The topic of our review is India. The traditions and history of this country and its people are of great interest to many.
India has existed for more than five thousand years. Throughout this time, the cultural traditions of India have undergone various changes, but their identity has always been preserved. Few ethnic groups can boast such a strong connection with ancient roots. The scientific and technological revolution leveled the differences between most authentic nations. As for India, it seems that this country is freer in choosing the path than any civilized European power. Innovations do not enslave the people, but smoothly and harmoniously fit into the ancient traditions of India, many of which exist and operate at the present time, as well as many centuries ago.
Original culture is a consequence of the unique mentality of the Indian people
The richest and most advanced civilization of India has been developing all this time according to its own laws, not similar to those that changed the mentality of the population of Europe and Asia. To find out what traditions exist in India today, one must personally go there and settle for a few days in some distant, forgotten civilization, province. Only in this case is it likely to get the most complete picture on the issue of interest.
In India, for many centuries, various nationalities coexisted quite peacefully, originally inhabiting the territory of the Hindustan Peninsula. Representatives of all kinds of religions and castes honored each other's rules and customs. India has always maintained its uniqueness, although it has never been isolated from other countries, peoples and beliefs.
Trade routes have long passed through India. A fertile and rich land supplied the world with the best spices and gems, talented craftsmen and craftsmen made exquisite household items, dishes, fabrics, etc. All this spread throughout the world, and in every country found its admirers. After the British invasion of India, involving the discovery of a diamond deposit, and, as a result, almost two hundred years of colonization, India underwent, as they say, a very stringent test of strength, but survived thanks to the primordial philosophy expressed in the peacefulness, tolerance and tolerance of the Indian people . It is not surprising that the modern traditions of India harmoniously merged and merged with the customs of antiquity. This country is truly the cradle of spirituality for all of humanity. Philosophers call India the heart of the Earth - Hindustan and in fact resembles this vital organ in form. It is noteworthy that India is the only country from whose territory the British occupiers were expelled through peaceful and bloodless resistance. The organizer and inspirer of it was Mahatma Gandhi. Subsequently, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called this great man an enemy of the British Crown and, when Gandhi was put in jail on a formal occasion, said that Gandhi should not be released even if he dies of a hunger strike, which he announced in protest against the illegal arrest.
Vegetarianism
It is generally accepted that Indians, at least in their bulk, are vegetarians. This is true: approximately 80% of the inhabitants of this country eat only vegetarian dishes. The emergence of vegetarianism is usually attributed to the fifth or sixth centuries of our era. It was then that Buddhists and Hindus adopted the concept of harming living beings. Some religious groups do not even plow the land, so as not to harm the insects, but walk along the roads with panicles that brush insects away so as not to accidentally crush them.
20% of the Indian population are Muslims, Christians, and members of other faiths. They eat meat food. Most often these are birds - chickens and, more rarely, ostriches, turkeys, geese, ducks and quail. Christians also allow themselves pork. As for beef, eating these animals is punishable by a criminal court.
The ratio of Indians to cows
When visiting an Indian, do not tell him what delicious dishes of beef or veal are prepared at your place. In India, a cow is a sacred animal. The issues of the comfortable existence of cows are resolved at the highest level in government. Cow protection is a matter of national importance. Tourists are amazed at how these large and calm animals walk freely in the streets, often interfering with traffic. Local residents calmly put up with this.
The beginning of the cult of cows dates back to the second century AD. Scientists explain the emergence of this tradition is very prosaic. By the indicated time, the population density in India had reached a critical rate, and a real threat of hunger and extinction hung over the country. Arable land for growing crops and grazing was catastrophically small. The jungle was cut down. This entailed new problems — the drying up of fresh water bodies, the extinction of wild animals, the salinization of soils, and so on. Cows were declared sacred - the death penalty was due for the killing of an animal.
But dairy products in India are not banned. There are so many varieties and varieties of sour-milk foods in India that any country that does not profess the cult of cows can envy this.
Traditional food
In addition to dairy products, Indians consume white rice in large quantities. Which country, besides China, is the largest producer of this crop? Of course, India. The tradition of rice consumption has led to the fact that this has even become a problem - in India there is a very high percentage of patients with diabetes, arising from an unbalanced diet saturated with fast carbohydrates.
Indians never try a dish at the cooking stage. They believe that the deity should be the first to taste the food, and only after it is it permissible for everyone else to start the meal.
Indians are very fond of beans. They are grown in this country by several dozen species - this is mung bean, and chickpea, and all kinds of beans, lentils, peas and soybeans. The most popular bean dish is Dahl. This is a kind of soup or a thick stew. A dumpling is supposed to come. There are also many options for cakes, depending on the composition of the dough and the method of preparation.
Indians living near ponds include fish in their diets. However, they do not distinguish between species. The fish is divided into large and small. When you come to the restaurant and ask for a fish dish, the waiter will only ask about the size. Distinguish by habitat (sea or river), fat content or bony in this country is not accepted. It also shows the culture and traditions of India related to vegetarianism.
