Festivals, Family, and Faith: The Triad of Memory, Cultural Retention, and Belief

Abstract

This research investigates the ways Indian festivals and ceremonies function as the means of transferring and maintaining the key values of Santana Dharma, which is an ethics system including such concepts as dharma, ahimsa, bhakti, and moksha. Investigating such festivities as Diwali, Holi, Navratri, as well as daily rituals like morning prayers, Surya Namaskar, food offerings, the researcher analyses the ways of intergenerational transmission of knowledge, cultural retention rate, and traditional (such as storytelling, engaging in rituals) and modern means of practising the values of Santana Dharma (social media, educational apps, online celebrations).
The results have shown that there is a great deal of continuity in different practices, which means that the values of Santana Dharma remain stable in urban and online settings. Festivals are not only spiritual practices but also tools for moral education, family unification, and environmental sensitivity. In turn, micro-rituals embed the ethical awareness into daily routine and consolidate cultural identity along with ecological behavior patterns. Results will be useful for scholars interested in cultural psychology, moral education, and indigenous knowledge systems, and could become evidence for the necessity to introduce value-based learning into the curriculum. Thus, this study proves the relevancy of dharma-focused practices in defining personal well-being and cultural identity preservation.