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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The festival of 'Deepavali' as marks of tradition and identity for working, married Hindu women: continuity and change |
Author: | Chirkut, Sheila |
Year: | 2007 |
Periodical: | Journal for the Study of Religion |
Volume: | 20 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 87-109 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | traditional festivals Hinduism Indians women ethnic identity values |
Abstract: | As a minority group in South Africa, Indians face all kinds of challenges, one of those being identity. Their 'Indianness' operates at the level of culture and combines identity patterns such as dress, language, food, religion, culture, music and dance, some of which are disappearing fast. Hindu women are traditionally perceived as 'cultural custodians' and are faced with the challenge to embrace other cultures, while at the same time, maintain their Hindu identity. This paper shows how working, married women in the Stanger area of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, choose Hindu festivals - with particular reference to the major festival of 'Deepavali' - to keep alive the Hindu value system, culture and tradition and to maintain their cultural identity. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |