Effect of Western culture on we Indians.

Well,firstly I would say its not bad in adopting a western culture but shouldn't forget our Indian culture completely.Every culture has its own pros & cons.We are influenced by western culture.Right from clothing,to music.films,our attitude,our lifestyle,in short every aspect of our life has totally changed.There are many negativities which we have adapted from western culture like:
Indian Vs Western Culture:-
             The loose of morality as far as sexual attitude is concerned.The present day cinema pressing more on exposing of actresses as much as they can or shall i say the easiest means of climbing the ladder for actresses by showing off their skin.This way of exhibition we call it cultured & at the same time we don't want these actresses to expose of completely,to say that we orient in nature.You see shameless advertisements on Yahoo like How to please you boy friend etc etc,?or even legalizing gay marriages.Do this all project us as cultured?I doubt.Loose of affection & attachment to the family.Because of westernization,our children does not even know their close relatives,forget about the big family tree under which they come from.Few parents find solace in telling that his son is a moody chap,so to say,the western jargon of the usage of English language.Parents should be blamed for this attitude.This is the impact of western culture & we forget our roots.The greed towards the materialistic world of amassing wealth to say the world that I am great.We usually prefer to buy foreign products from perfume to car because we think those products are more qualities than ours.
              We people usually underestimate our country & over estimate foreign countries.There are some good things which we are suppose to adopt from West like keeping the environment clean & not to throw the waste on the roadside,which we don't follow in our country but follow in their in country.West has even helped us to be bold & face challenges of the present world.
                 The culture always lies in the hands of citizens.People  always take things granted.They choose a method that is quite easy.If we citizens are able to adapt easily adapt to the western wear.why can't we follow the same culture in maintaining the quality product, enjoying life giving freedom for women & giving equal respect to others.
               I would only say that,instead of taking bad things of it let us take good things out of it like their communication skills,their technology,etc.And Yes.We should not west do not forget their culture & so shouldn't we.

HAJJ

HAJJ AND ITS IMPACT ON SAUDI ARABIA AND THE MUSLIM WORLD

Each year, about 2 million Muslims perform the Hajj, or Great Pilgrimage to Makkah. One of the Five Pillars of Islam, the Hajj is required of all believers once in their lifetimes provided they are physically, mentally and financially able.

           The government has spent billions of dollars on Hajj infrastructure from the special Hajj air terminals which are the largest structures under a single roof in the world, to the extensive preventative and curative health and sanitation facilities at all the major Hajj locations. The Saudi government has also maintained a strict policy banning political activity so that militants do not desecrate this peaceful and joyous occasion. It is a task of almost unimaginable proportions.

         The Qur'an, holy book states: “And the Pilgrimage to the Temple (the Hajj) is an obligation to God from those who are able to journey there.” Although it is not technically a part of the Hajj, most Hajjis then visit Prophet Muhammad's mosque in  the city of Madinah, 450 kilometers to the north of Makkah. The flight, known as the Hijrah (the immigration), marks the beginning of the Islamic, or Hijriyyah calendar. The holy sacred revelations to the Prophet took place partly in Makkah and partly in Madinah.

            Although many religions have pilgrimages, the Hajj is virtually unique in its worldwide participation and sheer size. It is hard for anyone who has not been in the Kingdom during the Hajj to appreciate its full scope. How can a country with a relatively small population such as Saudi Arabia maintain such a good record in administering it each year? The following is a brief overview of administrative, political, economic, and social significance of the Hajj on Saudi Arabia and indeed the entire Muslim world. But first, for those not familiar with the rites of the Hajj, it would be instructive follow the pilgrims through the rites.

The Religious Significance of the Hajj

 The Hajj takes place each year during the month of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Muslim calendar. It is virtually impossible to describe the deep emotions generated during the Hajj, even by watching it on Saudi television which annually records it. Each rite has a special significance. The principal rites are:-

Ihram is a ritual cleansing and consecration and declaration of intent to perform the Hajj, performed before entering Makkah. Afterwards, pilgrim dons special Ihram garb of white unstitched terrycloth representing the equality of all believers before God, regardless of race, gender, age or social standing. Men wear two coverings for the upper and lower body, and women wear white robes but need not cover their faces.

 Tawaf, performed on arrival in the great Haram(sacred) Mosque in Makkah, is completed by circling seven times around the Ka`bah, located in a great open area in the Haram Mosque. The Ka`bah is considered the spiritual and geographical center of Islam, toward which Muslims face in prayer. Drink water from the holy well of ZamZam. Tradition has it that God created the well by striking a stone so that Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim and son Prophet Ismail might drink when they were about to die of thirst during their stay in great Arabian desert of Makkah

Sa`yi consists of seven laps on foot between two small hills formerly adjacent to the mosque but now a part of the mosque complex. It commemorates Hagar's frantic search for water.