Right hand rule
Indians eat with their hands, more precisely, with their right hands. In this regard, some original and difficultly perceived by Europeans traditions of India have developed. Since the right hand is considered clean, and the left, respectively, unclean, they do the so-called dirty work with their left hand and eat with their right hand. The Indians clutch their hands in a handful and very adroitly, without spilling a drop, they pick up even a very thin soup.
In large cities, there are European and Chinese restaurants that offer the appropriate cutlery, but the food there still bears a touch of Indian. This is due to the aroma of spicy plants added to food. As you know, the best and most fragrant spices are produced in India. It seems to Europeans that Indians season their dishes so much that the taste of basic foods is lost. Spicy herbs not only add a specific shade, but also act as preservatives. In hot climates, food spoils very quickly. Indians do not cook food for the future and do not clean up after a meal in the refrigerator, as we do. They throw away everything uneaten.
The right-hand rule of the Indians is strictly observing at the present time. Going to India, the European should be aware of this, and try not to offend the locals by offering refreshments with his left hand, but with his right hand to take or give money. In general, Indians do not like being touched by hands. Hugs, pats on the shoulder and other physical contacts in public places they consider a manifestation of bad manners and rudeness.
Strange marriages
The culture and traditions of India, are such that in this country from time to time there are marriages of people with animals. This impresses the Europeans, but does not shock the Indians themselves. The Indians, strange in our view, perceive the union as a natural reflection of the concept of the transmigration of souls. The reincarnation, reincarnation or relocation of souls is the evolution of each individual soul. Before entering the final abode - the human body, the soul lives in hundreds or thousands of different non-human bodies, and the Bhagavad-gita speaks of 8,400,000 incarnations. Only being in the human body, the soul has the opportunity to complete such a long and difficult cycle of birth and death. It is noteworthy that in early Christianity there was also a doctrine of rebirth, but at the second Council of Nicaea it was expelled from the official doctrine.
European customs are difficult to take root in India. If a marriage between the ages of twenty and thirty seems to be the most natural for a woman, then Indians consider it appropriate to marry their daughters before puberty. An unmarried older woman is considered dirty. Bleeding, according to adherents of old beliefs, is an unnatural phenomenon. A woman must be constantly pregnant. If a girl was not married before the appearance of her first hairline, then in the old days her father was deprived of class privileges, and her son, born by her, was considered a defiler of sacrificial food brought to the souls of ancestors. Interestingly, before the British came to India, early marriages, when they married newborns and even unborn children, were a privilege of the higher castes. Gradually, representatives of the lower castes joined this tradition. Some archaic traditions and customs of India, for example, such early marriages, were condemned by the most respected politicians, in particular Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and others. Currently, the legal age for marriage is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. Nevertheless, in the villages, temple marriage is still considered more legal and is of an earlier age than state marriage.
Castes and Varna
Speaking of India, one cannot ignore this unusual system of social order. Most of the country's population, although not 100%, is divided into varns and castes. Every Hindu knows which class he belongs to, but asking about it is considered bad form. Mahatma Gandhi, the most respected politician who was respected by all of India, condemned the traditions of caste relations and fought against this relic of the past.
As for varna, there are four of them in India, and they are more ancient than castes. Each varna has its own symbolic color. Brahmins are the highest class. Their color is white. Iconically, the Brahmins were clergy, doctors, and scientists. At the next lower level are the ksatriyas. These are mainly representatives of the authorities, as well as warriors. Their symbol is red. Kshatriyas are followed by vaisyas - merchants and farmers. The color of this varna is yellow. The rest, those who are self-employed and do not have their own land allotment, are sudras. Their color is black. In the old days, everyone in India was always ordered by the traditions and customs of India to wear a belt of the color of his Varna. Now, in order to make a career and get rich, it is not necessary to be of a high class, there are frequent cases when a taxi driver or a waiter in a restaurant turns out to be a brahmin.
Castes appeared in the second century BC. There are more than three thousand of them in India. It is very difficult to say according to which system the division occurred - as we have already said, the traditions of India are constantly being transformed. At present, castes unite people of the same profession, one religious community and the general area of residence or birth. They are listed in the Constitution, there is also an article prohibiting caste-based discrimination. Prior to the adoption of this law, the Indians strictly followed the caste law regarding those with whom it is possible and with whom it is forbidden to marry, from whom it is possible and from whom it is forbidden to take water and food, raw and prepared. There are a lot of limitations. In addition, India has a large percentage of the population that does not have strong tribal roots. It is untouchable. Also a kind of caste. It includes immigrants from other countries, as well as local residents expelled from their castes for their misconduct. Untouchables include people who do dirty work. Dirty means killing living beings (hunting and fishing), tanning, as well as everything related to a funeral.
