One Celebration Fits All (Masyitah)

Festivals are truly magical events. They never cease to bring about a sense of wonder, even as I age and approach adulthood. Recently, I came across an entry written by a renowned blogger who called for all layers of society to celebrate the same festivals. The author recounted, in great detail, the wonders of celebrating a variety of festivals from different cultures and the beauty of how it brings people together. This led me to ponder a possible scenario in my own homeland, which is also acclaimed as a melting pot of cultures.

                Firstly, having everyone celebrate the same festivals regardless of their ethnicity and religion would lead to increased awareness of a myriad of cultures. This situation allows for all members of society to be exposed to cultural differences and develop understanding for them. By truly comprehending how other cultures are, it improves the characteristic of tolerance for differences. At the same time, it even refines one’s communication skills with people of differing backgrounds.

                Besides that, it nurtures unity among the diverse population. A festival does not magically prepare itself overnight – or any other event, for that matter – meaning, it requires a specific committee’s time and effort to spearhead the celebration.  Throughout the process, the committee would interact with various other parties such as local authorities for legal approval to conduct activities, or several businesses for any required materials and services. This type ‘collaboration’ brings people together as they work for a common goal. In festivals which involve multiple cultures, this unity would be much more emphasized.

                Despite that, there may be several times where a festival should not be celebrated by all sectors in society. One such case would be if the celebration contradicts with the culture or beliefs of a group of people, for instance Muslims are not permitted to celebrate a festival which is founded in the beliefs that are against Islamic teachings. It would not be suitable for Muslims to actively take part in these types of festivals, as it may cause a stir within the religious community or authorities. As such, they may opt for a safer option of simply wishing their culturally diverse friends to have a good celebration without directly getting involved with it.

                At the end of the day, this clash of culture and faith need not cut ties between different sectors. Rather, it should instil empathy and tolerance of differences. It should also nurture unity among the diverse population. Even so, efforts to build up unity in diversity should not backfire or cause more issues should it contradict with any group’s values or beliefs.