Taraviah(Water)- first day of Hajj.which is gathering of water to make the stay comfortable in Mina, which is going to extend for five days.

Wuquf(standing) is performed on the second day of Hajj, a ceremony of “Standing” on the Plains of Arafat, about 20 kilometers east of Makkah beginning at from morning till dusk, “Standing Day.” The favored spot to stand is Jabal al-Rahma, the Mount of Mercy, a rocky hill rising about 150 feet above the plain and crowned by a tall white stone obelisk. Everyone must literally be present at `Arafat upto sunset or the Hajj is forfeited.

Nafrah The word literally means “the Rush” in Arabic. As the sun finally disappears over the horizon, in its wake some 2 million Hajjis surge forth from `Arafat to Mina, some 17 kilometers away. With so many people, the Nafrah is one of the most chaotic and stressful exercises in this or any other religious observance. The first stop is Muzdalifa about seven kilometers west, where Sunset and Evening prayers are prayed and the night is spent till the dawn prayers are done.The Hajjis return back to Mina valley about ten kilometers farther west, where they will stay for three days.

Rajm: In Mina, Hajjis perform Rajm over the next three days, the ritual throwing of seven stones at three pillars, called Jamras which represent Satan (devils). The tenth through the twelfth of Dhu al-Hijja is also the `Id al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice) which includes the sacramental sacrifice of a blemishless animal, usually a sheep, symbolic of Prophet Abraham sacrificing his own son Ishmail on the orders of Almighty God.

The Eid is celebrated not only at the Hajj but also throughout the Muslim world where it is a joyous time to visit family and friends.

              On the thirteenth, Hajjis return to Makkah. At that point, the Hajj is technically over, and Hajjis are free to travel home or to visit al-Madinah. There the pace is more relaxed and people can take more time to see the sights, principally the Prophet's Mosque.

The Impact of the Hajj on Saudi Public Administration

In 1927, an estimated 300 to 350 thousand attended with only about 150,000 from outside the Kingdom. In 1972, there was a total of 1,042,007 Hajjis, including 353,460 Saudis, 209,208 non-Saudi residents, and 479,339 from abroad. Today, an estimated 2 million perform the Hajj.Just to make room for foreign Hajjis, the Saudi government has restricted attendance by Saudis, many of whom formerly often attended every year, to once every five years, and has negotiated visa quotas for foreign Hajjis with their countries of origin.

            Another huge logistical problem is how to dispose of the remains of the thousands of sheep annually sacrificed at Mina. For years, families were allowed to keep only what they consumed during the `Id and the rest was buried in huge pits. In recent years, however, an abattoir has been constructed to preserve the meat, and Hajjis may now purchase a sheep from an Islamic bank to be sacrificed in accordance with Islamic practice, with the meat then distributed to the poor throughout the Muslim world. Increasing numbers of Hajjis are choosing this option, which combines piety with charity.

               Providing Zamzam water for so many Hajjis is a major task. Traditionally, the Zamzamis roamed the Haram Mosque providing water to all who asked. But with so many pilgrims today, they must now store the water well in advance, replenish portable containers and paper cups in numerous, strategically located places around the mosque, and continuously refill them as needed. A charitable foundation also bottles Zamzam water for sale throughout the world.

           To meet these administrative needs, the Saudi government has established a combination of public services and government regulated privately administered Hajj services:

The Hajj Private Service Industry

King Abd al-Aziz (“Ibn Saud”) gave them in the hands of the guilds. However, the Saudi government, which takes its responsibility as custodian of the Two Holy Places very seriously, strictly regulates the guilds in order to insure that the Hajjis not be overcharged. Today, the guilds function much as public utilities. To the present day, the principal responsibility for providing personal services to the Hajjis rests with the Mutawwifs, who act essentially as religious tour guide companies for designated countries of origin. They are responsible for looking after the Hajjis under their care from the time they leave home for Saudi Arabia until they return home again.

        The Hajj service industry also includes other regulated private sector enterprises. Overland bus transportation is provided by a combination of foreign and Saudi public and private companies. Of the 15,000 buses in service in the 2002 Hajj, the Saudi Transportation Syndicate, made up of several private companies, provided 8,000, and the Saudi Arabian Public Transportation Company (SAPTCO) provided about 1000. SAPTCO is a publicly traded, government-managed company whose board of directors is chaired by the Undersecretary of Communications. It was created 24 years ago to provide bus scheduled intercity and international service and chartered service for the Hajj and Umrah(the small pilgrimage). The rest of the buses come from foreign countries.

          In 1945, Saudi Arabia established Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) as a national air carrier. In addition to providing domestic and international air service, it was also given the mission to provide service “for Muslims on pilgrimage to the Holy Cities of Islam in Saudi Arabia. ”In the 2003 Hajj, Saudia plans to carry 893,702 Hajjis on 1,754 flights from 70 international destinations. Most Hajjis will enter the Kingdom at Jeddah, the main Hajj port of entry, where two special Hajj air terminals await them, the largest structures under a single roof in the world.

