Download Fiji Indian Cultural Profile - Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Fiji Indian Cultural Profile
FOR AGED CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS
Community Partners Program
This profile booklet has been funded by the Department of Health and Ageing
under the initiate of the Community Partners Program, and has been developed
by Sydney Multicultural Community Services.
Rosa Loria – Sydney MCS Director / CPP Manager
Maryam Maghsoodi - Sydney MCS CPP Officer
Sydney Multicultural Community Services acknowledge the following staff for
their contribution to this resource:
Vishal Sonule, Eve Goonan and Inae Braz - Sydney MCS Staff
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CONTENTS
Executive Summary
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Introduction
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Migration in Australia
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Hindu family dynamics
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Religious and spiritual customs
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Hindu sacred and ritual objects
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Festivals of cultural and religious significance
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Food choices and cuisines of India
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Health beliefs and practices
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Persona hygiene
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Beliefs with death and dying
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Life, leisure and recreation
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Hindi communication chart
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Hindu festivals calendar
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Map of India
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References
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The “Hindi speaking Community : A Cultural Profile” is produced and developed
by Sydney Multicultural Community Services as a part of the Community
Partners Program, which is an Initiative of the Department of Health & Ageing.
This booklet is a way of enhancing the awareness of the cultural and social
aspects of the Hindi speaking clients.
The aim of this booklet is to act as an Aid or a tool to assist the staff working in
an aged care facility to understand, communicate and interact with the clients
speaking in Hindi. It also improves the professional skills of the staff and assists
them to be more competent in assessing their clients’ needs.
It further serves as a valuable resource for the aged care service providers for
the purpose of orientation and educating their staff members in providing
culturally appropriate care.
It incorporates the important aspects of the lives of the Hindi speaking
Community such as migration, cultural and traditional values, and health belief,
attitudes towards death and family and social life. It further provides additional
information which can assist the clients in their activities of daily living.
However, all the information specified in this profile gives a generalised overview
of the Hindi speaking community. The customs described may not apply in equal
measure to all people from an Indian background.
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INTRODUCTION
Hindi is the second most spoken language in the world. Around 500 million
people speak Hindi in the world. Hindi shares with English and most other
European languages the same ancestral roots. They evolved from an IndoEuropean parent language. Hindi language has its roots in the classical Sanskrit
language and Like Sanskrit, Hindi is written in the Dev Nagari script. Much of the
vocabulary of Hindi comes from Sanskrit. Hindi is one of the official languages of
India .English and 21 other languages are also recognised by the Constitution of
India as official languages. Hindi has more than 10 variations depending in which
region of India it is spoken.
(http://www.hindilanguage.org/hindi/history.asp)
“One way of representing the word "Hindi" in Devanagari”
Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India. Hindi is also spoken in 16
other countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan and etc.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi)
The word ‘Hindu’ originated from the misinterpretation of the word ‘Indus’ (named
after a river in India) by the Persians from where the different religious beliefs
and practices of Hinduism are believed to have evolved. Hinduism dates back
4000 years but unknown of its origination. It is the third largest religion after
Christianity and Islam with around 900 million Hindus worldwide.
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MIGRATION IN AUSTRALIA
According to the 2006 census in Australia, there were about 234,000 persons of
Indian descent, including 147,000 India-born persons in Australia.
India is now the third largest source of immigrants to Australia. Indian migration
to Australia began in the early 1800s. The first group of free settlers came to
Sydney in 1816. From 1860 an increasing number of people arrived in Australia
with some agricultural workers, mainly Sikhs and Muslims from Punjab, who
settled in small rural areas - for example the North Coast of NSW. Before roads
and road transport was developed, many Indians had come to Australia to run
Camel trains. These brave Indians were called Afghans and kept the
communication and supply line open between Melbourne and the canter of
Australia. Indians also took part in the gold rush in the Victorian gold fields.
Several Sikhs also came to work on the banana plantations in Southern
Queensland and through their hard work and enterprise, came to own their own
plantations.
(http://www.hcindia-au.org/indian_in_australia.html)
Indian migration to Australia was virtually stopped by the Immigration Restriction
Act of 1901, when the Indian population in Australia was about 800.
