30 EXTRAÑAS tradiciones que solo se ven en la INDIA

Unusual Traditions in India

Festival Dhinga Gavar

• The Dhinga Gavar festival, celebrated in Jodhpur, translates to "fun through deception." It involves the worship of deities with offerings and participants dressing as gods, goddesses, tribal people, and police.

• Single men roam the streets during the festival; tradition states that if they are hit by those in costumes, it signifies they will marry soon.

Sacred Cows and Their Paradox

• Cows hold a sacred status in Indian culture, revered as maternal figures representing Mother Earth's generosity.

• Despite their veneration, millions of cows are abandoned due to high maintenance costs once they can no longer produce milk or serve as work animals.

Aghori Cannibalism Practices

• The Aghori cult believes Shiva is perfect and thus has no taboos. They consume human flesh from corpses found floating in rivers during certain rituals.

• Controversial practices include attending cremations and smearing ashes on their bodies as part of their beliefs.

Pulikali Dance Ritual

• Pulikali is a unique dance performed during Kerala's Onam festival. Artists paint themselves like tigers using vibrant colors and perform traditional rhythms with instruments like Udukku and Thakil.

• Dancers mimic feline movements while enacting scenes where tigers are hunted by humans.

Thimiti Fire Walking Ritual

• The Thimiti ritual involves walking over burning coals to demonstrate devotion to a deity during Puja celebrations linked to Mahabharata stories.

• Exclusively for men, participants may make wishes or fulfill penances while walking on hot coals.

Ayudha Puja: Worshipping Tools

• Ayudha Puja honors machinery and tools—especially weapons—by venerating goddesses Shakti (including Saraswati for wisdom), Lakshmi (wealth), and Parvati (divine mother).

• This custom highlights the significance of artisans' work while invoking divine forces for better tool usage.

Naga Panchami: Serpent Festival

• Celebrated on the fifth day of Shravan month, Naga Panchami involves worshipping live cobras by removing their fangs and feeding them milk and mice.

Pushkar Camel Fair

• In November, Pushkar hosts a camel fair featuring around 5,000 camels adorned for parades alongside beauty contests and races.

• Street performances by musicians, acrobats, dancers, magicians, and snake charmers entertain attendees throughout this five-day event.

Thaipusam: Body Piercing Festival

• Thaipusam honors Lord Murugan with devotees piercing their bodies using hooks or spears called vel; some even pull heavy vehicles attached to these hooks.

• Participants may pierce tongues or cheeks to achieve heightened concentration during trance-like states accompanied by music and chanting.

Animal Weddings for Rain Deity

• In addition to dog weddings, other animal marriages occur in India aimed at appeasing the rain god; frogs are wed in Assam/Maharashtra while donkeys are married in Karnataka.

Rituals and Traditions in India

Jain and Buddhist Hair Rituals

• Jain and Buddhist traditions view hair as a symbol of illusion, attachment, and vanity. In initiation rites, monks and nuns painfully remove all their hair to signify renunciation of worldly attachments.

• The wounds from this process are treated with cow dung to aid healing, further emphasizing the commitment to detachment from materialism.

Marriage Promises in India

• In Allahabad and Maharashtra, couples engage in a ritual called Veni Daan, pledging to remain together for seven lifetimes. This promise is reinforced through traditional wedding ceremonies.

• During the ceremony, the wife sits on her husband's lap while he cuts a braid of her hair as an offering to a river, symbolizing their bond.

Kambala: Buffalo Racing Festival

• Kambala is an annual festival featuring buffalo races held in rural districts of India between November and March. Riders compete by controlling their buffaloes through muddy rice fields.

• Despite controversies regarding animal cruelty laws established in 1960, amendments have allowed the festival to continue with added regulations.

Ambubachi Mela: Tantric Festival

• The Ambubachi Mela is a tantric festival at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati held every June. The temple closes for three days during which devotees believe Goddess Sati menstruates.

• On the fourth day, worshippers receive cloth soaked in what is believed to be Sati's menstrual blood as part of fertility prayers.

Chhau Dance: Cultural Heritage

• Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010, Chhau dance incorporates elements from epic texts like Mahabharata and Ramayana along with combat techniques and animal imitations.

• Performed at night with traditional instruments, this dance form is exclusively practiced by male artists within specific communities.

Gender Prediction Tradition

• In Khukra village, there exists a four-century-old tradition where pregnant women predict their baby's gender based on how a stone thrown at a mountain lands relative to drawn lunar markings.

Lathmar Holi: A Unique Celebration

• Lathmar Holi takes place in Barsana near Mathura where women playfully hit men with sticks while they defend themselves. This reenacts the playful rivalry between Radha and Krishna.

Jallikattu: Controversial Bull Ceremony

• Jallikattu involves specially bred bulls adorned with jewelry; participants attempt to seize these ornaments amidst protests against animal cruelty that led to its temporary ban in 2014.

Kila Raipur Sports Festival

• The Kila Raipur sports festival features unusual competitions such as horse racing and bullock cart races each February attracting large crowds from surrounding areas.

Theyyam Festival: Traditional Celebrations

• Theyyam celebrates ancient traditions over nearly a millennium old; theyyam performers are revered local leaders who bless attendees during this vibrant festival occurring annually from October to May.

Muharram Observance

• Muharram marks mourning for Shiite Muslims commemorating Husáin ibn Ali's martyrdom on Ashura. Devotees inflict self-harm using sharp objects during this solemn observance each September.

Cultural Practices and Traditions in India

Mass Mourning and Festivals

• The death of Husáin is commemorated as a symbol of resistance against tyranny and injustice during a mass mourning event.

• The Sekrenyi festival in Nagaland celebrates the harvest, attracting many travelers to participate in purification rituals, including songs, dances, and various performances.

Traditional Greetings

• "Namasté" has gained global popularity but originates from five traditional greetings in Hindu scriptures. It translates to "I bow to you," signifying mutual respect when used as a greeting.

Cultural Significance of Fasting

• Vrats (fasts) are integral to Indian culture, representing sincerity and commitment while expressing gratitude towards deities.

• Fasting can be observed on specific days for spiritual favors or penance.

Temples and Spiritual Energy

• Many temples in India are strategically located on magnetic earth waves to maximize energy. A copper plate is often buried beneath the main idol to enhance this energy.

• Visitors remove their shoes before entering sacred spaces to maintain cleanliness and preserve the sanctity of these areas.

Arranged Marriages

• The concept of arranged marriages dates back to Vedic times when royal families organized ceremonies for potential couples. This tradition continues today with pre-arranged agreements rooted deeply in Indian culture.

Religious Symbols and Interpretations

• Various symbols from sacred texts hold significant meanings; for instance, the swastika symbolizes Ganesha in India but is misinterpreted globally due to its association with Nazism.

Women's Traditional Attire

• Saris are traditional garments for women that consist of a single piece of fabric without seams, adhering to religious norms while being easy to wear.

Unique Martial Arts

• India boasts unique martial arts with ancient roots; some techniques serve medicinal purposes while others focus on self-defense or fitness.

Eating Customs

• Eating with hands is common in southern and eastern India, promoting hygiene as individuals ensure their hands are clean before meals. This practice encourages slower eating, aiding digestion.

Wedding Traditions

• In Bengali weddings, neither mother attends the ceremony due to beliefs about negative effects on the couple's future.

Socialization Restrictions Post-Wedding

• Among certain adivasi communities, brides must avoid socializing after marriage for one year, remaining secluded during this period.