It so happened that we arrived in the small, relatively secluded town of Revalsar in the Himalayas quite late, so late that the small, sleepy and lazy provincial hotels had a hard time bothering with our check-in. The hotel owners shrugged their shoulders, shook their heads and, waving their hands somewhere in the direction of the night, slammed the doors in our faces. But we were willingly, although not free of charge, accepted to live in a guest house on the territory of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on the shore of the lake.

As is often the case in Tibetan places, our meeting and accommodation were handled by a Hindu, since it is not appropriate for Tibetan monks to deal with monetary and worldly matters. In addition, the monastery had been immersed in the darkness of night for several hours, and the monks needed to get enough sleep so that tomorrow early in the morning they would have to go to meditation with a cheerful and pious face. The Indian who gave us the keys to the hotel room told us about this and other sorrows of the world, and in order to somehow console himself, he insistently recommended that we attend this event at seven in the morning.

The main topics are below: buses and trains, air tickets and visas, health and hygiene, safety, choosing a route, hotels, food, required budget. The relevance of this text is spring 2017.

Hotels

“Where will I live there?” - for some reason this question is very, simply terribly annoying for those who have not yet traveled to India. There is no such problem. There are a dime a dozen hotels there. The main thing is to choose. Next we're talking about about inexpensive, budget hotels.

In my experience, there are three main ways to find a hotel.

Spiral

Typically you will arrive at new city by bus or train. So there is almost always a great mass of hotels around them. Therefore, it is enough to move a little away from the place of arrival and start walking in a circle with an increasingly larger radius in order to come across many hotels. Inscriptions "Hotel" throughout large parts of India, it indicates a place where you can eat, so the main landmarks are signs "Guest house" And "Lounge".

In areas of mass idleness (Goa, resorts of Kerala, the Himalayas) private sector, well, like here on the Black Sea coast. There you can inquire about housing from the local population and follow the signs " Rent"In Buddhist places you can live in monasteries, in Hindu places in ashrams.

The further you move from the bus or railway station, the lower the prices, but hotels are becoming less and less common. So you look at several hotels that are acceptable in price and quality and return to the chosen one.

If you are traveling in a group, then you can send one or two people lightly to find a hotel while the rest wait at the station with their things.

If the hotel refuses and says that the hotel is only for Indians, then insisting on check-in is practically useless.

Ask a taxi driver

For those who have a lot of luggage or are simply too lazy to look. Or you want to settle near a landmark, for example, the Taj Mahal, and not near the train station. Back in major cities there are places where tourists traditionally gather: in Delhi it’s Main Bazaar, in Calcutta it’s Sader Street, in Bombay it’s also called something, but I forgot, that is, you have to go there anyway.

In this case, find an auto-rickshaw or taxi driver and set the task of where you want to live, in what conditions and for what approximately money. In this case, they can sometimes take you to the desired hotel for free, and even show you several places to choose from. It is clear that the price immediately increases; there is no point in haggling, since the taxi driver’s commission is already included in the price. But sometimes, when you are lazy or in the middle of the night, using this method can be very convenient.

Book online

This is for those who like certainty and guarantees, more comfort and less adventure.

Well, if you book in advance, then book hotels of higher quality and not too cheap (at least $30-40 per room), because otherwise there is no guarantee that in reality everything will be as wonderful as in the photographs. They also complained to me that sometimes they arrived at a booked hotel, and the rooms, despite the reservation, were already occupied. The hotel owners were not embarrassed, they said that a client came with money, and the client with cash did not have the willpower to refuse. The money was returned, of course, but it’s still a shame.

Finding, checking into and staying in budget Indian hotels can be an adventure in itself, a source of fun and sometimes not so fun memories. But there will be something to tell you at home later.

Settlement technology

• Free yourself from the presence of “Hindu assistants” and barkers, their presence automatically increases the cost of accommodation.
• Go to a hotel that seems worthy of you and ask how much it costs and decide whether it’s worth living there, at the same time you have time to evaluate the interior and helpfulness.
• Be sure to ask to see the room before checking in, show your dissatisfaction and indignation with all your appearance, ask to see another room, most likely it will be better. You can do this several times, achieving everything better conditions placement.

