Friday, September 19, 2014
Comparing rice ceremonies
Now after reading three chapters into the novel we have experienced two different rice ceremonies Gogol's and Sonali's. These two rice ceremonies are very different and shows the Ganguli's evolution into Americans. Gogol's rice ceremony is a small event with a small amount of people coming, they serve traditional food and it is a somber event. With Ashima wishing her brother was there. While Sonali's rice ceremony on the other hand was done in the "American" way. A building rented on campus with an industrial kitchen, and so many people are invited that the whole place is needed. I think the more important symbolism in this book is the what the children do at the rice ceremony. Gogol refuses to take anything and eats a little of food, while Sonali takes all three items and eats nothing. I think this symbolizes that Gogol is the more Indian of the baby he went along with the rice ceremony, while Sonali takes all three things against the rules, and as one person puts it, "this one is a true american."(Lahari pg 63). I think Sonali is a part of the evolution of the Ganguli's into Americans, and they are slowly changing into Americans for their kids sake.
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I would ague that instead of the second rice ceremony becoming more American, that it became more Indian. The rice ceremony is not celebrated in America and there is no real hub-bub around it. In India this is the exact opposite, large amounts of people, friends and relatives, show up to watch a child eat his or her first bites. So I would say the the first rice ceremony was a more American type of Indian tradition and the second was a more Indian type of an Indian tradition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Ryan. The differences in the two ceremonies shows a different level of comfort in America. Sonali's is much more American as you said, while Gogol's seemed like a failed attempt to copy a typical Indian rice ceremony without many of the customs. The two ceremonies show the evolution of the Ganguli's lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the ceremonies do show the Ganguli's evolution in America. However, I would say that now Gogol is just as American as Sonali. I think he's more aware of his Indian roots than his sister though. Still I think they both are American kids who would prefer to not be reminded of their parents' culture.
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