When I was young, my mother gave me a small green statuette of the Hindu deity Ganesha. Ganesha removes obstacles and helps individuals overcome them. Ganesha represents the triumph of good over evil. My statuette is green, three inches tall and made of glass.

Every morning, my parents pray to a larger alter that includes my statuette. Each generation that preceded my parents prayed similarly, but lived on the other side of the world. My parents’ rituals remind me of my religion, rooted in India.  My family originates from Northern India, but my parents moved to the United States when I was about a year old. Ever since, we have lived in New York City with many members of my extended family in close proximity to my own. A sizable part of our community in Jaipur, India immigrated to the United States in the 1980s, setting up new businesses, community centers and other facilities for themselves. New York City constitutes one of my two homes; the other home is in India. As a result of living in New York, my parents have raised me with a mix of two distinct cultures: those of India and the United States. This statuette serves as a constant reminder of my Indian and Hindu identity. It serves as a reminder of my religion, my beliefs and my origins in India.  

 

– Navya

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant