My culture is in my character and not in my clothes!

Come holidays & I begin to resemble a cave-dweller - disheveled, wearing old jeans & older T shirts, hair combed in a hurry (and this last only because my grandmother keeps comparing me to a pishaashi). 

One 'fine' day i was on my way to my dear library - my 2nd home these days - when i was accosted by a 'well-meaning' family acquaintance right in the middle of bustling Malleswaram. 

"Whaaaat happened to you?! Are you sick?!" he shrieked. 
"No Uncle! Why do you ask?" said I, trying to smile. 
"Look at you!! Walking on the streets wearing jeans & a T shirt!! No earrings also! And no bindi?!
Look girl. This is not done. How can you step out like this?? You look terrible without ear-studs. (well then i look terrible almost everyday, Uncle. -_- )  And does your mother know you go outside without wearing a bindi?! This is totally against our culture, child! Never do this again!" 

These last 2 sentences were delivered in such a high-pitched tone that everyone one the footpath stopped to stare at us - wondering what sin i had committed, perhaps. Mumbling some non-committal reply, I wished him a good day & scrambled away (almost right into the path of an oncoming 276 :P)

Later, however, back home in one piece, i began to think about what he'd said. 

Culture is NOT defined by the clothes one wears! And i have nothing against dressing ethnic - i love Indian wear, earrings & bindis too - just not all the time. 
Does that make me a bad person? 
Does that mean i'm 'against' our culture? 
Nope. 
I love & respect my culture. I also believe that one's culture is in one's character - not just in the way one dresses. One's culture is in respecting others - not just in one's appearance. One's culture is in working honestly & sincerely - not just in one's choice of clothes! One's culture is in knowing how to dress, when & where! 
Cheers.