LETTERS: FOLKLORE, myths and stories from different cultures have become an integral part of our identities in Malaysia.
Behind each tradition and celebration is a tale that teaches the very essence of human qualities.
Take the festival of lights, Deepavali, for example.
In one version, it is celebrated as the day when the demon Narakasura met his death at the hands of Lord Krishna.
In another, tied to the Ramayana epic, it commemorates the victory of King Rama of Ayodhya over Ravana. His subjects rejoiced and welcomed their king home by lighting diyas (clay lamps).
Whichever version one believes in, the core reason for the celebration remains the same: the triumph of good over evil.
Folklore, equally, touches on moral values and the importance of being a good human being.
Childhood tales of mysticism and magic, such as Puteri Gunung Ledang and Mahsuri, upon reflection in adulthood, highlight issues that are central to everyday life, such as power and desire.
The million-dollar question is this, how many people are actually aware of the story behind a tradition or celebration or even know any folklore?
There is hype during festive seasons or events that promote awareness such as annual folklore festivals.
But by and large, these stories and myths that make up part of our heritage are remembered sketchily and, therefore, are on the verge of being forgotten.
In an age when information is readily available, our children are growing up on Disney, DC and Marvel stories.
Although there is nothing wrong with this, the sad fact is, they are unaware of the tales that make up their own culture.
This is no fault of theirs as the responsibility of passing on and preserving this knowledge lies in the hands of adults. It should be a conscious effort made by parents, educators and policymakers.
It will be a loss if our coming generations, who originate from a diverse cultural background such as our country, are disconnected from a heritage that is rich in values and teaches human qualities.
Ultimately, can a value be put on a story, folklore or myth passed on for generations?
In a time of strife and chaos, when lives are lost in some parts of the world and in others, reduced to a mechanical existence, these stories, through a glimmer of magic and wonderment, offer hope and remind us that it is always a worthy cause to fight for good over evil.
They are the memories of our ancestors, their teachings and knowledge. In short, what it means to be a part of the human race.
It is something that no artificial intelligence can compute. Is it possible to put a price on this?
J. YASODHARA MENON
Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times