The second waves of Indian migration to Australia started in the late 1940s
.Significant Anglo-Indian migrated to Australia following Indian independence. By
the end of WW II, the Indian population in Australia was approximately 8,000.
The 1950s and 1960s saw the migration of professionals like engineers, doctors
and medical specialists from India, including Anglo-Indians.
(http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/ethnicity/indian/general.html).
The third wave of Indian migration in Australia started just after Australia
abandoned its Whites Only policy. This policy was abolished and many Teachers
and Doctors came to settle in Australia. A large number of Indian Computer
Software professionals started arriving in Australia from 1976 onwards. The early
1980s saw an influx of experienced, well-qualified professionals in medical,
computer, finance, engineering and agricultural fields.
Fijian Indians have immigrated to Australia due to political instability over many
years. In 1987, due to political insecurity and military uprising there was a growth
of Fijian Indian asylum seekers up to 1.1% of the overseas born population and
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0.2% of the total Australian population (Community Information Summary
DIMIA).
Today there is a large Fiji Indian population in Australia. These Fiji Indians have
changed the face of Indian Australia. While earlier Indian migration was educated
professionals, these new Fiji Indians were more dynamic and business oriented.
Their arrival has increased the services enjoyed by all Indians.
(http://www.sikh.com.au/inaus/index.html).
Australian Statistics of Fiji Indian (Hindi Speaking)
According to the 2006 Census, there were 147,100 Indian born people living in
Australia, this indicates an increase of 54.1 per cent from the 2001 Census.
Based on the 2006 Census the India born people living in Australia are
represented 3.3 percent of our overseas born population and 0.7 percent of our
population overall.
Of the India born counted in the Census:
• 39 per cent lived in NSW and 36 per cent in Victoria;
• 10 per cent came to Australia before 1971;
• 41 per cent arrived between 2001 and 2006;
According to the 2006 Census there were 48 150 Fiji –born people in Australia,
an increase of 9.3 per cent from the 2001 Census. New South Wales with 28 610
had the largest number of Fiji-born people in Australia. Most Fijians in Australia
are of Indian- Fiji origin .Based on 2006 Census, 57.2 per cent of Fiji- born
people in Australia spoke Hindi language.
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HINDU FAMILY DYNAMICS
India is often called a Sub-continent because of the vast diversity of languages,
religions and culture .Hinduism the oldest religion of the world is originated in
India. More that 80 per cent of the Indian people follow Hinduism. Religious plays
significant role in Indian life and keeps people and families together during crises
and difficult times. (www.mdaa.org.au).
Indian living in Australia may come from various ethnic background and countries
of birth. They may come from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia,
East and South Africa, Singapore, Fiji, and etc. Some examples of diverse
ethnic groups in India are included as Punjabi, Marathi, Bihari, Bengali,
Assamese, Nepali, Gujarati, Kashmiri and etc. Despite all the existence variation,
there is a common lifestyle pattern followed by almost all the Indians.
In India people usually grow up learning different languages. There are almost
300 languages and dialects of which about three quarters are of Indo-European
origin.
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Most Indians would understand English but still an Interpreting service
should be provided whenever needed.
Some of the aged residents may find it difficult to complete
documentation. Appropriate support and information should be provided
when filling out forms after explaining the process to them.
JOINT FAMILY SYSTEM
Every region of India has its own character and traditions: Family life is equally
varied. While traditional roles are changing, there are important values shared by
most Indian families. Generally, many Indians live in an extended family, in which
every member has their own role, often determined by age and gender. Elders
are supposed to use their experience and wisdom to help and guide younger
family members. Traditionally men have the key responsibility for financially
supporting their families. Many women, especially in rural areas, contribute to the
family's income but still women are largely responsible for maintaining the
household and caring for their children and aged relatives.(Rajani ,C., Vemuri,
S,: 2002) .
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Namaste “I bow to you out of respect'.
Namaste is a traditional Indian style of greeting or goodbye phrase as well as a
gesture. Derived from the Sanskrit language - Namas (meaning - to bow) and Te
(meaning - to you). Thus, it means “I bow to you out of respect'. Namaste is a
polite gesture of love and respect and can be said to anybody regardless of their
age. Normally when you say Namaste, you press both your palms together with
all the fingers pointing upwards and place them vertically in front of your chest
and simultaneously, you bow your head slightly.