Those who are interested in the energy of Osho and Buddha, meditation and India, we invite you all on a journey to the places where the greatest mystic of the 20th century Osho was born, lived the first years of his life and gained enlightenment! In one trip we will combine the exoticism of India, meditation, and absorb the energy of Osho’s places!
The tour plan also includes visits to Varanasi, Bodhgaya and possibly Khajuraho (subject to availability of tickets)

Key travel destinations

Kuchvada

A small village in central India, where Osho was born and lived for the first seven years, surrounded and cared for by his loving grandparents. There is still a house in Kuchwad that remains exactly as it was during Osho’s lifetime. Also next to the house there is a pond, on the banks of which Osho loved to sit for hours and watch the endless movement of the reeds in the wind, fun games and the flights of herons over the surface of the water. You will be able to visit Osho's house, spend time on the banks of the pond, stroll through the village, and absorb that serene spirit of rural India, which undoubtedly had an initial influence on the formation of Osho.

In Kuchvad there is a fairly large and comfortable ashram under the patronage of sannyasins from Japan, where we will live and meditate.

A short video of the “emotional impression” of visiting Kuchvada and Osho’s house.

Gadarwara

At the age of 7, Osho and his grandmother moved to his parents in the small town of Gadarwara, where he passed his school years. By the way, the school class where Osho studied still exists, and there is even a desk where Osho sat. You can go into this class and sit at the desk where our beloved master spent so much time in his childhood. Unfortunately, getting into this class is a matter of chance and luck, depending on which teacher teaches in the class. But in any case, you can walk along the streets of Gadarvara, visit the primary and high school, the house where Osho lived, Osho’s favorite river...

And most importantly, on the outskirts of the city there is a quiet, small and cozy ashram, where there is a place where, at the age of 14, Osho experienced deep experience death.

Video from Osho Ashram in Gadarwara

Jabalpur

A large city with more than a million inhabitants. In Jabalpur, Osho studied at the university, then worked there as a teacher and became a professor, but the main thing is that at the age of 21 he gained enlightenment, which happened to him in one of the parks of Jabalpur, and the tree under which this happened still grows old place.

In Jabalpur we will live in a quiet and cozy ashram with a magnificent park.

From the ashram it is easy to get to the Marble Rocks - a natural wonder where Osho loved to spend time during his stay in Jabalpur.

Varanasi

Varanasi is famous for its cremation pyres, which burn day and night. But it also has a surprisingly pleasant promenade, the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and boat rides on the Ganges. Near Varanasi there is a small village called Sarnath, famous for the fact that Buddha gave his first sermon there, and the first listeners were ordinary deer.

bodhgaya

Buddha's Enlightenment Place. In the main temple of the city, which is surrounded by a beautiful and vast park, a tree still grows in the shade of which Buddha gained enlightenment.

In addition, in Bodh Gaya there are many different Buddhist temples erected by followers of Buddha from many countries: China, Japan, Tibet, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma... Each temple has its own unique architecture, decoration, and ceremonies.

Khajuraho

Khajuraho itself is not directly connected with Osho, except that Osho often mentioned the tantric temples of Khajuraho, and his grandmother was directly related to Khajuraho.

I remember the words of a Russian expat who has lived in Arambol for about 10 years: “A woman in India is one step lower than a dog”...
I didn’t believe the tipsy guy then, but what could he know! Oh, how beautiful Indian women are, what bright saris they wear, how the jewelry on their thin ankles and wrists rings, it’s a delight to look at! But the words stuck. I began to watch, listen, read, learn. I wanted to find out why our Indian friend and relative always addresses only Maxim, but never me; why did the owner of the property we rented resolve financial issues only with Maxim but never with me; Why are our Indian friends not at all ashamed of living on the money of their relatives and not working.

Beautiful Indian woman! Her saris, jewelry and cosmetics are beautiful! But she is not dressed like that just to be looked at. The more ringing and shine, the faster they will run away evil spirits, the healthier and richer the Indian woman’s family will be. Everything is aimed at the benefit of the family and husband. This is the meaning of an Indian woman's life. She is born to marry, bear children and serve her husband. I'm talking about families professing Hinduism. India has Islam, Catholicism, and Buddhism, but the main religion is Hinduism.

Hindus believe that everything that happens in an Indian family is the woman’s responsibility. If children are born of the wrong gender or are not born at all, it is the woman’s fault. The husband is poor - the woman is to blame, she prays poorly. Is your husband sick? The woman is at fault, she doesn't look after her well. Even if a husband mocks and humiliates his wife all his life, after his death it will not become easier for her. Husband died? The woman is to blame. It was the Gods who punished her for her sins. It is not for nothing that in many states of India, just a few decades ago, widows threw themselves into the funeral pyre. Why live if there is no husband? A woman by herself is nothing, she has no value, no one needs her. Now there are no such terrible fires; widows go to special houses. There they shave their hair, wear the humblest clothes, eat the humblest food, and pray. The husband's property does not pass to them. No, not everywhere and not all widows do this. The richer and more educated the state, the faster it gets rid of such a legacy of previous centuries. But there are many backward states where people live the same as many years ago in India.

