Page 24 - classs 5

of singing, dancing and eating together helps us forget our bad days

and look up for better days as it is believed that festivals are meant to
bring joy and a new beginning in our lives.

However, some traditions have created problems in our society.
Some people are accused of being witches and hence are harassed.
Untouchability and discrimination on the basis of gender, religion

and economic status are also some of the bad practices of our society.
The people considered untouchable by the society are not allowed
to draw water from the public well, visit the temples and sit equally

with the others.

We believe in ghosts and evil spirits. When people get sick, we

blame it on evil spirits or see it as the curse of a divine spirit.
We take the sick to the shamans (Dhami Jhakri) instead to the doctor.

We must not blindly follow such traditions. We must remove such
bad practices. My grandfather says that love for traditions has never
weakened a society or nation; indeed it has strengthened nations in

the hour of danger.

Linda, I’ll tell you more about my traditions when you come to Nepal.
Let me know some interesting things about your traditions too.

With best regards,
Lopsang

KEY WORDS
Accuse : blame someone for a crime

Curse : supernatural power to cause someone harm
Divine : like a god

Harass : to annoy or trouble someone repeatedly

Note to the Teacher: Discuss about the different social practices followed traditionally in our society
through various pictures and compare the good and bad traditions. Tell the different stories and incidents
that motivate the student not to discriminate the people on the basis of caste, religion, gender, class etc.
24 Social Studies - Book 5