PW invited selected parents of Gurukul The School, Ghaziabad to share how they ensure their children respect their culture and tradition

In our home, culture flows like a gentle river — through lullabies, laughter, and little hands folded in prayer. Mornings begin with soft chanting of mantras and simple bhajans in which our daughter Pranika (class III) plays an active role. Festivals are not just dates — they are stories about why Diwali lights up the night, how Lord Krishna’s colours filled the skies on Holi, and what makes Rakhi a thread of love. Pranika listens wide-eyed. But the soul of her learning lies in our village. There, barefoot on mud paths, chasing butterflies and listening to her grandmother’s folk tales, she connects with her roots. No screen, no toy can match this magic” — Monika Yadav, Senior Software Developer, VML Commerce

Culture is a living, breathing story passed between generations. My approach is to make this story a natural part of our lives. At bedtime we engage in the craft of storytelling to introduce our son Pavit (class I) to epic tales from the Panchatantra, the wisdom of the Puranas, and the heroics of the Mahabharata. Cooking together becomes a lesson in geography and heritage – explaining to him why we eat sarson ka saag in the North and pongal in the South. Most importantly, we celebrate every festival in its right spirit, explaining the historical context of light over darkness (Diwali) or good over evil (Dussehra). It’s all about building a proud, intelligent connection with his roots” — Anshika Saxena, IT professional, Rackspace Technologie

Encouraging our son Bhanvi (class III) to mindfully listen to stories drawn from the epics or mythology and learning classic art forms has truly helped him imbibe Indian culture, taught him respect, and a sense of belonging. Exposure to classical music, dance, and literature stimulate pride in our heritage and children develop a deep appreciation of India’s cultural richness and diversity” — Dr. Prerna Piyush, dental surgeon at UPPMS

Passing on Indian culture and traditions to our daughter, Vedikka (class I) is about weaving small rituals into her daily life. Her mornings begin with a prayer and chanting Gayatri mantra and aartis she knows by heart , and end with recitation of ‘Ram Stuti’ in Sanskrit. Her daily routine has zero screen time except for videos on Krishna’s mischief, Hanuman’s strength, or Ganesha’s wisdom — characters who have become her friends. She lovingly greets everyone with a “namaste” with tiny hands folded. By bowing to the sun and moon, thanking God for meals, and celebrating all festivals, she is absorbing the virtues of gratitude and respect” — Mansi Mishra, Manager, Turacoz Healthcare Solutions