Sadhana Pemadasa
A Hobby That Nourishes the Soul
We often think of hobbies as activities that help us relax. Reading, painting, playing music, dancing, making crafts, or going for walks. But there’s another kind of hobby that doesn’t just entertain you. It changes the way you see the world. It brings you closer to people, to history, and to the heart of what makes us human. I am talking about the joy of discovering different cultures through their food, festivals, and traditions.
This is not about being a tourist. It is about being a learner, a listener, and a participant or someone who genuinely wants to understand the stories and rituals that shape people’s lives. And what is the best part? You can begin this journey wherever you are.
Tasting the World, One Dish at a Time
Food is often the first doorway into another culture, and what a delicious doorway it is. Every country, every community, has its own flavors, methods, and reasons for why food is made the way it is. A bowl of pho in Vietnam, a thali in India, or a simple plate of hummus in Lebanon tells a story older than we realize.
You do not need a plane ticket to start. Trying out international recipes at home can be a surprisingly rich experience. When you make a traditional Japanese miso soup or a Moroccan tagine, you are not just cooking; you are learning about ingredients, geography, trade routes, climate, and even spirituality. It is a quiet kind of travel that begins in your own kitchen.
And if you are lucky enough to eat these foods made by someone from that culture, listen to them. Ask questions. Most people love to talk about their food. What dish reminds them of childhood? What recipe is only made during a festival? These stories are where culture truly comes alive.
The Festival Spirit: Color, Rhythm, and Meaning
There is something truly magical about festivals. They’re not just celebrations, but they are reflections of a community’s values, beliefs, and joys. Whether it is the vibrant chaos of Brazil’s Carnival, the peaceful glow of lanterns during Loy Krathong in Thailand, or the solemn beauty of Japan’s Obon, each festival offers a unique glimpse into a people’s soul.
You do not need to travel the globe to feel the festival spirit. Many cities host cultural events that are open to everyone. Just walking through a Diwali market or joining a Lunar New Year parade can be eye-opening. And if you can travel even locally. You can plan a visit around a major festival. You will learn more in one evening of dancing, music, food and shared laughter than you would from a hundred books.
More than anything, festivals teach us the importance of community. You will see grandparents teaching their grandchildren rituals, neighbors opening their homes, and strangers laughing like old friends. It is a reminder that, no matter where we come from, we all find joy in coming together.
Traditions: The Threads That Hold a Culture Together
If food and festivals are what we see on the surface, traditions are what run deep. These are the rituals, customs, and unspoken rules passed down quietly from one generation to the next. They show us how people understand life, family, respect, and even death.
Learning about another culture’s traditions can be deeply humbling. Take, for instance, the art of the Japanese tea ceremony, a simple act made sacred through years of meaning, or the way some African tribes use story telling circles not just to entertain, but to educate, preserve wisdom, and build identity.
When you respectfully engage with a tradition, whether that is trying traditional dress, learning a cultural dance, or observing a religious custom, you aren’t just learning about people. You are learning with them. That builds a bridge stronger than anything else.
Why This Hobby Matters More Than Ever
In a world often divided by misunderstanding, fear, or misinformation, embracing cultural experiences as a hobby is a quiet form of resistance. It is a way of saying, “I want to understand you.” It is how we remind ourselves and others that differences are not threats. They are treasures.
Beyond that, this hobby gives you:
- Perspective – You realize your way is not the only way.
- Connection – You meet people you never would have spoken to otherwise.
- Joy – Truly. The joy of learning something new is priceless.
- Wisdom – Cultures carry generations of insight. Listen closely.
How to Start (Even from Home)
You do not need a passport or a big budget to begin. Here are some easy, meaningful ways to dive in:
- Visit local cultural centers or events – many cities have monthly cultural showcases.
- Try cooking a dish from a different country each week – turn it into a personal challenge.
- Read books written by authors from other cultures – Not about them. By them.
- Watch documentaries or interviews – that explore traditions firsthand.
- Talk to your neighbors – you would be surprised what stories they hold.
- Learn a language – even basic phrases can open doors and hearts.
When you make cultural exploration your hobby, you are not just collecting experiences. You are building empathy, expanding your mind, and honoring the beauty of diversity. You are choosing connection in a time when division is loud. That is something worth celebrating.
So, the next time you’re deciding how to spend your free time, try something different. Cook a dish from a country you have never been to. Attend a festival that is not part of your tradition. Ask questions. Listen to stories. And in doing so, you’ll discover that the world isn’t as big or as different as it sometimes seems.
Because at the end of the day, across languages, borders, and beliefs, we are all human, and culture is the way we sing that truth out loud.
It’s the rhythm in our footsteps during a village dance,
the spice in a grandmother’s stew passed from hand to hand,
the flicker of candlelight on a sacred night,
and the lullabies whispered in languages we may never speak,
but somehow still understand.
Culture is the heartbeat beneath our differences —
a silent promise that no matter how far apart we seem,
we all long for joy, meaning, belonging, and memory.
To explore culture is to say:
“I see you, I honor your story, and I am learning to walk beside it.”
In the end, it’s not just about discovering others.
It’s about discovering ourselves —
in the music, the rituals, the flavors, and the quiet gestures
that remind us:
we are not strangers in this world,
just voices in a shared human song.
