As a fellow Hindu, I can strongly relate to “The Mark of My Culture” by Tanushree Bansal. Going to school after an attempt to (unsuccessfully) scrub off a tikka stain on my forehead was just one of my many concerns when Diwali came around. At the mere age of nine years old, I had developed the mentality of being embarrassed with my cultural ways in front of my classmates, much like the author of this piece.
     Although I have now learned how to properly scrub off a two day old tikka stain, Tanushree’s article still helps me to see the essentiality of accepting who I am. The article highlights the fact that we, humans, are constantly trying to conform to our surroundings, regardless of age. I can’t change my culture, the celebrations I partake in, or the music I listen to, especially if I find these things to be enjoyable. I want to thank Tanushree Bansal for writing this article, and making me realize that I shouldn't have to hide the fact that I am a proud, Hindu girl.