We once had an argument on FB with a woman who claimed that women in India do not work, live behind men’s backs and are therefore happy. Women work in India, and how! Look at the road workers we met while traveling on a bike! Families belonging to the road worker caste roam the country and repair roads. All work is manual. In the dust and heat, men swing pickaxes and break down old roads, women in dusty saris carry huge baskets of stones and garbage on their heads. Even a healthy man will quickly die from such work, but little Indian women do nothing, they plow. They only receive much less money than men.

In villages, women take care of livestock, take care of the house, prepare food, raise children, trade in the market, and often work for themselves and their husbands.

And only in rich families belonging to the upper caste, a woman is not burdened with hard work. But often she has exactly the same right to vote as a poor Indian woman on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Yes, she has a lot of expensive sarees and gold. The husband decorates his wife. After all, a beautiful, elegant wife also means high status. And for the birth of a boy, the husband can arrange an attraction of unprecedented generosity. Now the woman can be calm: her son will bring his daughter-in-law into the house, and the family will become even larger and richer. In addition, it will be possible to take out all your past grievances and humiliations, all your fear and your tears on your daughter-in-law. Humiliation and bullying of young daughters-in-law is commonplace in Indian families. And first of all, they are oppressed by the one who was in their place - the mother-in-law.

A man in an Indian family is a demigod. The birth of a boy is happiness! The birth of a girl is sad. Now the whole family will be forced to deny themselves many of the joys of life for many years and work, work, save, save. The girl must be married off. And this is expensive, insanely expensive. No self-respecting Indian family will allow their son to marry unless the bride has a significant enough dowry. And love won't help here. What is love like? In India, marriage is still a matter for parents. They negotiate, choose, and have the final say.

Therefore, the birth of a girl makes the Indian family poorer. What if there are several girls?

In India, the vast majority of the population lives in poverty, and millions live beyond the poverty line. As soon as it became possible to find out the sex of a child using an ultrasound, a wave of abortions swept across the country. We got rid of children of the unwanted gender. It was easier for the family to raise money for an abortion than to then vegetate for years, saving for a dowry. As a result, after a few years, a terrible demographic imbalance formed in India. There are many more young men today than women. At the state level, doctors are prohibited from disclosing the sex of the child after an ultrasound. A warning about punishment for revealing sex is posted in all medical institutions. But who cares? Nobody canceled the bribes. For a small bribe, the doctor will always tell you which ribbon to prepare - pink or blue.

In poor areas things are easier. What ultrasound and hospitals? There's no time for fat here. Unwanted tiny girls are simply disposed of. No, they don’t drown them like kittens. But there are many opportunities to “not look enough.” Child mortality among girls in India is several times higher than among boys. Considering that girls are generally more resilient, this seems strange. But everything is explained simply. If a boy gets sick, they will bring a healer and a doctor to him and buy him medicine. If a girl gets sick... This is her karma.

It would seem that there is a shortage of women, which means the value of the shortage should increase. Logically, yes. But India and logic are concepts alien to each other. Many young Indians are destined to remain single. There simply aren't enough wives for them. Some people steal girls, sometimes creepy cases, when one brother takes a girl as his wife, and she becomes the wife of all his other brothers. Rape in India is a crime that is rarely reported to police stations but occurs frequently.

But women in India are no longer valued, and it seems that no one is going to forget the dowry laws, even if there are 10 times fewer girls than men.

Some Indians, especially in tourist areas, are finding a way out. They marry Russian girls. There may not be a dowry right away, but a Russian wife will always find an opportunity to provide for her husband. This is a well-known fact in Goa - married a Russian and life is in chocolate!

This is all nonsense, says my friend, who lived in Goa for many years. Indian women may not have equal rights with men, but with white women everything is completely different!

Marry a Hindu. Is it worth it?

Over the past few years, there have been many Russian girls who come to Goa and find husbands there. What are they thinking? About love, of course. The hot Indian sun, white-toothed smiles and tender glances, and sometimes something stronger and more fragrant than the sun and sea, drive our beauties crazy. Russia is left with cold, snow and greyness, a constant race for survival, concerned eternal problems guys. And here is paradise.

