e-culture: Chimayo Pilgrimage, Cinco de Mayo, Indigenous Languages
April 25, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE TRADITIONS OF MEXICO (new material) PILGRIMAGE TO CHIMAYO THE VALUE OF CULTURAL LITERACY

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CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE

To celebrate Asia/Pacific American Heritage Month, we will feature Namita Bodaji performing classical Indian dance, Bharata Natyam on Sunday, May 5 in Hamman Hall at Rice University.

From Bombay, India, Namita delivers an outstanding artistic program and a great educational experience, as she explains the narrative and complex expressions before each dance. Her performance leaves the audience asking when she will return. Namita last performed in Houston in April 2001. Don't miss this outstanding performer.

The event will be sponsored by KTRU, Rice University Radio. Listen to the World Music Show on Monday nights from 7 to 9pm for more information and an interview with Namita.

Get more information on line:
http://www.houstonculture.org/namita


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TRADITIONS OF MEXICO (new material)

With the Houston International Festival focusing on Mexico, John Schmal provides us with some valuable insight into this fascinating country.

The Current Featured Tradition - Cinco de Mayo: A Struggle for Freedom by John P. Schmal
http://www.houstonculture.org/cinco

Indigenous Languages: The Nahuatl-speaking indigenous peoples of Mexico by John P. Schmal
http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/aztec.html

Please visit the "Traditions of Mexico" web site:
http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico


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PILGRIMAGE TO CHIMAYO

During Semana Santa thousands of pilgrims journey to El Santuario de Chimayo, a tiny shrine in northern New Mexico. They leave from their homes, or their cars parked on the roadside, to walk 10, 20, 30, or even 100 miles to reach Chimayo. In the darkness before Good Friday, pilgrims line the highways north of Santa Fe carrying crosses and glow sticks. By Easter Sunday tens of thousands of worshipers pass through the doors of the little chapel, built almost 200 years ago on a site that is sacred to many Pueblo Indians and descendants of Spanish settlers.

I walked 22 miles with the pilgrims through an unforgiving land where the people have known many hardships. Their stories revealed that this old tradition of personal repentance is afflicted by many modern social tragedies.

Find the story of Chimayo on line:
http://www.houstonculture.org/chimayo


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THE VALUE OF CULTURAL LITERACY

We have a series of programs planned to explore these issues further [ See http://www.houstonculture.org/chimayo ]. Here is information about the next presentation and discussion:

The Value of Cultural Literacy in the Global Electronic Village

Through nationalizing of culture and the global implications, we will explore and discuss the role of diverse cultures in politics, economy, environment and media, with a discussion about racism, public attitudes and stereotypes.

Free
Thursday, May 8, 2003, 7:30pm
Olive Branch Room, Mary Knoll House
2360 Rice Blvd. (between Rice University and The Village, four doors west of Greenbriar)

For more information: email info@houstonculture.org, or phone 713-521-3686.


Thank you for supporting Houston Institute for Culture.

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M  a  r  k @houstonculture.org


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