Introduction
A rite of passage can be described as something that takes a person from one stage to another. In most cases, people believe that it transforms an individual from childhood to adulthood. Rites of passage usually take place once in a person's life. This is the main reason why family members usually come together to celebrate if one of them is passing from one stage to another. These celebrations are usually aimed at making the person undergoing the passage know the responsibilities that await him or her in the next stage (Crapo, 2013). The rites of passage usually vary from one culture to another. There are some things which are considered of great value in one culture while in another they are not highly regarded. As a result of this, rites of passage are closely related to a person's identity and cultural beliefs.
Body
In the United States, one of the most important and happiest moments of a person is the day when an individual graduates from high school. On the contrary, high school graduation in India is not highly regarded. In India, high school graduation is just similar to moving from one grade to another.
As a result of this, there are no celebrations for high school graduates. In the United States, the days and even moths prior to the graduation day usually signify that the person is moving from childhood to adulthood (Crapo, 2013). The individual is therefore required to do any childhood act that he or she has not yet done. This is because after graduation the person is considered an adult and should therefore behave as an adult. As a result of this, many adolescents are usually adults at the time they are graduating whereas in India a person is still considered a minor even after graduating from high school. Their entrance into adulthood signifies the end of restrictions on purchasing and consuming certain items.
For example, they are able to purchase and consume tobacco freely without interference from authorities or their parents. Besides this, they are also allowed to freely purchase lottery tickets. They are also allowed to enter into any clubs. At this stage, they also have a right to practice their democratic rights as they are allowed to vote. The freedom brought about by high school graduation makes it an important rite of passage in the United States as it releases the adolescents into the outside world (Crapo, 2013). This is contrary to India whereby high graduates are still considered as kids and are supposed to do everything their parents require them to do. For example, they cannot take alcohol or go to clubs without their parents' consent. This is because they are usually under the care of their parents.
In India, marriage ceremonies are considered the best moments in a person's life. This is also the same case in the United States as people moves from stage to another when he or she gets married. However, the marriage ceremonies in two cultures usually vary. In the Indian culture, parents are the ones who select their kids their marriage partners (Mahdi, 1996). However, spouses are required to be happy with the spouses chosen for them. This fails to happen in most cases as a person ends up marrying a person that he or she does not love. It is usually difficult for a person to marry a couple that he or she loves because of the caste system. Under this system, a person is only required to marry from his or her own caste. Parents usually choose their kids marriage partners as they usually want to leave their lineage in good hands.
Unlike India, parents usually have a little say in the spouse that a person marries. A person is left to select a person that he or she wants to marry. Parents are only required to approve the person selected by their son or daughter. In some cases, people get married even if their parents did not approve their partners. In India, a couple cannot get married if their parents do not approve it (Hazarika, 2000). This is because cannot wed in public as their parents must take part in the wedding ceremony. Despite several differences, the wedding ceremonies in both cultures are almost similar. In both wedding, there are immense decorations and a lot of food. There is also a lot of singing and dancing during the ceremony.
Conclusion
A rite of passage is usually an activity that takes place once in a person's life. For example, a person's 18th birthday is a rite of passage in several cultures as it marks a person's entry into adulthood. However, different cultures have different rites of passage. A rite of passage in one culture has no significant meaning in another culture. For example, high school graduation is highly regarded in the United States while it has no value in India. This is because high school graduation in India does not change a person's identity and beliefs (Mahdi, 1996). A high school graduate in India still considers himself or herself a minor whereas in the US he or she considers himself or herself an adult.