Summer, sweet days, and cool treats are on the horizon as May takes off this season. Not only is May full of beautiful events in Korea, but it also serves as a reminder to love and accept each other freely, without the constraints of boundaries. May 20th is a national commemorative day in Korea, known as the “Together Day”. It celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity to welcome and embrace people from all walks of life, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, race, or other differences. As a South Asian, I find myself relating a lot to the values and virtues that Korea upholds when it comes to community and welcoming people warmly. Together Day marks the day Korea builds bridges and fills gaps between itself and the international residents of Korea. Curiously, I asked my Korean friends about how they celebrate this special day in their country, and their answers left me with a feeling of peace and warmth. For starters, the government bodies hold official ceremonies to mark the special day. Adding to that, various cities in Korea organise cultural fests that are rich in food, music, dance, art, and love from different countries. Many schools and organisations also hold essay-writing competitions and other fun activities to promote bonding between the natives and the international population.
Most certainly, I learned that Koreans feel that strength stems from the roots of unity. True peace and harmony can only blossom if we express our intention to bond beyond borders with open arms. This got me thinking deeply about my country and how similar our traditions honour the ones coming from foreign lands. It made me reminisce about advertisements that I used to see on television all the time. When I was little, I remember watching promotions of Incredible India, which was an international tourism campaign launched to promote India on a global level to welcome tourists. The ad used to feature the most remarkable sites of India and how foreigners are welcome to our land through celebratory music and aarti (a Hindu traditional way to bless the guests with an oil lamp and flowers). Like Together Day celebrates unity and harmony, Incredible India featured the famous tagline “Atithi Devo Bhava”, which translates to “Guest is God”, encouraging citizens to treat tourists like God. To me, it’s beautiful how both nations embody the values of love, peace, and prosperity through the spirit of togetherness. Such gestures from Korea and India are crucial in promoting not only world peace but also cultural exchanges, the richness of diversity, and making every corner of the world feel like home.
For tourists and foreign residents who have settled here, the diverse attractions of Korea and India offer a constant source of delight. Just as foreign residents contribute their skills and cultures, they are drawn to cultural treasures like Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul and the Taj Mahal in Agra, where they experience and deeply appreciate the rich heritage of Korea and India. Government initiatives like Together Day in Korea and Incredible India in India play a vital role in making the rest of the world feel a sense of community and warmth, and many also admire the close-knit families and moral values that are embedded in the spirit of both countries.
As we move on to the next season, I am inspired to follow the legacy these countries have passed on to us. No matter what part of the world we belong to, countries like Korea and India remind us to bring love and compassion to everyone we come across. Let’s rejoice in the spirit of togetherness this year and in the future!
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