Alien celebration

I work at a multinational company. It goes without saying that multi National companies instead of integrating cultures they tend to force the cultures. Multinational companies often try to give importance to specific cultures. American culture and American traditions being one of them.

Being an Indian I am open to accepting cultures, I would even respect them. If any particular culture is forced to me I will definitely not accept it. If I say so I am termed as narrow minded. I am told that I should be more open minded and except others cultures. Accepting others cultures is never a problem however it should not be forced upon. I have a problem where my culture (native to my motherland) is degraded to raise a foreign culture. 

I would specifically like to describe two different instances where the cultures were forced and I was expected to whole heartedly accept them.

First occurrence took place on Halloween. Though, I am aware Halloween is a Celtic tradition and it has a very different meaning in the European cultures. European cultures do not require people to be dressed up in weird outfits. However, I have seen American people dressed up in superheroes, super villains, or even infamous figures, I have my reservation. Generally Halloween falls around Diwali celebrations. Diwali being one of the biggest festivals of India I want to be a part of those festivities is rather than Halloween. Once on Halloween I was told by one of my colleagues to dress up in a scary attire like a ghost a vampire or a supervillain. I said not my festival and hence I would not follow it. I would rather dress up in Indian traditional attire. This is when I was lectured about how I should open up my mind and except other cultures. 

Second instance was on Thanksgiving. Again Thanksgiving is a very American festival. I am not even completely aware of its history, the reason for celebration, and what are the typical traditions to be followed on Halloween except cooking up a Turkey. On one of the Thanksgiving days I was informed to prepare the cards of "Thank you" for other colleagues. Not only it required tremendous creativity it also came with a burden of creation of cards for around 30 colleagues. I flat out denied participating in this activity. This time as well I said not my festival not my tradition and I am not participating. My reason was not to avoid the creative work but rather to avoid any festival to which I cannot relate to at any level. Additionally we thank or express our gratitude to everyone on a daily basis, as regularly as possible, and also through various festivals that we celebrate in our Indian culture. I do not require a specific American holiday to express how grateful I am to my colleagues, they are already aware of it. On this occasion as well I was told that I should be more accepting towards other cultures.

Here is where I have a problem. Where is this inclusivity when we want to celebrate Navratri by wearing in Indian traditional attire? Where is this inclusivity when we are denied permission to prepare Rangoli during Diwali? Why others cultures are glorified where as our cultures are treated as some second-hand embarrassments? Why am I not allowed to celebrate मातृदिन but I am expected to celebrate American Mothers Day? Why should Halloween get more importance than Diwali that is native to my motherland? 

If my culture is not getting celebrated in my own country then do not expect me to celebrate the culture that is alien to me.