The Namaste gesture with your hands without actually saying the word, it will
mean the same thing. Namaste can be said in different ways, depending on the
person you are saying it to. For instance, when you greet your friend, the
traditional style Namaste will be sufficient.
To show your respect to another person of a higher status, you place the hands
in front of the forehead. To show your deep respect and love to God or a holy
person you place the pressed hands above the head.
(www.iloveindai.com)
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It is a custom to greet the eldest or most senior person first
Hugging and kissing are not appropriate
Shaking hands are common, among the more educated
Men may shake hands with other men and women may shake hands with
other women
Handshakes between men and women are restricted because of religious
beliefs.
Respecting Elders
One common characteristic you will find amongst Indians is that children show
highest respect to their elders. It is an unsaid rule in India that a person cannot
answer back to elders. It is disrespectful in India to refer to an elder by his / her
name. Instead people prefer calling them Uncle and Aunt, especially if the person
is very elderly.
It is also customary in India for the youngsters to touch the feet of their elders as
a way of showing respect. The costume of touching feet used to be an everyday
practice in India but this costume is practiced now on important occasions like at
religious festival and weddings.
When an elder person's feet are being touched, he /she, in turn, is supposed to
touch the head of the person doing the act and bless him /her for long life,
fortune and prosperity. The Indian gesture of touching someone's feet means the
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person who is doing the act is showing his/her respect to the elders. It is
important to mention that the person whose feet are being touched is always
superior in age and position.
(http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-tradiotions/touching-feet.html)
The costume of ‘touching feet of the elderly’ is believed to be a sign of respect for
the age, nobility and divinity that elders personify. Traditional scientific belief says
that the extra energy of a person flows to earth through the feet. Also while
blessing by touching hands on the head energy is passed on to the other person.
Thus, touching feet and getting blessings maintains our energy.
(www.indiadivine.org/audarya/hinduism-forum/250790-significance-touchinglords-feet.html)
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It is respectful to call an elderly as uncle or aunt in Indian culture
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Touching the feet of elders is considered a respectful act among Indian
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Showing respect to elderly is highly valued in Indian culture
Building a rapport
Indians meeting for the first time generally greet each other formally and
respectfully.
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The namaste allows people to greet each other without physical contact.
Questions about birthplace, family and marital status are accepted ways of
establishing communication.
For a care worker, using one or two words in Hindi such as “Namaste” or
“Kaise ho aap?”(How are you?) is a good strategy to start communication
with Indian clients.
For most Indians, touching a stranger is seen as uncomfortable.
Some Indians people avoid saying “Please” and “thank you” since they
feel that actions are done from a sense of duty towards each other.
Indians are more likely to avoid saying direct “No” and would rather say “I
will try” to be more polite. (Rajani, vemuri,2002)
Moving the head from side to side is considered as a sign of agreement
by some Hindus form India. (Hinduism: 2005)
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Attitudes to Aged care Services
Within Indian society, extended family members usually live together. Privacy
and the desire to save face are highly valued among Hindus. The family
issues are always discussed within the immediate family before seeking
outside help, (Bhungalia, Kelly, Van De Keift, and Young). For many Indian
elders the activities of social workers and home care providers are new
concept. Home visit by these providers are not always appreciated and
accepted. Because of the close – knit family structure in Hindus family, they
seek help from family and other friends and are unlikely to place an elder in a
nursing home except as a last resort, (Alagiakrishnan, Chopra).
RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL CUSTOMS
Worshipping
Worshipping is an important part of the daily life of Hindu people. Central to
Hindu worship is the image, or icon which can be worshiped either individually at
home or in the temple. During the worship or puja, water, fruit, flowers and
incenses are offered to god .It is believed that Hindu worship is an individual
matter rather than a public one. Hindus usually have a shrine at home which is a
room or a small alter or simply pictures or statues of Gods and Goddesses.
Family members often worship together.
