stuff?</p>
<p>nice video, max, contains important information</p>
<p>I am from India and I play violinā¦</p>
<p>By the way, whatās the point of this thread?</p>
<p>the point of this thread discuss the different views of indian culture, tradition, activities</p>
<p>violin, sounds cool</p>
<p>I play carnatic violin (4 years an still playing!)</p>
<p>do you guys play sports?</p>
<p>I love India, the kaju kathli, tandoori chicken,lamb birdiani,the koortha pajama, the dance, the music, the films, the religion all combine to make for such a interesting mix of culture that can encompass all aspects of life with such verve in a way that American culture can not.<br>
While I may not go and do bhangra on the wekends, I have learned to understand the culture of my forefathers and have learned how to live between the two polar cultures in a way that has given me āThe best of both worldsā.
The beauty of the Indian culture is not in its materialistic entities, rather those are its medium. The Indian culture stems from the values and hopes that we share. One can not divorce the impact of our culture from who we are. Those who demean the culture are obviously missing some of the parts that make the Indian culture coalesce. They will not be able to find peace with themselves until they find peace with their own culture.
Yes, I am on varsity track am on all state violin.</p>
<p>@steel, thats cool how you embrace both world, indian and american, same here, if we keep our indian culture while adjusting to an american society and balance them both its good.</p>
<p>^ , ^^ I second that :)</p>
<p>@funnypunjabi and others: Yeah, I do partake in Indian activities. Iām a temple priest at the Livermore temple in CA.
I am fluent in Tamil and I can read Sanskrit. Iām well-versed in scriptures and the Vedas and Upanishads.</p>
<p>Iām starting to lose faith in my religion howeverā¦Iām in a confused state of being, and I need a time awaay from the Indian culture and embrace others.</p>
<p>I feel like Iāve been lied to all along by my own heritage and familyā¦</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Wow! </p>
<p>What do you mean when you say you are well versed in scriptures and vedas?</p>
<p>Every brahmin boy is taught Gayatri and other mantras after upanayanam but it is not easy to understand the true meaning of Vedas or Upanishads unless you have a teacher who is learned. </p>
<p>Anyway, I am glad you are trying to pave your own Path ā¦</p>
<p>^It means I know Taithri Upanishads completely and The five basic Pancha Suktas: Purusha, Vishnu, Narayana, Sri, and Boo.</p>
<p>I know the meanings as well, although I have to refer back to the books very often.
And yes, Iāve been taught the Gayatri mantras and Sandhyavadanam.
I actually do them every day, thrice.</p>
<p>Its just that I donāt feel happiness in doing theseā¦I need to find things by myself rather than listen to my arrogant relatives and family.</p>
<p>I mean doing all this doesnāt make me feel better, nor does it make life easier to me. I feel Iām better off doing practical things.
After reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, I feel I need to be like Siddhartha more.
I mean so many people out there donāt practice Hinduism. Yet they are so much more successful and loved by many. My relatives make it seem that Hinduism is THE only way to life and itāll make me a better person.
The stress out how Iām the 31st generation descendant of Sri-Ramanuja, the greatest Sage of India.
Arranged marriage.
Ew.</p>
<p>I donāt knowā¦Iām just confusedā¦</p>
<p>@QuantumArbiter I know exactly what you mean when one is brought up in an orthodox brahmin family 
My situation is somewhat different. Not much importance was given to rituals. It was only after reading Swami Vivekanandaās books that I began to understand a little bit about my heritage. It does make me feel better.</p>