          Public and private Islamic foundations also are involved in operations such as providing and distributing sacrificed meat and Zamzam water. The Ministry of Awqaf (Islamic foundations; sing. Waqf) also acts as a repository for those who wish to donate charitable contributions as a part of their Hajj experience.

Hajj Public Services

Overall services are coordinated by the Hajj Ministry and the inter-agency Central Hajj Committee. Public safety, public security and traffic control are provided by the Ministry of Interior, and were a special crisis to arise, it can also call on the National Guard. It is responsible for regulating entry and exit from the Kingdom at all land, sea and air ports of entry, and insuring their safe overland travel to and from Makkah and Al-Madinah. For the most part, overland traffic is spread out over a number of weeks, but during the Nafrah, all 2 million Hajjis set out at the same time for the same place. It has become one of the greatest traffic gridlocks in the world. Despite Herculean efforts by the traffic police, supplied with the most up-to-date equipment; the journey from Arafat to Mina can take over 12 hours. By comparison, consider a dozen Super Bowl games getting out at the same time and place, everyone all heading in the same direction.

              Public health is another Herculean task. Modern health services were originally created in the 19th century because of fear in Europe and America over the spread of cholera. Asian Hajjis brought cholera to Makkah, and North African Hajjis spread it from there to Europe and America. The Western powers pressured the Ottoman sultan to create an international organization called the Paris Office of Hygiene to oversee the health and sanitation aspects of the Hajj. After World War II, the newly formed World Health Organization assumed this responsibility after absorbing the Paris Office. In 1956, the Saudi Ministry of Health assumed responsibility for Hajj health and sanitation and now operates extensive preventative and curative health and sanitation facilities at all major Hajj locations. The Saudi Red Crescent Society also participates, operating first aid and other facilities.

            Of lesser magnitude but equally important, personnel in Saudi Embassies and Consulates abroad must be augmented each year to process foreign Hajj visa applications. At home, the Foreign Ministry also plays host to VIPs making the Hajj, including cabinet ministers, heads of state and other important personages.

Hajj Infrastructure

The government has also invested on Hajj infrastructure. This has included major expansions of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Al-Madinah. In Mina, the space for throwing stones at the three Jamras has been increased to three tiers.

            To accommodate overland transportation at the Hajj, the Saudi government has constructed hundreds of miles of all weather, four lane highways, particularly between Arafat and Mina. It has also installed created a fully computerized traffic control system. Each year, portable tent cities are set up at `Arafat and Mina to provide housing, food, water, health and sanitation, transportation, telecommunications, public safety, banking facilities, markets - indeed all amenities of a city of 2 million people. All in all, nearly every Saudi government agency and ministry becomes involved one way or another in making the Hajj an administrative success.

The Political Significance of the Hajj

The Saudi government has always maintained a strict policy banning political activity under the pretext of attending the Hajj, welcoming Muslims regardless of their political persuasion. Nevertheless, over the years there have been a number of political activists that have tried to use the occasion to press their political agendas. During the height of Arab socialism, radical Arab nationalists made periodic attempts to embarrass the Saudi regime by disrupting the Hajj, but none of them were successful.

The Economic Impact of the Hajj

In addition to the Hajj service industry, the Hajj is a major season for the consumer retail season as well, somewhat analogous to the Christmas season in the United States. Hajjis from third world countries in particular buy items that are hard to get or highly taxed at home, such as medicines and luxury items such as electronics, perfumes and jewelry. For the 2003 Hajj, about 1500 young Saudis have been hired and trained to accompany the Hajjis on their sacred journey. According the project director, the aim of the project is to create employment for Saudi youth while helping guests and serving in the worship of God.

The Social Impact of the Hajj

In its size and global scope, the Hajj is the greatest single ritual celebration, not just of Islam, but of any religion anywhere. As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, it is an obligation for one-fifth of world's population.            During the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, virtually the entire population of Saudi Arabia is intimately touched by the Hajj, whether directly in its administration, its service industry, as a purveyor of personal goods and services, or indirectly by observing it on television. The `Id al-Adha, observed at the end of the Hajj, is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a time of worship and fellowship with family and friends.

           Unlike the impact of the Hajj on many foreign visitors, whose journey is a mystical, once in a lifetime experience, the Saudi experience while visiting the Islamic Holy Places, during the Hajj or at any other time of year, is a local, accessible reality. The sites are the physical and geographical manifestation of the birth of Islam. This blending of the highly sacred and the familiar commonplace has permeated Saudi society to such an extraordinary degree that it can be felt in virtually every human endeavor from politics to business to simple recreation.