Stay in Touch with Your Heritage as an Indian Expat: Four Ways to Consider

As Indians, we value our tradition and culture over anything else. These are the beliefs that have been passed down to us for generations and help in building a strong familial relationship.

But with so many Indians moving abroad for work and other reasons, it can be hard to keep true to their values in a foreign land with temptations around every corner.

Leaving the familiarity of one’s homeland and going abroad for work is a pretty tough decision for anyone to make. Expats leave their homes and travel to foreign lands to look for better career opportunities.

In this blog post, we will teach you how you can still stay true to your Indian heritage as an expat. Also, learn about The Triad of Leadership by reading this article.

What Does Indian Culture and Heritage Really Mean?

India’s culture and heritage are a mix of many religions, traditions, customs, and beliefs that have been passed down to us from ancient times. From the way we wear clothes, and how we celebrate festivals to music, dance architecture, and religion, all are part of Indian culture.

DID YOU KNOW?
According to a report from the Ministry of External Affairs, there are more than 29 million Indians who live abroad and more than 2.5 million migrate overseas every year for work or other reasons.

How Can One Stay True to Their Heritage as an Indian Expat?

Our culture is one of the world’s oldest and most complex cultures and has survived the test of time through millennia of civilizations. As an expat, it can be pretty easy to forget your roots when there is nothing to remind you of home.

But if you still want a way to stay connected to your homeland, here are a couple of things you can do to stay in touch with your heritage:

You know, festivals are one of the most significant parts of Indian culture. And if you want to stay in touch, then you need to find a way to celebrate it in the best way possible.

Festivals like Holi, Janmashtami, Dussehra, Deepawali, and Navratri are some of the festivals with the most deeply rooted stories in our cultures.

These festivals not only celebrate happiness, joy, and unity but also god as well. People share gifts, and sweets and come together during these festivals to enjoy them. For this, you can hold a small celebration in your home and send gifts and money to your family and loved ones abroad. 

You know, one can also experience the culture and tradition through dance and music. Indian music has its traces way back to the Vedic period, where it was woven into religious and spiritual practices.

Try to visit any performances that feature Indian classical performances, like Bharatnatyam, bhangra, and more. And if you’re looking for a more modern look, just watch a movie.

You know, nothing can compare to “ghar ka khana”(food from home) that your mom used to make when you were little. Now that you’re in a foreign country, you might think that getting the taste of home would be pretty much impossible.

But that is not the case at all.

Indian food is taking over the world as you know it. No matter where you go, you can find at least one Indian restaurant that will bring the authentic taste of home right to your plate.

There are so many cultures and religions that it can be hard to count sometimes, but what most of them have in common is the worship and belief in god that we have.

You can easily find many temples and religious places built by Indian groups overseas just for that very reason. Visiting these places is a great way to preserve your traditions and rituals as well as maintain your connection to your roots.

Challenges That Many Indian Expats Face While Working Abroad

The life of an expat might seem glamorous from a distance, but it is not without any issues, you know. Leaving your family and friends behind means that you’ll oftentimes be alone in a foreign country.

You can get homesick or feel like you’re all alone in this big world. Besides adjusting to a new place, getting used to unfamiliar people and languages, and finding the best way to send money to India might seem like a tall order. 

And if you’re able to get over all that, what awaits you is the beauty and awe that other places’ culture has to offer.

More than 32 million Indians live abroad across various countries and of the total more than 70% of them live in 10 countries.

Conclusion

Being an expat is not easy, you need to leave all your loved ones behind and it might seem lonely at times too. And it is very easy to lose touch with your roots. 

But if you can follow through on the steps listed in this blog post, you might just be able to keep your connection with your roots in a foreign country and work towards building a better future for yourself and your loved ones.