Describe a Traditional Festival (Or Tradition) That Is Important in Your Country - IELTS Cue Card

Indian festivals are the only widely celebrated festivals, as people of all castes live here. I was born and brought up here and have seen different cultures. One such festival is Vishu. It’s a Malayali festival celebrated for the new year as per the Malayali calendar.

Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam in the Malayalam Calendar, which is April 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar (our normal calendar). 

People worship Lord Vishnu and his reincarnation Krishna, on this day. To worship him, we put vishukani in front of the deity’s idol and offer these things. Vishukani includes fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, rice, dal, coconut, flowers and many more things like a new set of clothes. Parents wake up the children, close their eyes, and take them directly to the prayer room so that they can see Vishukani first in the morning. 

Well, I don’t dislike anything about it, but I love to pray to Krishna on this day. I also love the fact that my entire family prays with me for Krishna. There’s one more thing which I like, parents or elders give some money to children and younger ones.

The word "Vishu" means "equal" in Sanskrit. It refers to the vernal equinox when the day and night hours are roughly equal. Families celebrate Vishu on Mesha Sankranti, also known as Mesha Sankramam. It is a season dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is celebrated by worshipping both Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna.

Overall, the Vishu festival is important for Malayalis as it represents new beginnings and harmony when celebrating Lord Krishna. 

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It is normal for a diverse group of people living together in India to celebrate different festivals. People of varied faiths and beliefs also celebrate diverse festivals. Today, I am going to talk about Navaratri. 

On the occasion of Navaratri, we worship several forms of Devi Goddess Durga, also known as Adi Parashakti. It occurs twice a year: once in April and a second time in October-November. At times, it spans nine nights and different parts of the Hindu-Indian cultural world honour and celebrate it for various reasons.

Just like different reasons, the method of celebrating Navaratri also differs in various areas. Some people fast while others feast and some people worship different forms of Durga.

Certain people do not follow these rules because this festival is being celebrated for Nav-durgas, and you must not eat onion/garlic or non-veg items. I find this rule to be difficult to follow but as I belong to a proper Brahmin family, I know the significance of this festival. It is believed that the nine days of Navratri help individuals purify their minds and souls and remove all impurities. 

There’s this story about Goddess Durga killing Mahishasura and freeing him from immortality. Lord Brahma once blessed him as he had done austerity.Yet he put one condition on this blessing: the person who would kill him would be a woman. 

Mahishasura wasn’t able to think of any woman stronger than him, so he was fine with the deal. With time, he became more atrocious than before. Finally, Tridev decided to form Goddess Durga (an avatar) and provided her with various weapons. 

She fought the demon for ten days, which proved to be very difficult because he kept changing his appearance to deceive the goddess. Durga eventually defeated him after he transformed into a buffalo.

Overall, Navaratri is an important Hindu festival honouring Goddess Durga's victory over the monster Mahishasura, representing the victory of good over evil. 

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Question 1. What role do traditional festivals play in preserving cultural heritage?

Answer: Traditional festivals play a vital role in preserving cultural heritage. They pass down customs, beliefs, and values from generation to generation while also celebrating the distinct aspects of a community's identity.

Question 2. Do you think traditional festivals are more important in rural or urban areas? Why?

Answer: Traditional festivals are significant in both rural and urban communities. In rural areas, they frequently have strong cultural roots and are celebrated with reverence. In cities, they help people reconnect with their cultural heritage and build community among diverse populations.

Question 3. How do traditional festivals contribute to the local economy?

Answer: Traditional festivals help local economies by increasing tourism, selling traditional goods, and creating new business opportunities in event planning and hospitality services. They also help in promoting the art of local artisans and craftspeople.

Question 4. How do young people perceive traditional festivals in today's society?

Answer: Some young people value traditional festivals because they are culturally significant and provide opportunities to connect with their heritage. Others perhaps believe it as irrelevant in comparison to modern festivities. Overall, attitudes differ according to exposure and personal beliefs.

Question 5. How can technology enhance traditional festival experiences?

Answer: Technology can enhance traditional festival experiences by allowing distant people to join in virtually, creating interactive exhibits or displays and promoting festival events via digital channels. Even so, maintaining the true nature of traditional practices requires striking a balance.

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To conclude, the IELTS Speaking cue card topic of describing a traditional festival (or tradition) that is important in your country is explained above. Read through the sample answers and practice speaking confidently at home. Aside from the sample answers, you should also review the provided follow-up answers to improve your English speaking skills. 

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