Culture isn’t something you perform. It’s something you live.
In this chapter of Ary + Maan’s Culture & Connection Series, we sat down with Gayatri—former educator, mother of two, real estate broker, and global citizen—to explore what it means to raise multicultural children while staying deeply rooted in your own traditions.
Born in India and raised in Dubai to Indian parents, Gayatri’s journey spans continents: from early childhood in the Middle East to student exchanges in France and Germany, to building a life and raising a family in the United States. Her story is layered—not just with languages and locations, but with the quiet strength it takes to carry your culture with you wherever you go.
A Global Life with Deep Indian Roots
Gayatri describes herself as Indian by heritage, but global in spirit. She speaks of her experiences abroad—staying with French host families in college, cooking Indian meals in a shared kitchen in Germany, learning through language and food. Even in unfamiliar places, she carried pieces of home with her: a few cherished spices, a prayer, a mindset.
That same intentionality now shows up in how she and her husband raise their two children. With Indian values guiding them—respect for elders, the karmic responsibility to do what’s right—they are also raising their kids in a fully American context. Instead of choosing one identity over the other, Gayatri embraces the beauty of blending both.
“It’s about keeping the best of all the worlds we move through—and making space for our kids to explore what resonates with them.”
Parenting Through Ritual, Food, and Everyday Moments
In Gayatri’s household, culture is less about instruction and more about experience. It’s the Hanuman Chalisa playing in the kitchen, the lighting of a lamp at sunset, or a favorite paneer dish cooked with her son. It’s her daughter learning to stir sambhar beside her dad. It’s Bollywood in the car one day, Taylor Swift the next.
She speaks about how children absorb identity through rituals—both big and small. Prayers before meals. Stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The taste of a dessert tied to childhood memories. It’s these seemingly ordinary things that shape how children see their roots—not as something distant, but as something intimate and alive.
“Sometimes it’s conscious, sometimes it’s not. But it’s in the food, the music, the clothes, the stories. It’s in what we choose to do together.”
Tradition as a Gift, Not a Rule
As someone who has moved between cultures her entire life, Gayatri is sensitive to the balance between tradition and inclusion. She shares stories of missing Diwali while traveling, and how those moments clarified just how much these cultural markers mean to her family. Now, she makes a point to protect that time—and to model presence and intention for her children.
From Holi celebrations at school to Garba nights in the fall, her kids are growing up immersed in tradition—but always with the freedom to ask questions, make choices, and find their own connection.
“The goal is to give them a strong foundation—but let them shape how they carry it forward.”
The Power of Clothing to Celebrate Identity
Gayatri lights up when she talks about fashion. Her sister-in-law designs Indian and fusion clothing in India, and wearing those pieces in the U.S. feels like a quiet celebration of pride. Whether it’s a kurta at the grocery store or a sari at a school event, she knows that clothing carries meaning.
“When you wear something cultural, you’re making a statement without saying a word. You’re inviting curiosity. You’re showing pride.”
She recalls a time when her children dressed in full Indian attire for a family wedding, and how special it felt to all arrive as one—beautifully dressed, joyfully present, and fully themselves.
Why This Story Matters
At Ary + Maan, we believe that identity isn’t inherited—it’s created, one moment at a time. Gayatri’s story is a reflection of that belief: that culture is not just where we come from, but what we choose to preserve, adapt, and pass on.
Through food, clothing, prayer, music, and the loving chaos of family life, Gayatri is raising children who understand where they come from—and feel empowered to decide where they’re going.
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