A Reflection on a CSUMB Day of the Dead Workshop
A story by Haram Fatima
It’s against my religion.
They’ll wipe me out of my religion.
I don’t think being a muslim I can enroll in it.
What if they allow me to enroll, I will not be able to adjust.
With all my concerns, I talked to my professor about the thoughts mingling up in my mind. He assured me that neither my individuality was going to be crushed, nor would I be forced to do anything against my beliefs. And here I go for Dia de los Muertos - Day of Dead Workshop.
Day of the dead? How it was going to be a workshop, a celebration?
These altar are so colorful, I wish to make one like this, but what’s the purpose behind it?
We are sad on demise, we don’t celebrate it. Why do they?
These sugar skulls are a sign of danger for me and they are making it so beautiful, but why?
Really? Are they going to cook the food and waste it?
What are they thinking and talking about?
Every time I was in class, I was in another world. But then suddenly, within no time, without a slight notion of realisation I myself was part of it.
I realised, far from being a morbid event, Day of the Dead emphasizes remembrance of past lives and celebration of the continuity of life. The colorful altars, which are also an art form and personal expression of love towards one’s family members now passed, are not for worshiping, but instead for the purpose of remembrance and celebration of a life lived. Pretty similar to how we muslims remember our people at shrines, where we don’t bow before them, but we talk about them and celebrate their memorable life.
Even we have Khamis al-Asrar - Thursday after death in common with Christians. In a similar way, we believe that the rewards of our recitation of the holy book will be passed on to loved ones as a gift and this remembrance makes them happy wherever they are. Doing these things as Sadka-Jarea for their beloved one helps them for the next permanent life in terms of heaven.
I realised even we are not sad on death.
As Muslims we believe that a soul will depart away from this temporary world into the real one. We all are God’s creatures and He has the right to take them away when he wants.
Making my altar, painting it, working on its details for weeks, I never realized I was going to connect with it. Students were giving their presentations and even by that time I was confused, for whom it should be. And then I started thinking of my grandmother.
It was a time to reshape my altar, gather all my thoughts in one direction as it was now for someone I love the most. I was on the rollercoaster that was taking me back to when I was kid. All those beautiful memories were flashing back. I was really missing her those days, thinking about each and every detail of her. And then I was in the same boat with all of my fellow classmates. I got my chance to express my love for her while presenting my altar.
Making her favourite fruits to put in altar or talking about magazines she used to read, everything makes me closer to her after 10 years since her death. It was a proud moment for me to share her life stories with my American classmates and to get their positive response.
Instead of making a skull my professor encouraged me to work within my religious boundaries and suggested me to make a holy book. I like the way he respects my religion. This mutual respect is what can make us less intolerant and this earth a better place as our beloved one wanted it to be.
As my professor Hector mentions off and on, “A person goes through three deaths, first one he dies, second when he is buried and third when nobody remembers him”. So, let the world remember their beloved ones in the way they want to because it's more important not to forget them.