Benefits of New Age

(1) It's a common refrain: Youngsters today are becoming westernised Paren lament that if they ask their kids to accompany them to the temple, they pull a long face. But all these may just be nothing other than popular perceptions. A survey conducted by hindustantimes.com shows that 68 per cenit of youth today believe in a higher power, 43 per cent visit the temple every day and around 60 per cent that admit that going to the temple gives them mental satisfaction. They want to show their devotion to God.

(2)The survey also shows that rather than making them superstitious ,a faith in a higher being, visiting temples, and wearing religous symbols, such as a Kada of sacred thread gives them a sense of strength.

(3) Clinical psychologist. Seema Sharma says, "In this stress-ridden ie onwerfed need to fall back on something for which we have to be sure that it is more powena than us. Developing faith on any one relevant thing in our life is mandatory Psychological anarchy is prevented if we have something on which we can put our trust to."

(2) The survey also shows that rather than making them superstitious, a faith in a trust to."

(4) It was a decade or so back that a trendy youngster would consider it middle-class to admit that they kept fasts and visited the temple. It was in vogue to sneer at the temple-going variety, though the snob brigade might be doing it themselves.

(5) But not now. Things have changed. "Children have become more logical. They believe in God but only as far as they find any logic in this because they have started analysing the situation. They are open to any kind of discussion, so they don't shy away to be ritualistic as few years back they were", says Madhu Kansal. the Principal of Delhi International School.

(6) They wear their kadas, and cross with confidence and don't hide it inside their tees, though around 45 per cent will not wear religious prints because they feel it is demeaning to their religion and 36 per cent will not use religious tones as ringtones for their mobile phones. Their logic: "Why display?"

(7) Conservative it may sound but a huge difference in the attitude of today's youth towards God is visible. Calling God nicknames would be unthinkable for the older generation who hold the entity in awe and lear. Not so with the youth today They seem to blend their orthodox beliets with a fun quotient perfectly, in their relationship with God. For them: God is "cool",

(8) Senior BJP leader, Sushma Swaraj says, Youngters are not hypocrites. They don't believe in displaying but believe in truth. They are ready to face anything and have a friendly relationship with God. They have given nicknames to their fivourite Gods, such as Roly Poly for Lord Ganesh and Hanu for Hanuman. Gods are tyeir buddies."

(9) What also emerges from the survey is that many visit temples and observe rituals because their family insists. Says Pinky Nigam, a student of Hindu college. "Family plays a crucial role and perhaps is one of the most significant determinants of a child's religious discourse."

(10) Aishwarya Sakhuja agrces, "Yes, you will see me with a dupatta on my head in a puja but that's all about it. I do it to keep my family happy

(11) Sociologist DL Seth, a member of Centre for the Study of Developing Societies says, "Life is becoming uncertain. People want some mental peace, there is a higher sense of insecurity, and being ritualistic is ot really attached to being superstitious It is not necessary that a ritualistic person may be superstitious and a superstitious person may be ritualistic

(12) That scems to be the blend then, spiritual but realistic. Kuchipudi dancer, Raja Reddy, talking of his own children, says. "My children want to know evervthing about our religious rites: they know Kuchipudi but choreograph western suomsoduoo

(13) Life todav is fast, fursous, and fickle, but Gen-X seems to have found the formula to tight back Blend vour religious faith with practical sense, draw Strength and solace from it but don't foster blind faith. Practise rituals, if it makes vour family happy. You can do this much for them even if you do not belicve in it.

(14) Dhruv Kumar, 18 , sums it up. "There is God, but he jusI can't give everything to 10 million people!"