Currently, the traditions of medieval India, when representatives of different castes strictly adhered to the rules of estrangement from each other, have significantly softened. Marriages of young people of different castes are not uncommon. Among politicians there are untouchables, sudras, vaisyas and brahmins.
Holidays of the Indian people
Most clearly, the national traditions of India are manifested during the great holidays associated with the cult of the gods. As a rule, such celebrations are not limited to one day and are not tied to a specific date. Honoring is related to the lunar calendar and depends on the phase of the moon. During the holidays, it is considered a bad omen to look at the night luminary. To get to know India better, the first trip to this country is better timed to the Diwali or Holi festivals. Participation in such events most fully reveals to travelers the most interesting traditions of India. About Diwali and Holi is described in more detail below.
In addition to these holidays, in spring and autumn, Indians celebrate the incarnation of the supreme god in the images of female goddesses. They also celebrate Ganesha, a god with the head of an elephant, giving wisdom and abundance of the fruits of the earth for several days. These are far from all the religious celebrations of India. In different provinces and depending on religion, their holidays are added.
The traditions and religion of India are very clearly manifested in the way the inhabitants of the country revere their spiritual shrines. All holidays are celebrated very noisy and fun with fairs, music and dancing. In addition to religious, India celebrates several common public holidays - this is Republic Day, or Constitution Day, as well as Independence Day from the British Crown. October 2, all of India celebrates Gandhi's birthday. His Indians consider him the spiritual father of their country and honor him as the greatest person in the world.
Diwali
On October 27th, India begins a five-day New Year celebration - Diwali. Another name is the harvest festival, or festival of lights. These days, Indians celebrate the victory of Krishna and Satyabhama over the demon of chaos Naraksura, as well as several other significant events - the return of Rama (one of the incarnations of Vishnu) from the forest hermitage, the appearance of Lakshmi from the ocean of the ocean, who is asked for material prosperity and good fortune, and pacification of Krishna proud of Indra and the birth of the divine Buddha.
In addition, one day they celebrate the meeting of brother and sister Yama and Yami. In honor of this, the Indians give gifts to their brothers and sisters, most often in the form of thread bracelets. They symbolize friendship, care, trust and protection of each other from extraneous offenders. If a brother and sister were in a quarrel, then this is the most suitable day for making peace.
All of these events are marked by the lighting of symbolic lights, incense incense, fireworks, and firecrackers. For this, Diwali is called the festival of lights.
Holi
This festival is dedicated to Kholika, the evil demon goddess who opposes the supreme god of the Hindu pantheon, Vishnu. In the first full moon of the year, at the junction of February and March, the Indians drive Kholika away. In the afternoon, Indians have a fun procession with music and dancing. In the evening, they make a large straw effigy of the goddess, which is burned at the stake. People and animals are jumping over this bonfire. During the festival you can see yogis dancing on hot coals. It is believed that in this way, diseases and troubles are destroyed. The traditional drink of the holiday is tandai with bhang (Indian hemp), it is not recommended to get involved in it. At the beginning of the festival, it is customary to sprinkle each other with colorful powders and pour over colored water. Paints are made from grated plants - turmeric, indigofer, henna, madder, sandalwood and others. At the end of the festival of colors, as Holi is also called, participants in the fun sprinkle each other with ash and water mixed with earth.
National clothes
Hindus have long tried on European clothing. Most urban youths have jeans. And yet, national clothes do not leave the wardrobe of the inhabitants of the Hindustan Peninsula. This is not surprising. Cotton, silk, ramie and other fabrics, from which casual and holiday clothes are sewn, are what India can rightfully be proud of. Weaving traditions go back to ancient times. This is a primordially male profession, and beautiful patterns woven into saris and containing various symbols are the figment of the imagination of hereditary artists and textile masters. They make out fabrics for sarees with embroidery, screen patterns, weaving, sew in mirrors, stones, metal jewelry. Fabrics for sarees are distinguished by their great coloristic variety and brightness. The swarthy skin of Indian women looks great framed by bright fabrics. Pale pastel colors do not suit them. Depending on the region of residence, saris drape in different ways. Sarees are worn with small choli.
In addition to saris, Indian women wear various trousers - loose harem pants and narrow, straight pipes. They have in their wardrobe and long vests and jackets, as well as tunic dresses, which were borrowed from the men's wardrobe. In general, having been to India, many Europeans come to the conclusion that it is not always possible to determine the gender of an Indian dressed in national clothes - both women and men love to dress brightly, adorn themselves with metal bracelets and chains, draw bindi on their foreheads.
Namaste
If you are attracted to India, the history and traditions of this distinctive and amazing country, and you are planning to go there, then be sure to learn the generally accepted polite greeting, the namaste with which the Indians accompany their meetings with friends. This is a symbolic expression of the phrase “the divine in me greets the divine in you” - two hands should be folded with your palms and, with a slight bow, touch your forehead with your index fingers.