(www.bbc.co.uk/religion/)
Generally, A Hindu person becomes more spiritual and religious as s/he ages
and will try to follow certain customs and rituals in his daily life. A Hindu may
recite a prayer, read a scripture or meditate. A mantra (sound representing an
aspect of the divine) may be recited in front of a small statue or a picture of the
deity while using a Mala (prayer beads strung together).
Hindus also worship the river ‘Ganges’ and consider it a mother goddess. It is
holy and the most sacred river in Hindu mythology.
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Care must be taken while handling any spiritual items around home
Removing of footwear before entering a Hindu home or a place of Hindu
worship is customary
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Hindus consider water used during prayers as sacred and it is kept in a
small utensil or glass. This water should not be thrown in sink and should be
disposed whilst watering plants or in gardens.
HINDU SACRED AND RITUAL OBJECTS
Hindus use a variety of symbols and things which signify Hindu concepts, gods
or a characteristic of a god.
For instance “AUM” is the most sacred symbol to Hinduism where alphabets “A”
“U” “M” stand for Creation, Preservation and Destruction, respectively. It is
considered as the highest of all mantras and represents a trinity of Hindu gods.
nexusnovel.wordpress.com/.../
Swastika: a swastika symbol is considered as auspicious symbol. The four wings
define four directions which signifies stability and strength. It is also a symbol of
the sun representing lord Surya and hence is used in art and architecture by
Hindus
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As an aged care provider it would be a good idea to keep a record of the
Hindu festivals and give the clients the opportunity to increase their
participation on those occasions.
Aged care providers can also try to incorporate their needs and
preferences surrounding these festivals such as food.
A care worker should take the necessary measures when handling the
religious items in their household.
Indian women belonging to the Hindu community, they generally wear a
red round dot called the bindi, which signifies the fact that they are
married.
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HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
Hindus consider everything, animate and inanimate, as sacred and divine. Hence
It is believed that Hindus celebrate each and everything. Indians have many
occasions to celebrate. Every religion and region has its own festivals, and there
are also many national holidays. Both Hindu and Muslim holidays follow the lunar
calendar, and thus fall on different dates each year.
The Hindu calendar is called “Panchang”. All the auspicious occasions for rituals
as well as dates for festivals are still calculated on the basis of the “Panchang”.
The important Hindu festivals are highlighted at the end of this resource.
Republic Day – January 26
January 26 is the anniversary of the day India became a republic. it is India’s
national Day. The Celebration of Republic Day is often combined with festivals of
Australia Day.
Indian Independence Day -- August 15
Independence Day (August 15) celebrates India's freedom from the British in
1947.
The main festivals of Hindu calendar which are widely celebrated in Sydney are
Holy and Diwali.
Holi “The Festival of Colours
The most colourful Hindu festival is Holi, held in February to mark the beginning
of spring. Indians celebrate by throwing colored water and powder at each other.
Holi festival welcomes the spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the
season. Distinctions of caste, class, age, and gender are suspended during Holi.
Diwali” or The Festival of Lights
During Divali, the five-day festival of lights held in November, Hindus light lamps
in their windows and set off fire crackers. They clean their houses and everyone
dresses in new clothes and visit friends and relatives. It celebrated victory of
good over evil and light over darkness
In many Indian communities, people participate in both their own and their
neighbours' celebrations (Rajani, Vemuri: 2002).
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FOOD CHOICES AND CUISINES OF INDIA
Hindus consider food as a gift of god and believe in treating it with respect. Indian
food has varied taste and style in different parts of India and assumes cultural
and religious significance.
There are different cuisines which are popular amongst the Indian Hindus such
as south Indian, Guajarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Maharashtrian, Hyderabad and etc.
Generally most of the Hindus are vegetarians since it is recommended in the
Hindu scriptures, but some of them do eat different types of meat. Cow is
considered to be Holy and hence beef is not offered to Hindus. Pork is also not
preferred. It is therefore important to inform the person if a medication contains
animal products before administering or prescribing them.
Spices are an important ingredient in most of the foods prepared by Hindus.
Cardamom
Indian naan flatbread
There are different types of bread in India.
Naan is the Flat, oval bread cooked in the tandoor.
