Shivani Desai parks her new Mercedes-Benz, a recent birthday present, and then phones her mom letting her know she’s arrived safely.

“My mom will worry about me if I don’t call,” said Shivani who turned 16 this past May and, in addition to receiving a driver’s license, celebrated the milestone with an MTV-style super Sweet-16 birthday party.

Shivani, a Columbus High School student whose ambitions include attending Emory University and becoming a pediatrician, said the party was a great way to bring her family, relatives and friends together.

Honoring her Indian culture and traditions, Shivani chose a special outfit for the occasion. “It took me at least a month to find the perfect one, Shivani said. “I finally found a choli at Ladlee, a popular Indian store in Atlanta.”

The red, blue and teal ensemble weighed more than 10 pounds. “It was a very dressy affair, similar to an Indian wedding when the reception is on the last day,” Shivani said. “I wore jewelry and so many bangles.”

As with many coming of age rituals, the festivities included food, speeches, jubilant music and dancing. Shivani’s included a mix of hip-hop and Indian music as well as choreographed shows performed by friends and family. In addition to the new car, Shivani’s gifts included jewelry, lots of jewelry.

Shivani said she is very grateful for all the privileges her parents give her. “I don’t want to be rebellious, my parents have done so much for me,” Shivani said.

Dr. Pinar Gurkas, a developmental psychologist and professor at Columbus State University, said “coming of age” celebrations such as Shivani’s Sweet-16 party mark a significant rite of passage and appear to be increasing among all cultures worldwide.

“One of the interesting things is that small global villages were celebrating these rites of passages and rituals less frequently in efforts to assimilate into mainstream cultures,” Gurkas said. “But, now globalization is bringing these practices back.”

Research indicates the revival of these rituals as an explicit attempt by various societies to resist being absorbed by mainstream culture. “Becoming a member of a specific society, although different, those things are recognized as important milestones in their lifespans,” Gurkas said. “And, if you consider the point of the view of the child, the rituals are a way of making a statement of the family and the family’s resources, social support and networks. The rituals serve an important function.”

Mary Elizabeth Flournoy celebrated her debut into society at a ball hosted by the Cotillion Club of Columbus in 2006. The debutante ball is held each December at the Columbus Country Club. Then a sophmore at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta studying international relations, Mary Beth describes the deb experience as …

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