7 Things Every North Indian Should Know Before Visiting The South On India
niharika nayakBA (Media & Communication) Experience: 4 yearsNiharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing vide... more
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India is a truly diverse country that is filled with a rich cultural heritage and has everything from beaches to mountains and everything in between. In 2015, The Economist once called India “A continent masquerading as a country.” And in many ways, this holds very true. The country is an intermingling of languages, cultural identities, shared struggles and so much more. Many of us, however, are unaware of each other’s cultures and don’t quite understand how to go about approaching certain topics. If you are from the North of India and find yourself visiting the Southern part of our country or perhaps even settling there temporarily, here are a few things you should know (1):
1. Hindi Is Not The Most Popular Language
South Indians are extremely proud of their classical and culturally rich languages and don’t care much for speaking or learning Hindi as it is predominantly spoken in the North. Depending on which South Indian state or city you decide to visit or settle in, you will get different reactions to speaking in Hindi. Cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore and more open to the language but cities like Chennai and Trivandrum might not be as much. If you speak English well, you can get by in most South Indian cities but it is advisable to pick up the local language to make things easier for you.
2. South India Is Not Just “Madras”
South India doesn’t just comprise of “Madras” and Bangalore. The five South Indian states are Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It also includes the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. Every state in South India has its own unique language and they are very proud of their heritage. Although Telangana is the newest state to enter the mix, the state is still very much a part of South India.
3. They Don’t Enjoy Foul-Language
While every language has its own version of foul language, in the Southern part of the country, it is considered very low class and disrespectful to make use of it. While there is no harm in saying whatever you want in the comfort of your own home, if you swear loudly in public or raise your temper, it will create a huge scene. In fact, foul language is often banned in many offices in IT cities like Bangalore.
4. Most People Prefer Rice Over Roti
In many South Indian states, rice is the preferred food over roti. Rice delicacies like idli, dosa, appam, etc are much loved, and seafood too is very popular in South India. States like Karnataka and Kerala make amazing pork and beef curries as well. In fact, beef is a much-loved dish in the South; Coorg and Kerala are the places to visit if you’re a lover of red meat. The coastal side of Karnataka too has exquisite dishes like chicken ghee roast, bondas (squids), and more. Chennai too is known for its delicious Chicken Chettinad, Payyoli Chicken Fry, and more.
5. They’re A Little More Reserved
South Indians are a lot more reserved than those from other parts of the country. They usually stick within their own circles and manage to find each other when they are in other parts of the world. There are certain values and traditions you must respect when you visit the South. Many South Indians don’t take kindly to tourists wearing revealing “western” clothes like shorts and tank tops at their temples and many even have a sign with a dress code outside.
6. They Prefer Keeping A Low Profile
When the term “big fat Indian wedding” was coined, they certainly didn’t take South Indian wedding rituals into account! While South Indians too do have spectacular and grandiose weddings, the common theme is to have a smaller ceremony with your loved ones and extended families. South Indian children too are encouraged to focus on their academics rather than chasing down lavish things and showing off. However, if there is one place where South Indians spare no expenses at, it’s in wearing gold and exquisite silk sarees at weddings. Many South Indians love decking their daughters up in exquisitely-crafted jewelry when they’re getting married.
7. They Can Be A Little Difficult To Open Up To At First
While most city-dwelling South Indians are open to accepting people from other cultures, the same can’t be said for smaller towns and villages. Bangalore, for example, is an IT hub and thus Hindi is widely spoken by most people. The smaller city of Mangalore, in contrast, is smaller and contains a mainly Kannada-speaking population. Many people hence recommend learning the language of the location you’re settling in or even just a few basic phrases to get you around the town.
In the end, no matter which part of the country you go to, you will manage to find a helping hand somewhere. While moving to unfamiliar territory might feel scary, always remember that our common identity as Indians will forever unite us even if barriers do exist in speech and mannerisms. Do let us know if you enjoyed giving this article a read in the comment section below.
