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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
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