Chapati /Roti is the thin bread cooked on the griddle in the west of India.
Kulcha is the tender, pita-like bread cooked in the tandoor.
Paratha is the thick fried bread fried on the griddle in the north and central
regions.
Dhosai is the rice and wheat flour crepes in the south.
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Drinks
Tea (chai) is the most popular form of drink in India and it is more popular than
coffee. The Indian Masala chai or spicy Indian tea is widely known throughout the
world. Masala means spice and Chai is the generic word for tea in Hindi, Punjabi,
Persian and many other languages around the world. To prepare Masala tea, the
tea leaves are boiled with spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and
ginger, and large quantities of milk are added to create a thick, sweet, milky
blend. There are different recipes for Masala Chai. The main ingredients for
masala chai are tea, sugar, milk and spices.
Masala chai recipe
4 tsp Loose tea, usually black, 2 cups of Water, 1 piece dry Ginger, 3 crushed
cardamom pods, 3 Whole Cloves, 1 Cinnamon stick
Milk and to Sugar to taste
Preparation: Boil 2 cups of water, then add tea and spices. Boil for another half
minute then remove from heat. Let sit for 1 minute. Strain out the spices and
serve, with milk and/or sugar. (http://www.indiaforvisitors.com/food/food.htm)
Milk is popular in a variety of forms such as plain or flavoured butter milk drinks.
Lassi is a refreshing, creamy iced yogurt drink that can be served sweet or salty.
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Cuisines of India
Indian Samosas
Indian Chana Masala
Indian cuisine has become popular around the world. The most popular forms of
Indian foods are curries and bean dishes which can be prepared in many
different ways. Indian food is not just curry. Religions and regions affect Indian
eating patterns.
The food from North India traces its descent from Persian ancestors and later
Mughals who came to power. Some examples of north Indian foods are fragrant
Persian rice dishes, such as pilafs and biryanis (meat-based pilafs) and spicy
kormas (braised meat in creamy sauces).
In South India rice is served everywhere. The south Indians use chillies, mustard,
coconut oil and various other spices.
Eastern India is close to the sea and gets plenty of rain. Hence rice and fish are
staple all over this region. The other great attribute of eastern cuisine is their
delicate sweets.
The original cuisine of western India is principally vegetarian.
(http://www.indiasite.com/cuisine/food.html)
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At home, Indians often eat meals sitting cross-legged on a floor mat. Instead of
cutlery, the right hand is used for eating and a piece of fresh banana leaf or
stainless steel plate (thali) serves as a plate. If utensils are used, they are
generally a tablespoon and a fork. While the rest of the household eats, women
serve the meals and wait until everyone has finished dining before sitting down
themselves. (Rajani C,. Vemuri S., :2002).
Most Hindus do not eat beef and beef products since the cow is considered sacred.
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All Jains and some Hindus are strict vegetarians, though they do consume
dairy products.
Eating with the right hand, without cutlery, is the traditional method.
If they want to use cutlery , they use spoon and fork.
Vegetarians would prefer to use separate dishes and utensils for
vegetarian and non vegetarian foods.
Orthodox Hindus and most vegetarians avoid alcoholic drinks.
Onions and garlic are avoided or restricted by some of the strict
vegetarians.
Aged care providers need to have individual consultation for the food
preferences and choices of the Hindu elderly clients.
Some Hindus fast on specific days. It would be important to record these
and provide them suitable alternatives.
Some Hindus may fast when they are ill to restore their health but they
may still have fruits, juices or tea which needs to be provided
appropriately.
HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
There are aspects of the Hindu religion that commonly affect health care
decisions. Hinduism is a social system as well as a religion; therefore customs
and practices are closely interwoven. "Karma" is a law of behaviour and
consequence in which actions of past life affects the circumstances in which one
is born and lives in this life. For Indian people, health is usually related to the
connectedness of the body, mind and spirit.
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Despite complete understanding of biological causes of illness, it is often
believed that the illness is caused by "Karma". Some believe that mental illness
is due to possession of the evil eye and mental illness is considered as a
stigma.(Alagiakrishnan .K,. Chopra.,.A: 2001) .
