India

India is located in the south of Asia, bordered by China, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka to the south, Pakistan and the Arabian Sea to the west, and Bengal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar to the east. India is divided into 28 states, in addition to seven federal regions, and New Delhi is the official capital of India, and the most famous and largest cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Madras, and Hyderabad.

India, with an area of 3,165,596 square kilometers, is the seventh-largest country in the world, and is the second-most populous country after the People’s Republic of China, with a population of 1.263 billion 344 thousand and 631 people according to statistics in 2014. Hindi and English are the official languages in the country, plus 41 other languages. There are a large number of religions in addition to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Sikhs.

Exotic customs and traditions in India

Social habits are defined as a set of acquired methods, actions or behaviors, which are handed down by generations over time, and are usually associated with a particular place and time. As for the traditions, it can be said that they express everything related to the past, and the days pass by to become old, which is inherited from the first and moved from the past to the present and inherited from generation to generation. These customs can be strange and unusual, such as the country of India, which includes a collection of strange customs recorded in the eyes of the cameras and recorded by the pens of journalists surprised in front of them. Here are some of the most unusual customs and traditions in India:

the food

There are exotic foods, and different habits used by Indians in cooking, including that they add pepper, pepper, and many spices on most types of food and drink, even on sweets, such as cake.

marriage

Each country has its own tradition of marriage, and ways to celebrate it. Among the strange customs of the Indian people in marriage:

The expenses of marriage such as dowry, preparing the house, and the wedding are obligatory for the father of the bride, and the groom does not pay anything.
The law prohibits the marriage of a young man from the poor classes with a girl from the upper classes, but if the young man from the upper classes is allowed to marry whoever he wants, and may not break these customs no matter what happens.
The groom comes to the wedding with a horse decorated during the wedding.

Beliefs and Rituals

There are many religions and beliefs believed by the Indians, and therefore note that they have some customs and rituals that may be strange to the rest of the world, including:

The body of a human being is burned after his death, by putting it in the woods and setting fire to it, as it is a tribute to the dead.
The widow is placed alive with her husband’s body and burned together to prove her loyalty.
Many Indians sacrifice their head hair in the temples and export this hair to the countries of the world, where India is classified as one of the most exporters of human hair.
Entry to some temples may require crawling on the ground in a circular rather than a walk, as it is widely believed that crawling in the temple will avoid skin diseases.
The cow is the symbol of fertility in India, a sacred animal that is not slaughtered and even walks in the streets without being intercepted.

Strange festivals in India

There are many festivals where Indians gather to celebrate an occasion, or an important event every year. Some of these festivals offer entertainment to attendees, and some may harm them. Strange rituals may be performed at the ceremony, symbolizing something sacred or offering sacrifices and offerings to draw closer to the gods. Exotic Indian festivals include:

Tohoku Festival

It is an annual festival of the people of South India, tying their bodies to sharp wires, and lifting them up. These festivals have been banned by the Indian government and human rights organizations for causing harm and sometimes death to revelers, but they are still unable to eliminate it altogether.

Raging Bulls Festival

Residents of southern India celebrate the harvest by escaping raging bulls among the masses of people, a tradition that has killed many participants and has been legally banned, but is still widespread.

Buddhist hymns

It is a traditional celebration held every day in the monasteries and villages of the Indian city of Lakh, where priests chant the Buddha’s teachings and philosophy in groups. It is worth mentioning that this tradition was added in 2012 to the UNESCO list of cultural heritage.

Fire Walk Festival

Every year, the Fire Walking Festival, which runs from October to November, takes place in which males perform rituals of their profound faith by walking on incendiary charcoal with a bowl of milk or water on their heads…

Snake worship festival

Some Indians approach snakes during a festival every year, offering milk, sweets, and flowers for security and happiness. These snakes may be made of wood, stone or silver, and maybe real.

Holly Festival

It is one of the festivals held to receive the spring and one of the most vocal festivals in color in India. Crowds throw dye powder, spray water, and dance in the streets. This festival is a Hindu tradition.

Kerala Festival

This festival is held every year in the harvest season, where the drumming is performed and tiger dance, which is a movement performed by men, after drawing on the stomachs of the tiger face, is said to be a tradition dating back nearly 200 years.

Exotic information about India

India is a land of wonders, not limited to Indian customs and traditions, there are some strange facts associated with the state.