The Fire and Art of Transformational Festivals
The Significance of Transformational Festivals in Preserving Love, Peace and Harmony
by Anca Mihaela Bruma
In time of resilience and pragmatic approaches, local and transformational festivals bring the feeling of togetherness, belonging, and connectedness. Our “victories” are tied less to the “tangibles” but more to the intangible, in-the-moment feeling. These festivals infuse sacredness that is missing in our modern, pragmatic life. We may wear different clothes and have different gods in different part of the world, but unity is what humankind is really craving, because together we are able to create the future!
Lately, some festivals have become a global economic phenomena and an important part of the travel and hospitality industry. Festivals offer possibilities to expand horizons through an intense process of ritual and performances. It creates great publicity and feeds the image and identity of the host community. Nowadays, there is a higher demand for cultural production and the mediating of culture.
Most of the festivities are joyful communal gatherings, like vital hubs, celebrating diversity, vibrancy, traditions versus modern innovations. They engage communities in meaningful and even memorable experiences in order to strengthen ties, underlying our sense of self as well the connection with the community as a whole. If those festivals remain true to their own goal, and remain a keeper of its own identity, it enables future development. Most of the festivals help us to discover WHO we are, remember from where we have come, and anticipate just where we want to go.
Evolution in life is everything; therefore, even some ancient festival expressions have been challenged. However, there is a remarkable phenomena evolving in these modern days. While we still have a strong desire to contribute creatively and positively to the community, we become co-creators inside these artistic expressions, in these festival experiences.
The Phenomena of Transformational Festivals
The phenomena is called ‘transformational festivals,’ with high convergence points for cultural creators, in which the main aim is to achieve transformation through inspiration. New healing and sanctuary-type gatherings have been created lately, where mankind is reconnected with the universe. This is the core of these transformational festivals. Ancient myths, time, and space are explored, where primordial experiences are also revived. All of these may become seen as future culture.
We become the co-creators, the world makers, creating a “gate” to escape from all types of hierarchies and hidden agendas embedded in this very pragmatic world. In these festival-type, creative atmospheres and moments, we are freed to co-create and share a real world liberated from fears, laws, customs; a world where we most wish to live. The festivals are like “spaces” created to allow our own selves to get in touch with our own humanness; no more walls imposed by our routine life, which creates the idea of separateness and becoming defensive against each other. Instead, by means of these transformational and highly creative festivities, we share the idea of living in a compatible diversity.
The emergence of these transformational festivals “impose” a new spiritual culture, one long-forgotten, the one in which those present honor the sacredness of our human being and the celebration of our togetherness. Experiencing the ecstatic expressions of mankind, it is a rejoining of secular values, where unconditional love is magnified and the core belief system.
Transformational festivals also embrace feel-good values like ecological sustainability, organic food, community building, wisdom sharing, and a language of neo-spirituality and personal growth is common there.
As we became more reliant on technology and social media, we have also become more disconnected from each other! A real connection is what we crave! We need real-life experiences rather than relying on the web. In many parts of the world, where cell phones or Internet are almost nonexistent, the sense of community is much stronger. Our breaks from daily routines should be transformational. Deep down, we are inter-related and connected, and most of the people taste happiness in the collective experience. We are all stimulated by this effervescent, communal joy.
Important Values of Local Festivals
We live during very competitive times, and cultural curiosity will create a predisposition, a window into the “other” and, of course, into our own selves, because festivals disintegrate natural barriers. Festivals bring you face-to-face with the highest expression of the human spirit!
It is proven that local festivals have beneficial effects on the community. A festival can enhance the feeling of identity and animated cultural life, especially if locals are involved in organizing the event, not just attending it. Both sides are very important for me!
Nowadays, the festivals scenes are more inclusive than before; more open to ideas and thematic stimulus. They bring something vital, which is breaking down the barriers between low and high, classical and modern, old and new. All these social festivities have something in common, despite their difference, they provide a communal experience, which can only be experienced in the crowd.
These festivals equate, as the collective experience eradicate the social differences, that we hold it on daily basis. It creates a platform for various cultures, people, or art to be combined, promoting liberality and strengthening tolerance.
Modern-day festivals link culture with entertainment, trade and economic growth, and this has a social impact as it strengthens the local community and identity, thus enhancing national solidarity. Local festivals may also serve to fight against the effect of globalization. They present their own regional, local values, and the uniqueness of their own locality and identity.
To conclude, festivals and celebrations in their present forms, can play a role for world’s peace, creativity, and unity.
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About the Author
Educator, lecturer, performance poet, eclectic thinker, and mentor with a staunch multi-cultural mindset and entrepreneurial attitude, Anca Mihaela Bruma considers herself a global citizen, having lived in four continents. Experience more of her performance material on SoundCloud and YouTube, and discover more at her website, and her artist page on Facebook.
http://marmoset16.wix.com/ancabruma
https://facebook.com/Anca-Mihaela-317866078233812/?fref=ts
