Cultural Experience Paper

With the rich burgundy accented velvet carpet with hues of emerald coloured shapes that masked the entire floor, where daily would performed, to the artificial LED light that brightened the room, and minimalistic simplistic of the furniture is, this was place where things of all matter where celebrated, expressed, and remembered. Peace, serene, and holy those are some of the few words that come into my mind when I think of the Mosque. Ever since I was a child, I could remember the great festivities, prayers, and joys that I experienced at the mosque. It was always like a second home to me, yielded by my community which I loved dearly and a religion that had I practiced almost all my life. And, to think that this exact place is where my brother’s …show more content…
This is something I had not known before, to me in the past I assumed it was all part of the wedding. But what I learned is that, version of Islam that is practiced in my culture is infused deeply with Indian culture and Hindu religion. There is typically four ceremonies; the nikah, mehndi (henna) night, gaye holud (yellow turmeric), and the reception. The nikah, as I mentioned before, happens first, or in some cases it is combined with the reception which happens last. Then the mehndi and gaye holud is preparation for the wedding, these ceremonies is often more for the bride than the groom to beautify them for reception. The reception is the icing on the top which is designed mostly for cultural reasons than religious. But regardless of what ceremony of the wedding you would go to, one this is certain; that there is division of male and female. Usually the males stay in one side of the room or in one room and the females in the opposite. What I surprised me the most during my observation is that how more controlled the female 's behavior was in comparison to the males, from what clothing, behavior and mannerism, eat style, etc. The wedding and pre-wedding celebration was more for the interactions of the females then the males. The whole symbol/concept of wedding itself was that the woman is being handed off to the man, and that he makes a commitment to her to protect and take care of …show more content…
I remember during my Islamic classes that boys and girls sat separately and what we wore difficult too. How we behaved and interacted with one another was gendered. But in this expedition as I grew, I learned how to isolate Islam from Bengali Culture, which is deeply rooted in Indian culture which was once infiltrated with European patriotism, that made me wondered whether gender inequality existed before the European colonization. The institutions and infrastructures that we know and are accustomed to are masculine and a byproduct of European colonization. But, does gender inequality exist within Islam? Is regulating how a man and woman should behave with themselves and each reproducing gender inequality and reasserting male domination? I know that gender inequality had been in existence since forever, but why is what I wonder. My experience as female under Islam had taught be to value marriage as young as I could remember, and my culture taught me to prepare to be a good housewife. While my brother’s experience was completely different than mine. He was encouraged to pursue his dreams by teachers of all kind, relatives, friends, and strangers even. And, I learned that regardless of my occupations or level of education or aspirations, being married and having kids was necessary must and would be the biggest accomplishment