Shannon Schreib
May 4, 2007
Ethnographic Essay
Ethnographic Essay
Never will you find such a colorful and culturally diverse religion. Their views
are almost completely opposite from those of Eastern ways. For just a few examples they wear
white to funerals because death is also a time of rebirth and anew. Could you ever see some one
of Christian decent wearing white to a funeral? It would be considered rude and ignorant. Culture
fascinates me so much for these reasons. Every culture is based on norms and ways of living.
While the Hindu religion seems very different, it has many similarities to our eastern ways.
Located on the edge of the Penn State campus lies the Pasquerrilla center where people of
all religions go to worship. The room for Hinduism practice is located on the second floor in a
tiny room, about the size of a classroom. This room is quite mundane looking with pale peach
walls and speckled grey and blue carpeting. The room had no special appeal or attractiveness.
Typically there are many shoes were piled by the doorway. Out of respect for the Gods, anyone
who enters here must take off their shoes; thus keeping the ground clean from the secular.
Before service begins, normally, many people congregate around the middle of the room.
Everyone always dresses in jeans and normal American style clothing. I previously thought that
they would be wearing ethnic dresses. The first time I was here, it surprised me to walk into such
an informally dressed room full of people. Although they were dressed the same as me, my
appearance was still strikingly different from those already here. Having blonde hair and green
eyes I started to notice that I was the only person of Caucasian descent in the room.
Services habitually start with a man by the name of Sidel lying down a small blanket and
placing an 18 x 18 inch table on top of it. Next three colorful framed pictures are placed against
the legs of the table. These pictures were those of the three main Gods; Krishna, Vishnu and
Ganesha. A closer inspection of these pictures shows they have many decorations and symbols
surrounding these Gods. One symbol that is shown quite frequently is a version of the swastika.
This holy symbol was stolen by the German Nazis and ostracized to be a horrible racist
ideology. To Hindus this symbol represents the path of life and the twists and turns it has along
its way. In this ideology, in the center lies God which stays permanent and unchanging. After
Puja once, I was talking to a girl Navneet about the auspicious swastika. I commented to Navneet
about how a great symbol was turned into a horrible one. She looked puzzled when I said this
and responded, “This is a symbol of happiness and celebration, not one of evil.” Navneet had
never known that the swastika was used as a symbol for the Nazis or that it was an offensive
symbol in this country. This proves that it is important for people to know the cultural and
historical backgrounds of other societies. Without knowing both connotations of this symbol, the
swastika could cause hostility and conflict.
After the pictures were all set up, a silver plate is then set at the front of the blanket. All
of these things are placed in front of the room and the people congregate around it. Once I asked
why these things were set atop the blanket and Trisha, the President of the Hindu Student
Government, responded by saying, “This is a way for us to keep the sacred separated from the
secular.” As soon as everything is set up the actual service begins.
Service begins with everyone sitting on the floor, Indian style, in a semi-circle. Then we
all sing songs and chant from a packet of Hindi scriptures, while Sidel plays the bongos. The
tropical sound sends a spiritual yet natural feeling throughout the room. Some people close their
eyes while others stare at different spots in the room. Either way they always look concentrated
and dedicated to what they were doing. In between songs, throughout Puja, Sidel reminds
everyone to sit up straight and to fold their hands in their lap. He said this posture allowed for
better blood circulation and folding their hands brings unity to the body.
The songs are all written in Hindi but were surprisingly easy to sing. To most of the
people here, these prayers seem like second nature. There weren’t any particular songs that we
had to sing. Each week we get a new packet with new songs to sing along to.
At Penn State’s Puja there is no designated person that leads the worship. Different
people offered to start off the melodic songs. A major difference between the Puja at Penn State
and those in India is the seriousness of the service. Penn State’s chapter is filled with college-age
students who want to continue practicing but are not completely imbedded in their culture. My
old roommate Deepa, who is devoutly Hindu, once said, “Hinduism is more than a religion, it’s a
way of life.” When it comes to religious ceremonies, being immersed in the culture, like in India,
allows for a more intense experience.
