5

Culture

• भ •

- Climate -

D

Connect

Our culture comprises 5 constituent parts which evolve in-sync with the climate of each place. Our Local Culture as a system of 5‘D’ / ‘भ’ ;

Dialects-भाषा, Diets-भोजन , Dresses-भेश, Dwellings-भवन, and Dances & songs-भजन, is a sustainable system as a whole.

We empower local people by having them realize that Local Culture holds the key to local climate action and revive faith in the system as a means to local sustainability.

5

Culture

• भ •

- Climate -

D

Connect

Our culture comprises 5 constituent parts which evolve in-sync with the climate of each place. Our Local Culture as a system of 5‘D’ / ‘भ’ ;

Dialects-भाषा, Diets-भोजन , Dresses-भेश, Dwellings-भवन, and Dances & songs-भजन, is a sustainable system as a whole.

We empower local people by having them realize that Local Culture holds the key to local climate action and revive faith in the system as a means to local sustainability.

भोजन | Bhojan | Diets

What is more sustainable – international, trending food or reviving faith in Hyper-local food systems?

In the Indian System of Ayurveda, it is said “you are what you eat”. Food is also very closely linked with lowering our energy consumption by helping us deal with the natural climatic extremes intrinsically (physiologically). Hence South Indian food is light and easy to digest as a response to the high heat and humidity conditions that are prevalent there. In stark contrast to Punjabi food which packs high calories – much needed by the farmer/warrior community of Sikhs who work in more fluctuating climate types.

भेश | Bhesh | Dresses

What is more sustainable – wearing the latest trends or reviving faith in local and traditional clothing systems?

The regional dresses have evolved in design to cater to the needs of the local people in response to the natural climate. They are made from local fibers, which are woven locally and are inherently sustainable in how they are made and the comfort they provide to the local people. Today we do the opposite. The stress is on foreign apparel made from synthetic fiber and imported to cater to wants (not needs).

भवन | Bhawan | Dwellings

What is more sustainable – constructing modern buildings, or reviving faith in the mud building systems of our country?

What do we see today? Building glass towers that use thousands of liters of water to build, clean and maintain, and need air conditioning to be livable? Buildings have among the highest impact on the natural environment. Lots of buildings, put together form a city, and cities contribute to the maximum green house gas emissions on the planet. This happens directly, and indirectly. Whereas, inherently the local architecture is sustainable and works in conjunction with the other 5 ‘भ’/ ‘D’s.

भजन | Bhajan | Dance & Song

What is more sustainable – the latest top-of-the-pop charts and dance-offs or reviving faith in local, folk and classical songs and dances?

Local folk and classical music is again based on the range and flexibility of the vocal chords, which varies significantly with the natural climate. So South Indian music is high in complexity and flexibility as compared to north Indian music. Instruments too are natively made, in a sustainable manner, from locally available materials. Needless to say, our sensibilities hardly have us notice, appreciate Indian folk music today, much less.

भाषा | Bhasha | Dialects

What is more sustainable – Learning local languages or foreign languages that have no connection with nature?

Dialect or language is the first key that holds secrets to environmental conservation and protection at a local level. For instance, most of the time, the nomenclature of trees, shrubs, and animals carry deep meaning in a local language, and do nothing to invoke any similar feeling in a foreign language. We must first appreciate the power encapsulated in local languages and then look at learning foreign languages.

भोजन | Bhojan | Diets

What is more sustainable – international, trending food or reviving faith in Hyper-local food systems?

In the Indian System of Ayurveda, it is said “you are what you eat”. Food is also very closely linked with lowering our energy consumption by helping us deal with the natural climatic extremes intrinsically (physiologically). Hence South Indian food is light and easy to digest as a response to the high heat and humidity conditions that are prevalent there. In stark contrast to Punjabi food which packs high calories – much needed by the farmer/warrior community of Sikhs who work in more fluctuating climate types.

भेश | Bhesh | Dresses

What is more sustainable – wearing the latest trends or reviving faith in local and traditional clothing systems?

The regional dresses have evolved in design to cater to the needs of the local people in response to the natural climate. They are made from local fibers, are woven locally and are inherently sustainable in how they are made and the comfort they provide to the local people. Today we do the opposite. The stress is on foreign apparel made from synthetic fiber and imported to cater to wants (not needs).

भवन | Bhawan | Dwellings

What is more sustainable – constructing modern buildings, or reviving faith in the mud building systems of our country?

What do we see today? Building glass towers that use thousands of liters of water to build, clean and maintain, and need air conditioning to be livable? Buildings have among the highest impact on the natural environment. Lots of buildings, put together form a city, and cities contribute to the maximum green house gas emissions on the planet. This happens directly, and indirectly. Whereas inherently the local architecture is sustainable and works in conjunction with the other 5 BH’s.

भजन | Bhajan | Dance & Song

What is more sustainable – the latest top-of-the-pop charts and dance-offs or reviving faith in local, folk and classical songs and dances?

Local folk and classical music is again based on the range and flexibility of the vocal chords, which varies significantly with the natural climate. So south indian music is high in complexity and flexibility as compared to north Indian music. Instruments too are natively made, in a sustainable manner, from locally available materials. Needless to say, our sensibilities hardly has us notice, much less appreciate Indian folk music today.

भाषा | Bhasha | Dialects

What is more sustainable – Learning local languages or foreign languages that have no connection with nature?

Dialect – or language is the first key that holds secrets to environmental conservation and protection at a local level. For instance, most of the time, the nomenclature of trees, shrubs, and animals carry deep meaning in a local language, and do nothing to invoke any similar feeling in a foreign language. We must first appreciate the power encapsulated in local languages and then look at learning foreign languages. We do nothing of this sort today.

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