This is something I would really like to write about. Festivals have an impact not just on psychological aspects, but also on sociological aspects.
Positivity in life: Festivals play an important role in making a person happy, cheerful, and also joyful. This can also help in overcoming negative emotions as well. The person starts sharing the joy with the family members and relatives.
Festivals also create a new ambiance in the houses. It also engages individuals in different creative and constructive works.
Breaking the prejudices: Festivals play a major role In breaking the prejudices between individuals or groups of individuals.
When we are functioning at our individual levels we will have our own experiences, observations about different individuals in our family circle, friend circle, or neighborhood. Based on those judgments we develop our own preconceived notions towards other people.
Those preconceived notions could be positive or negative in nature. If they are positive, then it is healthy both psychologically as well as socially. But if they are negative, they can lead to prejudices Festivals can be a great tool for breaking them.
The idea is very simple.
There is a concept called ‘contact hypothesis’. When a person gets in contact with another the two individuals start understanding each other well and that in turn helps in dismantling the attitudes or cognitive biases between them.
In psychological terms, we call it ‘superordinate goal’ wherein the individuals despite having different opinions or having reservations for each other will have to work together. During the preparations or rituals or celebrations of the festival, people will have to join together for the common goal (which is the festival itself) and that helps in breaking the biases towards each other.
That is how festivals play a significant role in mental health as well as social health.
