What does it mean to be Hindu in the west?
Why do micro-minority Hindu immigrants in the West suddenly discover that they need to know more about “Hinduism”? Why do Hindu kids scour the internet in search of answers to the questions asked by their non-Hindu peers about their clothes, food, religion, gods, and practices? Whose description of their own culture do they find, and does their lived experience match that description? Are the answers given by their immigrant parents satisfactory? What is different in the Indian Hindu experience, where the culture is lived daily?
This leads to cognitive dissonance and self-doubt among the Hindu youth. Many of us, not able to find answers to such questions, out of shame, decide to give in to the dominant narratives, giving up everything we inherited. As a result, instead of making a genuine inquiry, some of us end up propagating the same stereotypes and misrepresentations.
In order to answer the questions above, we set out on a journey along the banks of the mother “Janani” river Godavari, who nourishes and sustains diverse communities on its bank.
Only with your help, donations, and blessings can Project Janani flourish. Watch the video to learn more about us!
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