9 Things That Can Only Be Observed In Incredible India
Niharika 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... read full bio
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If there’s one thing Indians know about growing up in India, it’s that the country is highly blessed in terms of resources, diversity, culture, population, and much more. India, also known as the Republic of India, is the second-most populous country globally and has come a long way since it first received independence on 15th August 1947. Whether you want to traverse across the 29 states or you want to step outside and observe the world around you, India can be quite a surprising and unique place. After all, it’s a country where over 330 million gods are worshipped, and people speak over 25 different kinds of languages. So here are the nine things that make India an incredibly unique and wonderful country:
1. Married Women Wear Toe Rings
In Western countries, the only way to tell if a person is married is to check the ring finger on their left hand. In India, we can look at someone’s right hand to see the wedding ring and look at a woman’s foot to see if she is wearing a toe ring. Within the religion of Hinduism, some women like to wear toe rings as they believe that it is medically advantageous to wear one. Some Hindus believe that the pressure of the ring on the toe can help regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle and help her have a healthy uterus. Silver is used because they believe that silver can flush negativity out of your system.
2. Popular Fast Food Chains Have Vegetarian Options
Contrary to popular belief, India is not a country where only vegetarian food is served. It is, however, a country with one of the largest vegetarian populations in the world. As of today, a staggering 38% of the population identifies as vegetarian. So, of course, famous brands like McDonald’s and other fast-food chains had to make vegetarian alternatives for their popular non-vegetarian burgers. Hence, the McAloo and McVeggie burgers were born. The burgers are prepared with peas, Indian spices, and potatoes.
3. Monkeys And Humans Often Co-Exist
It’s pretty well-known that cows and humans roam freely in India, but did you know that monkeys too do the same? Even some of the most populated cities in the country have a large population of monkeys. You may often find them hanging around temples on the outskirts of residential areas or sometimes even hanging out in residential areas. Don’t be surprised if you spot a monkey at your metro station tomorrow!
4. India Has A Recognized Third Gender
For a country that’s quite homophobic, this is a pretty progressive move. Since the year 2014, it has become legal to identify yourself as neither female nor male in the country. Individuals from the Hijra community are often dressed in colorful makeup and sarees, and many Indians believe that they have the power to curse you or bring you good luck. You’ll often see them wandering around traffic signals in big cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi. In some cases, they even crash weddings and are said to bring good luck to the newlywed couple.
5. Babies Wear Eyeliner
Many parents in India follow the superstition of putting black eyeliner on their babies. They believe that kajal wards off the evil eye and keeps their baby safe. It is applied around the baby’s eyes and on dots on their cheeks. You will often spot parents in both villages and cities putting the black eyeliner on their babies.
6. India Has 22 Recognized Languages
India is a country that has plenty of languages. The country is so vast that there are bound to be different dialects and languages from other parts of the country. Some of these many languages include Kashmiri, Bangla, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, and many more. You’d be surprised to know that India also has the second largest population of English speakers. The USA has the current largest population of English speakers. Most Indians speak at least two languages, and English can be seen in all corners of the country. Sanskrit too originated from India, and it is said to be one of the oldest languages in the entire world.
7. Many Indians Prefer To Eat By Hand
In India, it is customary to eat food with your hands and using your fingers. This includes sauces, vegetables, meats, and rice. Many Indians will tell you that in order to enjoy an Indian curry authentically, you need to eat it with your hands, and we absolutely agree! So don’t be afraid to get rid of the knife, spoon, and fork when you’re in the country.
8. Bull Surfing
You might be wondering why people want to race with bulls, but folks from the Anandapally region in Kerala would argue that it is quite a lot of fun. This festival is celebrated during the post-harvest season and is much loved by folks belonging to that region. A pair of yoked bulls are basically used to plow a field of rice on the side of a football. This is done in ankle-deep water while their handlers surf on a wooden plank. The handlers can only hang on to the tails of the bull or harness.
9. Snakes Are Worshipped In India
India is a country that has a wide variety of festivals and religious occasions. One of them is called Naag Panchami. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Shravana (which is a lunar month). During this festival, live snakes are worshipped, and their devotees often feed them rats and milk.
And there you have it. Some of the most wild and unique things in India. Whether you are an Indian or an outsider we bet you have plenty of the country to discover for yourself. Do tell us which of these things were the most unique for you!
