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Mt. Kenya University *

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BLA 4127

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Arts Humanities

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Nov 24, 2024

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1 Experiential Activities Report Student's Name Institutional Affiliation Course Code and Name Professor's Name Date of Submission

2 Experiential Activities Report Question one Upon close observation, I observed that the Hindu wedding was a cultural ceremony encompassing a diverse variety of emotions, concepts, and life experiences. Hindu weddings include traditions, rituals, and celebrations in an intricate way. Many of the events throughout the wedding ceremony generated an array of human reactions, making them unforgettable. The celebrations began with the Mehndi ceremony, which involved applying henna to the bride's hands as well as her feet. There was a noticeable buzz of excitement and the smell of mehndi throughout the space. I enjoyed watching every moment of this event as an observer. The traditional music played, the brilliant decorations sprang to life, and the sound of laughter and dancing created a happy and cheerful mood. I learned that the designs are supposed to represent the relationships between people from someone I interviewed who uses mehndi on henna patterns. She also informed me that I had missed the Haldi, which is a purification ritual for two individuals using a paste made of turmeric powder, which had taken place earlier. Next was the Sangeet ceremony, which was a pre-wedding celebration, celebrated one day before the wedding. I found out that this event is a pre-wedding celebration—a time when friends and family members gather together for dancing and enjoy delicious food—after conversing with the bride's close relative. The air resounded with the beat of the dhol drum and the traditional music playing. Everyone danced in the same joyful atmosphere, including invited visitors and members of the immediate family. I was informed that red was considered divine in Hinduism, and each person was dressed in ornate Hindu clothes. Everyone attending had the impression of being a part of a larger celebration of unity and affection due to the upbeat performances.

3 The emotions heightened on the day of the wedding. There was much delight in the air when the groom arrived at the Baraat. The groom's procession, or baraatis, created a lively atmosphere with their dhol dancing, dancing, and exuberance. Numerous highly religious ceremonies were part of the actual wedding ceremony. As the holy fire was lit and mantras were uttered, a spiritual atmosphere pervaded the room. The beginning of a lifetime journey together was symbolized by the mangalsutra ceremony. I was happy and full of hope for friendship and love when I watched them get married. Following the ceremony, there was much celebration at the reception as newlyweds were congratulated and laughter erupted. I felt satisfied, as an outsider observer, knowing that I had contributed to the occasions building up to this joyous celebration. Question two My attendance at the Hindu wedding gave me an opportunity to get personal knowledge that was congruent and non-congruent with my prior understandings and perspectives of the Hindu. In terms of consistency, the wide variety of Hindu cultural traditions corresponded to my expectations. I had previously learned about Hindu culture through the media, so I anticipated the rituals to be vibrant, and rich in custom. My expectations of the Mehndi ceremony as an artistic event were fulfilled. The Sangeet's performances of dance correlated well with the Bollywood-inspired mental pictures I'd been conjuring up. On the other hand, the emotional depth that was present at every event was inconsistent. Experiencing the rituals directly gave me insight that went beyond what I had learned from researching about them. As someone who had always assumed that weddings were only about the couple getting married, I was surprised by how strongly the links of family and community were emphasized. As a result, I discovered that a Hindu wedding involves a celebration

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4 connecting communities, households, and heritage. I was also taken aback by the wide variety of customs observed by different groups. Even while I knew there would be cultural differences, I had no idea how much I would enjoy the distinct characteristics that each custom contributed to the wedding until I participated in it myself. My preconceptions about Hindu culture were challenged by the diversity I saw on display in the wedding attires, practices, and music. An additional degree of incongruity was provided by the meals, a crucial component of any cultural festival. Even though I had tried Indian food previously, the variety served at the wedding events far surpassed anything I had ever imagined. Question three Although multicultural counseling can take many forms, at its core it is a therapeutic strategy to addressing the unique needs of ethnic, racial, and other minority groups by taking into account systemic and past injustices. Counselors that specialize in multicultural counseling know that their patients' experiences shape their worldviews and that they must adapt their approach to therapy accordingly (Maryville University, 2023) because of this. Multicultural counseling lessons could be learned by observing and participating in a Hindu wedding and pondering the attendant cultural differences. Cultural celebrations, such as weddings, provide valuable insight into specific counseling tactics, measures, and competences, making cultural competence an essential component of good therapy. First, cultural knowledge and awareness are requirements for a multicultural counselor (Maryville University, 2023). The involvement of Hindu wedding underscored the necessity to grasp the complex nature of cultural rituals. A culturally aware counselor is one who has taken the time to learn about, and preferably participated in, the traditions and customs of the many different cultures from which their customers originate. The second takeaway is that the

5 multicultural counseling skills of listening intently and empathizing were put to the test while participating in the Hindu wedding rites. Counseling sessions are like weddings in that people from many walks of life share their stories and feelings with one another. According to Maryville University (2023), a therapeutic connection can be established when a counselor is able to listen attentively, validate what the client is experiencing, and show empathy. Third, the wedding highlighted the importance of counselors approaching clients with a respect for multiculturalism. Weddings are a great example of the significance of respecting and appreciating one another's uniqueness within a shared cultural setting. Fourth, the different Hindu wedding rituals made clear how crucial it is to design remedies that are compatible with the cultural upbringing of the client. Counseling approaches should take cultural sensitivity into consideration, much as various wedding customs have diverse meanings. One way to do this is by using the client's cultural perspectives and metaphors in the therapeutic process to help them feel more at ease opening up (Maryville University, 2023). Fifth, the Hindu wedding ceremony's specifics emphasized that counselors should be open to various methods of helping their clients. According to Maryville University (2023), a multicultural counselor should also be flexible and open to adjust their therapy approaches to better suit their clients' cultural backgrounds. The counselor's capacity to cater to each client's specific requirements is enhanced by this adaptability. Finally, counselors ought to conduct their duties with humility, acknowledging that they are not cultural specialists in all situations. One's perspective on different cultures is broadened by participating in a variety of celebrations. They need to be respectful of their customers, eager to take in feedback, and honest about their own cultural blind spots.

6 References Maryville University. (2023, March 24). Multicultural counseling: Types, strategies, and techniques . Maryville Online. https://online.maryville.edu/blog/multicultural-counseling/

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