::Cultures::

Subject: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:47 pm

Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation

I noticed that there are quite alot of students with various culture!!
Hope you guys can share any info regarding your own or any cultures that you know quite well...

Let me Start...
I wish to talk a little bit of my own culture ( Hinduism )
As requested by one of the forumer..She was so curious to know why Hindus wear Red Dot on their fore head..

Here's the answer!!!

-Red Dot (Bindhi): The dot worn on the forehead is a sign that one is a Hindu. The dot has a mystical meaning. It represents the third eye of spiritual sight, which sees things the physical eyes cannot see. Hindus seek to awaken their inner sight through yoga. The forehead dot is a reminder to use this spiritual vision to perceive and better understand life's inner workings--to see things not just physically, but with the "mind's eye" as well. That was a believe of our ancestors, nowadays..it is said that red dot worn by the girls shows that they are married...Meanwhile the black dot worn by the girls shows that they are unmarried..Widows are not allowed to wear bindhis..Babies are given with bindhies as well..Black one..said to keep away the evil from the baby!!

Then She Askd me How to Identify Guys Who are Married Or Unmarried!!

Here's the answer!!!!

Toe Ring ( Metti ): A toe ring is a ring made out of various metals and non-metals worn on any of the toes. Toe rings are worn by customly barefoot women but is becoming more popular with men. Since its popular among the men..It is said that men with the toe ring are considered married.. It is worn by the couples on their wedding day! OF course men are considered unavailable when they are with their engagement ring!! hehe!!

Anything else kit??? LOL..
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:00 pm

what is the dot made of? how many colors do they hv? is it compulsory to put on the bindhi?

how bout the white white stripes on forehead?

* affraid

oh gosh, only curious. (because i dont hv much Indian friends Smile

).
don't know tat he will actually open a thread here.*
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:03 pm

Woooo i thought i saw n3p3nd3ath wearing a toe ring ? jk ~

I think its good to do it this way rather than saying "i'm available / unavailable" i mean like orally way of telling.

Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:07 pm

Kit: The dot is made of stickers actually....thats the culture in Malaysia
In India..The ladies use (Sandal Wood Powder mixed with Rosewater) which is yellow in colour...n (Safron Powder) which makes it go red!! The Black Bindhi are made of burnt somthing..not sure bt it scratch

COlours?? Alot..bcoz nowadays it became fashion!! They wear to suit their dress or saree colour!!!

In Malaysia Its not Compulsory..Bt in India..If ur not with Bindhi..COnsidered ur a Widow!!!

White is fashion!!!

Kit..since u sound like a buddist...What you guys do when there is a newborn baby? Any celebration held for the baby..any rituals...

dk: U sure bt that...I believe you're Kadazan...Since Hindu's celebrate Deepavalli..what kadazan ppl celebrate??
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:28 pm

sorry. i am a free thinker. cant help u with this.
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*plz 4gv me*
~Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha~

Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:39 pm

I c..any Buddist here....

Kit: Free thinkers got their own culture???
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:43 pm

29th and 30th May is the day where Kadazan people celebrate their "tadau Kaamatan" or in english means Harvest Festival.

The reason we celebrate this because after one month of harvesting (despite all that sweat and hard-working moments) we celebrate. And so there come this festival.

In Kadazan greeting is "kotobian tadau tagaza do kaazamatan"
In English means "Happy Harvest Festival"

Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:03 am

What u guys do on that day?? scratch

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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:41 am

well we dance ! .... its called the "sumazau" infact we also do it on marriage or party.

Its a dance that involved man and women in a group got more than 3. Everyone is dancing in parallel but both gender having their own way.

Men is lifting their hand up like a wing and women, well lift their hands too but not high. Lets say like Men 90 degree and Woman 45 degree.

Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:19 pm

Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:29 pm

For Christian, they will usually offers the newly-borned to Jesus/Lord through some simple ritual.

Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:37 pm

@satriakid: oops..typo!!! I noe how its spells actually!! albino

That shaving hair part is similar to hindus as well....Hey..ur the japanese club president right...anything that u noe bt japanese?? anything regarding their culture!!! *testing ur knowledge of japanese* lol

@william: IC...thx 4 d info!!! Easter is celebrated by Christians right? Y is it celebrated???

*Correct me if I am wrong that Christian celebrates easter*
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:03 pm

Most Japanese aren't tied to any religion from what I've heard from my Japanese friends. Only when they are old, they will convert to Buddhism for their funeral ritual, and while they are young, most of them practice Shintoism, or some are just Buddhist, or just free thinkers. There are Christians and Muslims also, but few and far in-between.

Some Christian baptise their child once they are born but some do not, as they give their child the freedom to choose. Aside from that, I've no idea.

Easter is celebrated due to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 2 days after his death, called Good Friday. Its one of the important days for a Christian, aside from All Soul Day and Christmas.

Hope that helps. Very Happy

. I did some researched on religions few years back due to curiosity. 3 largest religions to be exact.
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:12 pm

Wow...Proven ur a good Japanese Club President!!! lol!

I din noe that Japanese has Muslims as well...cool
I heard something about Sakura flower!! Bt I cant recall what was that all about...
My anthropology lecturer once told me that these Japanese ppl will gather around to c the Sakura flower...
Not sure y!!! Any idea bt that???

Bt that easter part...What they do in that celebration? I noe about easter eggs, there are beautiful and colourful..what what they do with it?? N ur saying that Good Friday is on the Easter day huh?
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Subject: Re: ::Cultures:: Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:12 pm

Easter is 2 days after Good Friday, not on the same day. The Easter Bunny and eggs are just something easier for people to remember and commemerate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What they do? Well, I think they go to Church and pray. Not really sure about that part. Never joined.

Sakura part, Japanese love viewing the flowers as they bloom once only and its during April when their school starts as many schools and parks do plant sakura trees. Its also their tradition, much like Deepavali with coloured rice and the rangoli and lamp and Chinese New Year with fireworks and Christmas with presents.
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よろしくおねがいします～