Five Ways To Celebrate Indian Heritage Month In November
Each May, thousands of people celebrate Indian Heritage Month in the United States, dedicated to honoring the people and country of India and Indian Americans with family roots in this culture.
Honoring Indian Heritage Month can look different for everyone. Whether you spend May learning more about the cultures and traditions in India, exploring and supporting Indian-owned businesses in your community, engaging in traditional Indian practices, or educating yourself on the contributions of Indian individuals throughout history, there can be many ways to celebrate.
Ways to celebrate Indian Heritage Month in November
When celebrating Indian Heritage Month, consider doing so as thoughtfully as possible to learn and explore Indian culture intentionally. You can find various celebratory ideas that may allow you to experience Indian traditions and art, support the Indian or Indian American community, and learn about the experiences and culture of Indian individuals by conducting research before the start of the month. Below are a few ways to start.
Explore media and content made by Indian creators
Indian Heritage Month offers an opportunity to celebrate Indian artists, authors, and creators. Whether you already follow or enjoy media from Indian creators, consider taking time this month to find someone new to follow and support.
For example, you could dive into a novel by an Indian author, watch a movie or series directed by or starring an Indian lead, or follow a YouTube channel, learning from other Indian content creators' experiences. Additionally, finding media you can enjoy long-term, such as a podcast, Instagram, newsletter, or magazine, is a way to ensure your celebration of Indian culture year-round.
Try to be thoughtful about the media you consume to help you get the most out of your experience. You may take a moment to evaluate the shows, movies, books, and social media accounts you follow to check whether they portray a thoughtful, accurate version of culture and respect.
Boost Indian-owned businesses and organizations
All year, especially during Indian Heritage Month, is a great time to support Indian-owned local businesses. As one of the largest demographics in the United States, there are many Indian-owned or operated businesses nationwide.
Showing your support can look different for different people. For example, you can financially support them by purchasing items or services from a business. You can also help by boosting a company with an online review, a social media shoutout, or a donation to boost its online visibility and client base.
Another option may be to financially support an organization dedicated to helping the people of India, whether nationally or internationally. You may consider setting up a regular donation to an organization like the PM-Cares Fund, dedicated to aiding those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, or the SEWA Federation. This charity offers support to informal or self-employed female workers.
Educate yourself on the diverse religions, languages, and traditions in India
India is a diverse country full of people who celebrate different religions, traditions, and customs. To combat misinformation or unintentional bias, you might choose to spend Indian Heritage Month learning about either one specific community in India or the difference between the many cultures in India.
For example, you can dive into India's religions in your research. You may also learn about Hindu holidays like Diwali or Makar Sankranti. Taking the time to learn about the experiences of Muslim Indians and communities and individuals that practice other religions, such as Christianity or Buddhism, can result in more significant validation and understanding for those across the cultural and religious spectrum.
As you begin this step, there may be differences between holidays and celebrations in India that are primarily religious versus culturally celebrated. One example is Holi, a traditional Hindu holiday celebrated culturally by many people in India. Research the celebration of Holi within India and worldwide, including in your community.
Explore Indian heritage through language and art
In addition to the religions of India, consider exploring the diverse variety of languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and the hundreds of other languages spoken in India. You can also consider researching the unique art of India, architecture, and history of the regions in India.
Learn about the contributions of individuals of Indian heritage and American Indians
Many Indian and Indian American individuals have contributed to the world throughout history. From culture to medicine, science, history, tradition, and more, there are many reasons to thank and celebrate the people of India.
In some cases, elementary and high school education may neglect the contributions of historical figures of multiple races or ethnicities, focusing only on the most famous individuals from each respective subgroup. While this is challenging, each person can take the time to educate themselves independently. Education can look different across different groups but may include spending an evening learning about a prominent individual of Indian heritage by watching a documentary, reading a biography, or researching them online.
Indian Americans comprise over 4.2 million people in the US and have had a cultural impact since the early 19th century. Recognizing the value and importance of Indian culture in the United States by learning about it through the lens of Indian Americans can showcase how their culture and personhood have shaped the US into what it is today.
If you're unsure where to start, consider any of the champions of Indian heritage who have significantly contributed to the culture and well-being of the world. Mahatma Gandhi, known as the "Father of India," advocated for peace and political, social, and religious understanding.
Honoring Indian Americans' achievements
Another person to look into is Kalpana Chawla, who is known as the first Indian woman to travel to space. During this time, she earned the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Her passion and commitment to science and discovery cost her life when she and her six other crew members died when reentering Earth's atmosphere in 1997 — ending her tremendous tenure as one of the first Indian Americans to reach space flight.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was a mathematician and astrophysicist who many agree revolutionized human understanding of black holes and energy radiation from white dwarf stars. He won the Nobel Prize in 1983 for his theory of black holes, and the term "Chandrasekhar limit" was coined in honor of him.
Support mental health in the Indian, Indian American and American Indian communities during Indian Heritage Month
Mental health conditions can affect anyone, regardless of their background. One unique way to celebrate Indian Heritage Month is to learn about and support mental health in Indian and Indian American communities near you or abroad. These efforts might include donating to an organization for mental health awareness and availability in India or reading up on the mental health challenges facing Indian Americans.
Additionally, if you identify as someone with Indian heritage, you may consider taking time this month to embrace your mental health journey. Whether you have experienced a mental health condition or are recently learning about your mental health, look at mental health resources available in your community and consider how mental health stigmas impact you based on culture.
