Many times, the first few things we learn in a new language are how to say, "Hi" and "How are you?" so that we can easily introduce ourselves to new people ...

Do you… Unconsciously take your shoes of when you enter a home? Bow down your head when you meet older family members? Greet them with “jai shri krishna” or ...

One of the best ways a culture is passed down is through sharing stories and fables. I remember going to my grandparents’ house in summer vacations and waiti...

Do your parents tell you to do diva or aarti daily? Parents who are somewhat religious or spiritual will insist that you do diva or aarti once a day. In our ...

Jai Shree Krishna Kem cho? Jai schhidanand Ramkabir Jai Jinendra Jai Swaminarayan Normally we greet each other with: Kem cho? Which means: how are you? Depen...

If you happen to see a house or a business with a Tulsi plant in the front yard, chances are that place belongs to an Indian family. Holy Basil, as Tulsi is ...

Oh, whats in a name? If you are an immigrant child, you know this happens often. Your teacher taking attendance… Jennifer, Jack, John… ummm, Jag—death (Jagdi...

You want something done, do it now! I grew up hearing this in my family. During summer vacations when I stayed with my grand parents in their small village, ...

Festivals and celebrations are essential parts of our survival as human beings. In India there are celebrations for every occasion: I love this part of my cu...

We all have different ways to worship. Some of us go to temples and churches to show our devotions to a statue or a holy place. Some of us meditate and conne...

Karva Chauth (Hindi: करवा चौथ) is a one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women in North India in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the sa...

There is a parable of a villager who goes to the city and learns english. Now he thinks he is superior and uses only english to describe certain words in his...

When I first got married and moved in with my husband’s family, I couldn’t understand certain words. My husband and I are both from Gujarati families and we ...

There is a saying in Gujarati, “ Jya Jya vase Gujarati, tya tya vase Gujarat…” —Where one Gujarati lives, the whole land of Gujarat is there. Living in forei...

There are so many things that have been said about friendship. Friendship in Gujarati is Dosti or Mitrataa. So many Bollywood songs have been written about t...

When one thinks of India, colors, vedas, mythology, spirituality and culture come to mind. India is the largest non-secular country. There are many religions...

Bollywood movies are not complete without a song sequence. Some from 1-2 songs and some to 8-10 songs. This may seem like a musical for those of you new to t...

The word new or Navoo in Gujarati has a sense of freshness and clean feel to it. With freshness comes life and liveliness. Given the choice, who wouldn’t wan...

Why is it important to say things right in any language? Uchhaar – pronounciation. Particularly in Gujarati, a difference of just one letter can make things ...

There are many traditions and rituals that are unique to a Gujarati family. It begins with birth. There are many performed upon arrival of a new born baby. O...