Habitually, near the end of Puja, some red colored chalk-like substance is passed around.
With a dab of the finger, each person puts a dot on the center of their forehead. The first time I
ever did this I dabbed too much on my finger because the powder was so fine. I ended up having
a massive dot on my head. At later Pujas, we joked about this first time experience.
A common misconception is that people think that all Hindus wear a “red dots” on a
regular basis. This, I have learned, has a religious background but is mostly worn for cosmetic
reasons. It is also never referred to as a “dot” but as a kumkuma. Even on the Penn State campus
it is hard to determine who is Hindu because most students do not put on kumkumas on a daily
basis.
After the kumkuma is applied, we stand up and are each given several grains of
uncooked rice. Then one by one each person takes a turn going up to the silver plate and placing
their rice on it. When I asked what this was for Trisha exclaimed, “This is our way of giving an
offering to the Gods. After Puja the rice will be cooked and the true offering will be made.” At
the end of every service, each person is given three to five large grains of sugar. I feel like this
ends the service sweetly.
Every week I went the routine was the same. Although it is tedious, every time I leave
there I feel a spiritual satisfaction. One day, after the service, I took the opportunity to ask a few
Hindus their thoughts and feelings about their religion. I was curious about how they prayed to
so many Gods and if they live their lives according to the scriptures. Sidel, the bongo player, was
first to answer my questions.
The stereotype of Hindu people, for me, is more of a strict religion. They are financially
and socially based. The men have an active role in society and at home. They are the ruler of the
family. Women, in India, typically are not supposed to hold jobs or even leave the home much
for that matter. It is frowned upon for women to not be “properly” dressed. This means woman
must show as little skin as possible. Many of these “roles” are getting more lenient because of
modernization but in any case Hindus tend to be quit modest. Of course stereotypes are not an
accurate portrayal of what a group of people are actually like.
A frequent misconception people have is they do not think that Indians can speak English.
In fact India is the third largest English speaking country in the world. Only English was spoken
during Puja. The chants were written in Hindi yet even some of the members did not know the
language.
These inaccurate stereotypes especially do not hold true in America. The Puja I attended
consisted of all college students, men and women. This in itself is proof that women are going to
college to receive education and one day get a well paying job. Men and women wear the same
type of clothes and are very friendly to each other. The world is becoming more modernized and
because of this the old and outdated stereotypes will soon be brushed away.
Indian parents are worried that western views are beginning to play a part in their child’s
up-bringing. Schools try to define the nature of the beyond and the whole truth. They are
teaching children that there can only be one truth. Through the expression of the American
pledge of allegiance and the terminology used, like that, it confuses the child.
Hindus are trying to prove that whether a person believes in one god or many, we are all
right in our own way of thinking. Overall, Hindus believe that there is ultimately one Supreme
Being who is the creator, preserver, and the destroyer. By accepting Him into our lives we each
hold a piece of God. And if each person has God in their hearts then there are many Gods all
around us. Ultimately, all of the Hindu Gods come together to make one Supreme Being. Yet it
is not fair to raise others children on the basis of their personal beliefs. Dynamically Hindus are
striving for a world of equality; equality of body, mind, and soul.
Hindu people in America, for that matter, live completely normal American lives, except
for the religious aspect. There is a book by which every Hindu looks to for guidance and
direction. This book is called the Vedas. It’s almost a form of a conscience; it tells you what’s
right and wrong. These Holy Scriptures helped people understand the meaning of life and what
lies beyond it.
Time, in this book is organized astrologically. Because of this Hindus schedule their
festivals around an astrological calendar. Thus, they use zodiac signs and have particular
calendars that often differ from one geological location to another. Hindus made a calendar
based on the cycle of the moon instead of the sun. This is why there are slight variations of time
and date from one Hindu location to another.