Multicultural Learning Experience

Culture is a wide field for personal researches where it is always possible to find something new and surprising. It helps discover that people can live in a totally different way than you do, and it is normal because the humankind presents a variety in unity. As for me, culture is always connected with religion. Therefore, I like to visit different religious places to see how people worship and communicate with their gods. Such visits tell a lot about their lifestyle and give amazing impressions of connection to unexplored mysteries.

Few months ago, I had a chance to go to the worship in the Hindu temple. I have watched few Bollywood movies and therefore expected to see something colourful, beautiful and tremendous. Of course, I realized that it cannot be as perfect as movie industry shows. Nevertheless, I was sure that it should be fun. When I came there, I felt a bit uncomfortable and shy because I usually attend such places with friends essay writers from qualityessay.com who are followers of one or another religion. That day, I was alone but full of confidence that I would be a discoverer.

I entered the temple and saw many colourful wall paintings with scenes from Hindu holy books as well as many bright people who were talking and walking around. I sat down on the chair, trying to get used to the new place. When the clergyman was going to start the worship (pooja), I saw that all people sat on the floor and joined them. Then, I saw the detailed worship itself. The clergyman was reading mantras, conducting some religious rituals, giving fruit and milk to the god while all the people were joining him and singing mantras with him. At the end, some of them even started to dance, and it seemed that the people really enjoyed this worship.

In a few minutes after the worship, people started to approach to the statue of god and do some kind of rite with fire. I was standing and watching when one girl came to me and said that I can also do this ritual if I want because it brings happiness to the life. I was pleasantly surprised and agreed. That is how I got an opportunity to be engaged in the community that does not know me and even got acquainted with a good person I still keep in touch with.

This multicultural learning experience appeared to be one of the best in my life. Before the Hindu temple, I have already visited few Christian churches, one mosque and many Buddhist temples, but the visit to the Hindu temple was a special one. In this place, people have different kind of demonstration of their religious feelings. Almost every religion teaches to restrain own emotions, be humble and obey some of the gods. Hindu temple is a unique place where you can see that joy and dances can also be accepted as a way of the communication with gods. There are so many difficult and problematic moments in human life, and being serious and submissive even during the worship seems not to be the best solution. I learned that some people found another way, having pleasure together, singing and dancing, showing their god that they are happy and thankful for what they have.

For me, this experience was truly thought-provoking because I have overcome my shyness, joining the unknown ritual and talking to a girl that represented that Hindu community. I realized that there are many open-minded and open-hearted people in the world, and it is good to come to the places where they do something special for themselves (worship, for example). If we believe that good people will be on our way, it will happen for sure. Therefore, multicultural learning is not only the way to learn cultures but also people who can become friends in the nearest future.