Many of the elderly believe in the traditional Indian system of medicine,
‘Ayurveda’ where ‘Ayu” stands for ‘Life’ and ‘Veda’ means ‘Knowledge’. It can be
observed that migrants from an Indian backgrounds share an understanding of
both ayurvedic and the western concepts of medicine. The popularity of the
ayurvedic system stems from the fact that it is based on the principles of
prevention and has significantly less side effects.
Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic system with great emphasis on prevention. In the
Ayurveda system, the body is comprised of three primary forces, termed dosha.
The state of balance between the dosha is perceived as a state of health; the
state of imbalance is disease.
There are approximately 1,400 plants used in Ayurvedic medicine. The herbs
used in Ayurvedic remedies tend to gradually metabolize and have few side
effects on the body. (Bhungalia et al.)
Indians from Fiji, Malaysia or South Africa may have less understanding of
Ayurvedic
principles.(http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/health_workers/Indian-pregprof.pdf)
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Some Hindus may feel that their illness is caused by karma.
Mental illness is considered as a stigma and is due to possession of the
evil eye.
Home remedies such herbal medicines and massage are popular among
Hindus women.
Hospital visits are a very important way to provide support for the sick
person and family.
Traditional foods and medicine
In India, in most of the Hindu homes you can find the holy basil, commonly
known as Tulsi. The Tulsi plant is a strong symbol of the Hindu community.
Having a Tulsi plant at home is considered very auspicious. The leaves of the
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Tulsi plant have medicinal properties and have long been known to be used in
the treatment of various sicknesses. Tulsi leaves are very aromatic, so some
people like to add them to their tea to get a unique flavour.
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Patients often eat Tulsi, the sacred basil or ‘holy basil’ plant, to calm the
mind.
Prashad “blessed food” is a traditional food given to those in bad health.
Prashad is a mixture of the five holy foods, namely ghee, milk, honey,
sugar and yogurt.
The coconut is considered by Hindus as a sacred food.
The coconut is found in many ayurvedic medicines and considered very
beneficial to sick people.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
Bathing
Generally, Hindus would like to have a daily shower before their prayers.
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Most Hindus wash before prayer and before eating.
Traditionally Hindus wash after toileting, they may require a mug or cup of
water to clean themselves after toileting.
Some Hindus may prefer to use running water rather than a bath for shower.
A care worker should be mindful of the religious items one is wearing while
showering. For instance, they may wear a sacred ‘thread’ from shoulder to
waist diagonally which traditionally shouldn’t be removed at all.
Married Hindu women wear a thread around their neck (mangalsutra) and it
should not be removed.
Hindu women have a red dot marking (bindi ) and orthodox Hindu men
usually have a religious marking (tilak ) on their foreheads.
Hindu woman also wear red powder in the parting in the hair and also
bangles which symbolises marriage. The breaking of bangles is considered
as a bad omen which may be agonising to the woman.
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Culturally appropriate care
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Modesty is highly valued among Hindus
Hindus are more comfortable with and feel secure with same sex care
providers
Health care decisions are usually discussed with the family
Women are more passive in the Indian culture and usually men play
significant role in family
Care needs to be taken regarding the sacred thread across the chest in
Hindus men and around the neck in Hindus women
Care providers should not remove or cut the sacred threads without the
care recipients’ permission. (Alagiakrishnan .K. Chopra. A, 2001) .
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Care recipients may usually say yes to the service providers even though
they may not understand their care plans.
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Hindus may pray when they are in hospital and appropriate personal
space should be provided.
Care needs to be taken that the medication given to the Hindus is free
from beef products such as gelatine.
It is important to check with the care recipients if they are taking herbal
remedies
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BELIEFS WITH DEATH AND DYING
Death is a hugely significant life event and life after death is a strong belief of
Hindus. Most of the Indian elderly people believe in preparing souls for new life
after death. Most of the elderly prefer to die at home and would like to follow
specific rituals and practices. Chanting and prayer incense and various rituals
are part of the process. Family members are likely to be present in large
numbers when the elderly is close to death. In order to be more close to mother
earth, a dying person is moved to the floor. The body is given a wash after death
by a family member and this member should be of the same sex as the
deceased.