Mental health conditions can affect members of any community. With that in mind, Indian and Indian American individuals may be more likely to be impacted by specific experiences that may increase the risk of mental health conditions, such as race-based discrimination. You are not alone within your community and the world. Regardless of your mental health experiences or conditions, various treatment options and management strategies may help you work toward comfort and well-being.
Support options for Indian Americans
For those living with mental health conditions, there may be barriers to support — which can be enhanced in the Indian American culture and experience. Because of these barriers, members of these subgroups may be reluctant to seek traditional in-person therapeutic intervention. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be more convenient.
Online therapy has been proven effective in treating numerous mental health conditions like anxiety disorder(s) and depression, with results similar to in-person studies. An online platform can connect you with a therapist in your specific area of need who can employ culturally sensitive treatment strategies to help you to attain a higher quality of life. In addition, you may be able to note on some platforms whether you'd like to be matched with a BIPOC therapist.
Takeaway
How did American Indians live before the arrival of European colonizers?
Before European colonizers arrived, there were three historic periods classified by historians as the Paleo-Indian period, the Archaic period, and the Woodland period. Indigenous peoples in these periods may have used different tools and had different customs. They were the original inhabitants of the land, and each group had its own long-standing customs and traditions.
In the Woodland period, native people may have started to create settlements in certain areas, potentially farming the land to take advantage of the traditional harvest season. Others remained hunters and gatherers. The tribes had unique styles for the goods they created, ranging from clothing to blankets and tools. Some native American people lived in lodges or huts, whereas others lived in transportable housing that could be packed up and moved.
Is American Indian Heritage Month the same as National Native American Heritage Month?
American Indian is sometimes used to refer to Americans with Indian heritage. Some people may call native Americans and other native peoples, like Alaska natives, “American Indians,” but this term can be controversial. For this reason, American Indian Heritage Month has been changed to National Native American Heritage Month. Similarly, American Indian Week has been changed to Native American Heritage Week.
It can be essential to ask the indigenous people you are speaking to which term they are comfortable with. Native Americans can be referred to as native Americans, indigenous people, native peoples, First Nations, or tribal citizens to reduce confusion surrounding National American Indian Heritage Month.
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in November
National Native American Heritage Month and Native American Awareness Week are holidays that can be celebrated in respect of native Americans and indigenous peoples. National Native American Heritage Month occurs each year in November, as declared by President George Bush in 1990. You can read President George Bush’s presidential proclamation on the American Presidency Project’s website.
Native American Heritage Week was proclaimed by President Gerald Ford in 1976 as October 10th to 16th. In 1986, Congress passed S.J. Res. 390 to request President Gerald Ford designate November 23rd to 30th as American Indian Week. In 1990, Congress passed a joint resolution alongside President Bush to designate the month of November as the first American Indian Heritage Month, later changed to Native American Heritage Month. This joint resolution led to the current celebration of the holiday.
What disadvantages did Native Americans experience in their trading with Europeans?
Native Americans were subject to several risks when Europeans traded with them. Europeans brought diseases they had the immunity to fight off, but Native Americans did not. These diseases could be carried on the items traded with tribes, leading to significant losses within the tribes due to foreign illnesses. In addition, Europeans brought armed forces with them to the country, including modern weapons that could quickly harm or kill native peoples.
What happened after Europeans arrived in India?
Some European countries decided to enter India to create trade routes in the late 1400s. The Portuguese were the most prevalent in the country, introducing trading posts to trade items like spices, stones, and clothing from Africa. In the 1600s, Portuguese influence was replaced by British colonization. India was considered a “British colony” until 1947, when Indians gained their freedom as the original inhabitants of the land.
What was the original purpose of the Europeans coming to India?
The original purpose of Europeans coming to India was to trade items and open a trade route between India and Portugal. The Portuguese brought new methods to Indian people, such as rice farming and sugarcane production. European countries initially wanted more opportunities to sell items from around the world. However, Britain soon took over the area, colonizing the land and establishing the British East India Company.
What were the effects of colonialism on Indian society?
British colonialism resulted in the death of over 100 million Indians and caused extreme poverty. Before colonization, India was developing on par with parts of Europe. British colonialists used Indian resources to their own benefit and disregarded the local and indigenous peoples of India in their conversation. Because of this impact, India has remained a developing country in the 21st century.
Why were Europeans interested in colonizing India?
Britain was interested in colonizing India because of its extensive resources for commercial purposes. Some of these resources included spices, fabrics, wood, and ivory. However, in the process, Indian natives were unable to use their own resources and were often forced to pay high taxes or rents to British colonizers.
How did trade take place between India and Europe during the Middle Ages?
Before the Portuguese went to India to trade, goods were exchanged by Arab merchants to Europeans from India. Arab merchants brought the goods from India to Constantinople, where Italian merchants would buy and sell them in other European countries. In this period, Italy made significant profits from Indian affairs and goods.
Who were the last Europeans to come to India with the purpose of trade?
The French were the last Europeans to come to India with the purpose of trade. The French East India Company was developed in 1664 to compete with British and Dutch trading groups.
Who were the first Europeans to arrive in India for trade?
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in India for trade in the late 1400s and early 1500s. They were followed by the Dutch, British, and French.
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