Indian Culture in America

There is a growing and thriving population of Asian Indians in America today. Historically most cultures who have immigrated to the United States have made attempts to assimilate to Western cultures and traditions. With Indians, even with the young people, their culture is celebrated in many ways. This is done in many ways such as retaining their cultural rituals, religious occasions, food and dance as part of their everyday life.

Cleansing is of paramount importance to Indians daily. It is understood that the Indian when in praying should practice a daily cleansing ritual. This is done to free one’s body and mind of bad deeds or thoughts that may be ailing them. With prayer purity is gained to an Indian. (Patel, 2011)

"Alcohol-based sprays, gels, and mousses dry, damage, and split the ends of hair we so desperately try to grow. Daily washing strips our scalps of natural oils and attempts to replace them with unnatural chemicals. These chemicals go down our drains and pollute the earth, the very water we would drink. The entire process is backwards and harmful to our health and the earth. (Rainer, 2011)

The indigenous people of southern India discovered that the pod-like fruit of the trees that grew so readily in their jungles had foaming properties. They started powdering the fruit and used it to clean their hair. When they discovered that the herbal powder revived their hair and helped it grow long and thick, they named it shikakai--literally meaning fruit for the hair.

The scalp is an intricate organ made out of hair follicles, sebaceous glands, pigments and thousands of sweat glands. Hair growth is a result of an optimal environment in the scalp and ample nourishment to its glands. Shikakai works well on both of these accounts. Astringent in nature and with a low pH, it creates a favorable pH-balanced environment in the scalp that fights dandruff and other infections. According to the Ayurvedic