There is preference for cremation as well. The body is cremated and it is
preferred that the ashes are spread over the holy river, the ‘Ganges’. At the
funeral a ‘Brahman’ performs the prayer and the mourning family members wear
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all white whereas the males shave off their hair as a symbol of mourning
(Bhungalia, et al).
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Healthcare staff should touch the deceased body as little as possible.
It is very important to handle the deceased with dignity and modesty.
A light or candle is left burning safely near the head of the deceased to
show respect and comfort to their soul.
The time after the death or passing away of a person in India is very important
since the Hindus believe that the soul of the person is on its way to the next level
of existence at such a time. Hinduism encourages family members to not be
excessive in their mourning so the soul can leave and journey on. They are also
encouraged to remember the departed with happy thoughts as they believe the
soul will receive those positive thoughts.
LIFE, LEISURE AND RECREATION
Socializing
Most of the time older people would prefer to go out and visit friends and
extended family members. They would also enjoy sightseeing, touring, eating out
or participating in activities and festivals. Mostly, going out for a walk in the
evening in parks with friends and having chats is quite common amongst the
elderly. However some of them may also go to the temples in the evening daily
for prayers and then catch up with a group of friends there.
Television and Radio
Watching Television shows and listening to radio is a favourite pastime for the
Hindu elderly, especially the older people who would prefer to listen to the radio
most of their time. Some of them may engage themselves in music or reading
newspapers.
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The following are the Indian radio shows running Hindi programs:
Radio channel
SBS Hindi radio
Frequency
97.7 FM
Day
Time
Sunday
Wednesday
Monday
9 am
12 noon
3 pm
Voice
of
Oz 88.5 FM
Indians
Radio Dhanak
107.3 FM
Saturday
2pm
Sunday
12 noon -5 pm
SBS
news
Mon-Sat
Sunday
11 am
11 am
Hindi
TV SBS ONE
SBS TWO
Movies/Sports
For Indians movies and cricket are like religion and people are most passionate
about them. Bollywood, one of the biggest film industries produces the maximum
number of movies each year. The elderly Indians prefer to watch the old Hindi
movies and listen to old Hindi songs. Hindi movies or Cds can be bought from
local shopkeepers and stores around. There are a number of movie theatres in
Sydney which play ongoing Hindi Movies.
Hindi Magazines/Newspapers
There are a number of Fiji Indian Magazines and Newspapers available in
Sydney free of charge. They are not published in Hindi but are for the Indian
community which is quite relevant and useful. They are available in the local
Indian shops and stores. Popular magazines include the Indian Link, Fiji Times,
Indus Age, Beyond India and Indian Voice.
Shops and Services
Buying and getting Indian products such as Indian grocery, clothes, movies, CDs
and beauty items is not difficult in Sydney. There are many shops and services
which cater to the needs and tastes of the Indian communities.
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HINDI COMMUNICATION CHART
Good morning
Good night
Good evening
Namaskar
Shubh raatri
Namaste
Monday
Somwar
Tuesday
Mangalwar
Wednesday Buddhwar
Thursday
Guruwaar
0
1
2
3
4
5
Shunya
Ek
Do
Teen
Chaar
Paanch
Come here
Now
Stand up please
ho jaye
Krupaya baith jaye
Let’s go now
Be careful
How are you?
Pain?
Family?
Lonely?
Sick?
Head
Eye
Ear
Teeth
Dentures
Chest
Greetings
Good bye
Hello/Hi
Days
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Holiday
Numbers
6
Che
7
Saat
8
Aanth
9
Nau
10
Dus
Alvida
Namaste
Shukrawaar
Shaniwaar
Raviwaar
Chutti
Giving instructions
Yahan aaiye
Slowly
Abhi
Important
Krupaya khade
Clean your teeth
Sit down please kare
Aahiste
Mahatvapurna
Apne data saaf
Chalo chalte hain Do you need to go to the toilet?
Dhyana se
Kya aapko shauchalaya jaana hain?
Feelings/pain
Aap kaise ho?
Fainting?
Behoshi?
Dard?
Pariwar?
You need a doctor?
Akelapan?
