With 1,366 million inhabitants, India is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Bombay is the most populous city, with 14.475 million inhabitants. There are some customs in India that are of special interest to know.
Castes
The caste system of India is one of the oldest forms of social stratification in existence . Its origin dates back to 1000 BC, and continues to this day.
The Púrusha (‘male’) is the supreme being and the first being, and from him come the four great castes:
- Brahmins (priests and teachers).
- Shanty towns (politicians and soldiers).
- Vaishias (merchants and artisans).
- Shudras (slaves, serfs, workers and peasants).
Dalits (pariahs, mlechas) are the untouchables. They are the lowest class there is, to the point that they are outside of the varnas. They just survive in jobs they are allowed to do, such as picking up excrement or cleaning toilets.
Cow
The cow is sacred to the Hindus, so you have to give them a very special treatment . It is revered as a symbol of life, and the consumption of meat from this animal is strictly prohibited.
Red dot on forehead
One of the best known customs in India is that of the red dot on the forehead. It is called “bindi” and is placed between the eyes , at the level of the eyebrows. Related to traditional Indian medicine, it is believed to strengthen the body and restore balance.
Yes or no
The head movements of the Indians leave all travelers who do not know the country completely disoriented. When they shake their heads from side to side they don’t mean no , they mean yes. The real complication comes when they make a head movement similar to the shape of the infinity symbol. Depending on the context, they can say yes or no.
Red tobacco
To all this we must add Paan , a red chewing tobacco that men consume at all hours. This is the reason why there are so many with reddish stains on their teeth. In addition, they have a habit of spitting, so it is rare to find areas without red spots everywhere.
Sadhu
And finally, the sadhu, a holy man who lives off people’s alms and meditates. Consume large amounts of hallucinogenic substances to enter a trance. He has a number of religious duties, such as constant meditation and pilgrimage.
