Russian people became interested in India during the heyday of Indian cinema. Many imagined it as a fabulous country where everyone dances and sings, where passions rage, and love reigns.
Now Indian films are not so popular, but fans of this country are not getting smaller. They go there for adventures, for peace and enlightenment, for entertainment.
People interested in the spiritual world go to India in droves to "find themselves." Many there like it so much that they do not want to leave and stay forever.
But just before you go on a trip, you should study a little the customs and traditions of the country so as not to get into an awkward situation. Some traditions may shock an unprepared person. You can verify this by reading our article.
Below is a ranking of the 10 strangest Indian rituals.
10. Wedding customs
Do not believe the beautiful Indian tales of love that are shown on TV. In India, marriages are concluded solely by the will of the parents. No one cares what the bride and groom feel.
Going against parental opinion is not accepted here. Usually the parents of the groom look for his bride. Then a horoscope is compiled. If the bride and groom are compatible, appoint a wedding date. If not, you will have to look for another candidate.
All expenses for the organization of the celebration are borne by the parents of the bride. Weddings in India are very beautiful: bright outfits, a huge number of flowers.
Of great importance in India is the purity of the bride. No one will marry a girl deprived of chastity. Otherwise, both she and her husband will become outcasts in society.
9. Tongue piercing
Untrained tourist, this sight can lead to a swoon. This usually happens at a religious festival in February.
It is believed that in these days, the goddess Pavrati gave a spear to her son Murugan. With his help, he defeated evil spirits.
Before, believers pierced their tongues. This symbolized the silence that must be observed during meditation.
Now the Indians have gone a little further, except for the tongue, they pierce themselves other parts of the body. In a trance state, many inflict severe injuries and dangerous wounds.
For piercing, local residents use everything that comes to hand: small spears, spikes, hooks. No one is afraid of blood poisoning, inflammation, everyone is busy showing their commitment to the god Murugan.
8. Worship of Yoni and Lingam
In India, a real cult of Yoni and Lingam. Tourists can see ritual sculptures. There is still no exact data on what this sculpture means, and why local residents worship it.
The most common point of view is male and female, a new life, fertility. But if you carefully look at the figures, it becomes clear that they are not at all similar to the genitals.
There is another version, according to which, lingam means a sacrificial pillar. Legend has it that the gods lost their peace. The goddess Devi helped them, she said that they should honor the sacrificial pillar, just like the god Shiva. He had mercy on the gods and calmed down.
7. Self-hanging on hooks
An even more terrible ritual could be seen at the Tukam festival. Now it has been banned. So the government of India decided after the demands of human rights organizations.
The ritual was as follows: men were pierced with their backs using hooks, and then they were lifted up in front of the admiring crowd.
Sometimes the “suspended" Indians at such a moment had to pick up a child. A cruel and dangerous custom is no longer carried out in our time.
6. Throwing children from a height
This ritual is also not for impressionable persons. It is held annually in the Indian state of Karnataka, in the city of Solapur.
The crowd gathers at the highest temple, its height leaves 15 meters. Young children are thrown from the roof of the temple. From below, they are caught by adults, stretching a large piece of fabric.
According to custom, a child who has gone through this will become strong and healthy. The age of children ranges from 9 to 11 months.
Tourists who witness this ritual experience very strong emotions: horror, fear, indignation.
5. Felting in food
Another strange custom, at least it does not pose a threat to people's lives. In the temples of Karnataka, believers should lie on the floor, where the remnants of food from the table of brahmanas are scattered. This is the highest Indian caste of priests. Everyone is taking part in this madness.
Believers believe that this ritual can cure skin diseases. They tried to ban custom, but nothing came of it. Believers Indians began to express indignation, they were unhappy that the government imposed restrictions.
Then the government of India decided that over time, people themselves will abandon this custom. They hope that learning will change people's views.
4. Burning coal
After the Timiti festival, there are usually many victims of fire. The fact is that believers want to show their piety by walking on burning coals. The ritual is performed in honor of the Indian goddess Draupadi Amman.
The priest puts a pot of holy water on his head and walks around the pit with embers in a circle. Other devout men follow him. You need to go at a slow pace, without rushing.
Guaranteed burns to the feet, and sometimes other injuries, much worse. Sometimes the poor can’t stand the pain and fall on the coals with their whole body.
3. Self-flagellation
You already understood that the most terrible things happen at religious holidays. The first month of the Islamic calendar marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala. In this battle, Imam Hussein ibn Ali and his 72 soldiers died.
Hindus gather in the square and beat themselves with chains, whips, sometimes sharp knives, hooks are tied to them. They believe that in this way they can express grief over this sad event.
By the way, a similar custom is held not only in India, but also in other states: Pakistan, Bangladesh.
2. The healing power of cow urine
Each person at least once heard of a sacred cow. In India, these animals are greatly respected and respected. Cows can walk wherever they want, even motorists are forced to go around them if the animal decided to walk along the roadway.
Milk in India is considered a divine drink. But this is not the only thing that gives the cow. This is not about meat, its Indians do not eat, but about urine.
People strongly believe that cow urine has healing powers. They make medicines on the basis of cow urine and produce soft drinks “for health”. Therefore, if you are going to India, be more attentive to the products that you consume.
1. Bullfight
In India, they like to arrange bullfights. Unlike the Spaniards, the Indians go against the animal with their bare hands, they have no weapons or ropes.
Fights are usually arranged on Thanksgiving - Pongal. The bulls are deliberately angry. When the animal becomes furious, daredevils are released. These are men who decided to become famous and earn some money. But most of them met their death in battle.
Over the past twenty years, about a hundred men have died. Most likely, future bullfights will be canceled. Too much risk.
By the way, the bulls remain safe and sound. They may not worry about their fate, because bulls in India are sacred animals.