Aapko doctor ki zaroorat hain ?
Bimaar?
Where is the pain?
Dard kaha ho raha hain?
Body parts
Sar
Back
Aankhen
Shoulder
Kaan
Arm
Daant
Stomach
Nakli/krutrim daant
Leg
Seena
Muscle
Peeth
Kandha
Baanh
Pet
Pair
Maaspeshi
(The above communication and pronunciation chart in Hindi is a general guide to assist the care workers. It should only be used as a tool in general and not to develop fluency in Hindi language skills.)
23
Hindu Festivals Calendar 2010
13
Wednesday
Lohri
14
Thursday
Makar Sankranti
14
Thursday
Pongal
15
Friday
Mauni Amavasya
20
Wednesday
Vasant Panchami
FEB 2010
12
Friday
Mahashivratri
MAR 2010
01
Monday
Holi
01
Mon day
Hola Mohalla
16
Tuesday
Bikrami Samvat (Hindu New
Year)
24
Wednesday
Ram Navmi
30
Tuesday
Hanuman Jayanti
APRIL 2010
13
Tuesday
Baisakhi
MAY 2010
16
Sunday
Akshaya Tritiya/ Akha Teej
JUNE 2010
11
Friday
Ganga Dussehra
JULY 2010
13
Tuesday
Rath Yatra
25
Sunday
Guru Poornima
23
Monday
Onam
24
Tuesday
Rakhi /Raksha Bandhan
02
Thursday
Sri Krishna Janmashtami
11
Saturday
Ganesh Chaturathi
08
Friday
Navratras begin
17
Sunday
Dussehra
25
Monday
Karva Chauth
03
Wednesday
Dhan Teras
05
Friday
Diwali
06
Saturday
Govardhan Puja
07
Sunday
Bhai Duj
JAN 2010
AUG 2010
SEP 2010
OCT 2010
NOV 2010
24
25
REFERENCES
Alagiakrishnan K,. Chopra A., : 2001. CURRICULUM IN ETHNO GERIATRICS
Second Edition ,HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE OF ASIAN INDIAN AMERICAN
ELDERS http://www.stanford.edu/group/ethnoger/index.html
Bhungalia S., Kelly T., Van De Keift S, and Young M., Indian Health Care Beliefs
and Practices
http://bearspace.baylor.edu/Charles_Kemp/www/indian_health.htm
Rajani , C , Vemuri S: 2002 , Anti –Racism, Multiculturalism and Native Issues
(AMNI) center , Faculty of Social Work ,University of Toronto
Hinduism: An Introduction, BBC Home, accessed 16th June
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/hinduism/
History of Hindi Language.
www.hindilanguage.org/hindi/history.asp
Festivals: Free Hindu Festivals calendar 2010, Hindu Holidays
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/hindu-festivals.html
Subhamoy.D, The Hindu Calendar system, Hinduism,
http://hinduism.about.com/od/history/a/calendar.htm
Hindu symbols, Religion Facts
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols.htm
Profile of Hinduism in Ireland
www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/services/social inclusion/intercultural guide
Culture and Religion, Information sheet, Hinduism, Hindu Association of Western
Australia (Inc) October 2005
www.omi.wa.gov.au/publication/crdiversity/hinduism.pdf
India: Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/india-country-profile.html
Hindu Forum, Special requirements, Hindu resources
www.hinduforum.org
Country Profile: India
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/country-profiles/_pdf/india.pdf
26
India-born Community information summary DIMIA
www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm/india.pdf
Indian General Information: Ethnic Communities and Disability
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/ethnicity/indian/general.html
Sikhs in Australia
http://www.sikh.com.au/inaus/index.html
Significance of Swastika in Hinduism
http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/swastik/swastika-in-hinduism.html
Indian Healthcare: Beliefs and Practices
http://bearspace.baylor.edu/Charles_Kemp/www/indian_health.html
INDIAN ETHNICITY AND BACKGROUND
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/health_workers/Indian-preg-prof.pdf
Photos are taken from Microsoft office Publisher 2003
27
Published June 2010
3 General Bridges Cres Daceyville NSW 2032
Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9663 3922
Website: www.sydneymcs.org.au
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