🌍 “The thing I miss most about home isn’t the big festivals, it’s the little things only people from your town understand.” 👇🏾
Growing up, I never thought much about holidays. I was the rebel kid, i would skip church events, resist family gatherings, and brush off festivals. To me, it all felt forced.
But now in my 30s, after years of being raised in India, Australia and now growing old in the U.K., my perspective has shifted.
I’ve come to see how much joy these celebrations bring not just my own, but also those of others. I grew up as a Christian surrounded by Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and so many others religions and cultures.
The beauty of the place was that everyone had migrated from another town/country brought their own food, traditions, and ways of celebrating and somehow, we all shared them.
Back then, I didn’t see the point. Now, I feel grateful for those times and miss it on such days. Because sometimes it’s not the big moments you long for... but the tiny cultural details that remind you of where you came from.
And I’ve realized this isn’t just me. Over the years, I’ve met people from small towns in America, Ireland, the U.K., India, Australia and beyond.
Almost everyone who’s moved away for better opportunities or another reason shares a similar story: ➡️ There’s always a piece of your hometown you quietly miss. Whether it’s a local festival. A dish only your town makes a certain way. Or even just a phrase that only makes sense back home.
Today, I find myself celebrating festivals like Onam - a 10-day harvest celebration from Kerala where families serve up to 35 dishes on a banana leaf.
As a child, I never valued it. Today, as I pass food along the table to my loved ones, new friends and old, it feels like a way to stay connected to my roots while celebrating the diversity of others around me and in some ways making this cool for other rebel kids who may not see it the same way today but 1 day will.
✨ Happy Onam to everyone celebrating!
👉🏾 What’s a tradition or little detail from your hometown that still stays with you?
Ashish Rajan
✨ Happy Onam to everyone celebrating!
🌍 “The thing I miss most about home isn’t the big festivals, it’s the little things only people from your town understand.” 👇🏾
Growing up, I never thought much about holidays.
I was the rebel kid, i would skip church events, resist family gatherings, and brush off festivals. To me, it all felt forced.
But now in my 30s, after years of being raised in India, Australia and now growing old in the U.K., my perspective has shifted.
I’ve come to see how much joy these celebrations bring not just my own, but also those of others. I grew up as a Christian surrounded by Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and so many others religions and cultures.
The beauty of the place was that
everyone had migrated from another town/country brought their own food, traditions, and ways of celebrating
and somehow, we all shared them.
Back then, I didn’t see the point.
Now, I feel grateful for those times and miss it on such days.
Because sometimes it’s not the big moments you long for...
but the tiny cultural details that remind you of where you came from.
And I’ve realized this isn’t just me.
Over the years,
I’ve met people from small towns in America, Ireland, the U.K., India, Australia and beyond.
Almost everyone who’s moved away for better opportunities or another reason shares a similar story:
➡️ There’s always a piece of your hometown you quietly miss.
Whether it’s a local festival.
A dish only your town makes a certain way.
Or even just a phrase that only makes sense back home.
Today, I find myself celebrating festivals like Onam - a 10-day harvest celebration from Kerala where families serve up to 35 dishes on a banana leaf.
As a child, I never valued it.
Today, as I pass food along the table to my loved ones, new friends and old,
it feels like a way to stay connected to my roots while
celebrating the diversity of others around me and
in some ways making this cool for other rebel kids who may not see it the same way today but 1 day will.
✨ Happy Onam to everyone celebrating!
👉🏾 What’s a tradition or little detail from your hometown that still stays with you?
1 month ago | [YT] | 1