Born in Nottingham to Indian parents, Preesha Sethi tells Heritage how she has managed to balance keeping her culture alive whilst living in England. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preesha has always felt very in touch with her culture due to her parents speaking widely about their Indian heritage by celebrating traditional festivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the ones Preesha remembers most fondly is Diwali. This festival of lights is celebrated by Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked if she ever felt different around other children at school, Preesha mentioned how, although there were only two Indian pupils in her class, the primary school would always speak about other cultures and explain the various religious celebrations at assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlthough I didn\u2019t have many Indian friends at school, we have a lot of South Asian family friends, so I was able to relate to them more in the aspect of them celebrating the same cultural things as me,\u201d she said.
Despite this, the 23-year-old still finds more and more aspects of her culture, which she hadn\u2019t been introduced to before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy cousin got married last year, for example. I had never been to an Indian wedding before, and it was amazing; it just really exposed me to a whole new side of my culture that I hadn’t seen. So even just little traditions that I’ve not known about or like dressing up in like saris and lehengas is incredible,\u201d she reflected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was impressed by her cousin\u2019s wedding traditions, which included a week full of celebrations instead of just one big day like in England.
\u201cFor example, one day, it was like rubbing a turmeric paste on my cousin and her fianc\u00e9, which I had never heard of and didn\u2019t know what it was for, but it’s meant to bring prosperity and good luck,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy grandad has also been a huge part of my culture. I will tell him I have a toothache or something, and he’ll always come up with the most random concoction of things to make a natural Indian remedy- and it always works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preesha highlights that it\u2019s a blessing that she has her family who can pass down their knowledge and culture, and she feels more connected to her culture every day despite living in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n