It seems like it will be like this all my life - the ocean, the heat, the parties and full of love a man who looks like he just stepped out of a Bollywood movie. And it doesn’t matter that the chosen one is poor, like an Indian lizard, and it doesn’t matter that he has a few years of education at a village school, and it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t work anywhere, but devotes all his time to the princess, and it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t go home he calls and doesn’t introduce him to his relatives, and it doesn’t matter that he’s never been anywhere except his small Indian state, and it doesn’t matter that there’s nothing to talk to him about. What kind of conversations, when - love...

Story one, happy

“Look at them, look”“Prakash’s eyes are shining, he drank a lot today. Leaning towards his husband, he nods at the group of white-skinned girls and in a loud whisper throws out fragmentary phrases: “ They pretend to be so happy. But in fact, they are strangers here, completely strangers! They have no one here.”

We are sitting in a restaurant, several couples. All the couples except Maxim and me are mixed, she is Russian, he is Indian. I look at the laughing, cocktail-hot faces of the girls and try to brush away the hissing snake whisper, “They are strangers, strangers...”

Prakash has a Russian wife, Yulia (the name, like others, has been changed, but that’s not the point). They have two wonderful boys, one is a sweet toddler, and the eldest is a serious, handsome teenager. Prakash and his Russian wife are a beautiful couple and a pleasure to look at. He is tall and slender, looking like a Bollywood actor, she is a natural slender blonde, so lovely. Here it is - a happy Russian-Indian family! But in the middle of the evening Yulia tells her love story and breaks my whole such beautiful scheme.

Yulia met her husband in Russia. He came to study in our harsh country. A handsome dark man with a white-toothed smile and a gentle gaze, cheerful and with money. After all, only wealthy Indian families can afford to send their sons to study abroad. Love and passion, marriage, soon a son is born. Prakash has completed his studies and is working in Russia. But circumstances are such that he needs to go home. And then it turns out that the large and friendly Indian family doesn’t even know that Prakash is married and has a son. All this time he was simply hiding this small fact of his life. He was afraid to tell his parents about his marriage to a girl unknown to them, and not even an Indian.

It’s not for nothing that Prakash looks like an Indian movie hero. He acted like a hero in life too. Yes, no more, no less. Clanism flourishes in India, families live in large communities. The main one is a man, rich and wise in experience. Families often live in the same house all together - parents, their parents, brothers with their wives and children. This is fine. The worst thing is to live alone, without family support, without friends with whom I went to the same school, without my clan. And going against the clan is heroism and madness.

India never became a second home for Yulia. “I’m here by chance!”“, she declares literally from the first minutes of meeting. In their family they speak Russian among themselves, she has never learned her husband’s language and does not intend to, and all the time she lives as if she came on vacation and was a little late.

The family did not accept the Russian daughter-in-law for a long time. What a shame, really! For such an educated handsome man one could grab an unprecedented dowry! But as the years passed, another child appeared in the international family. Boy! The family relented. Of course, no one loved Yulia dearly, but they began to tolerate her. After all, life is much easier for a mother of two boys in India. A woman who gives birth to sons is a respected woman.

The second story, unhappy

On my first visit to India, I met one bright couple. She is very impressive, blue-eyed and young. He is dark, cheerful and smiling. Oh, what love there was! They got married and had a child, a girl. Russian money came from Russia in an endless stream for the young family. The wife's parents were generous. The young people soon had a home. In my husband's name, of course. It is almost impossible to register real estate in India in the name of a foreigner. If a foreigner marries a Hindu, she still does not become an Indian citizen, she simply lives on a visa. The car was also registered to a handsome, dark-skinned man. There was enough money for everything, including a nanny. Goa, parties, sea, sun, Hakuna Matata!

Five years later I found out how the beautiful fairy tale ended. It was just awkwardly and inopportunely that a crisis broke out in Russia. The flow of Russian money abruptly dried up. And the sweet and kind Indian husband SUDDENLY lost his smile. It turned out that he was not going to look for work and money to support his family. That's not why he got married! It turned out that he can shout, demand, humiliate. And after he threw his beautiful Russian wife down the stairs of their brand new luxurious house, kicking her and spitting in her broken face creepy words, she ran away. She came up with an escape plan, grabbed her daughter and went to her mother.

She left behind a dark, black-eyed girl, ex-husband I was left with a beautiful house, a brand new car and some more money. He is now an eligible bachelor. I would not be surprised to learn that a modest and obedient Indian wife now lives in this house, for whom her parents paid a lot of dowry. Who dares to say that he is...a loser? Nobody. Not a single friend, not a single neighbor, or anyone would even think of accusing him of anything. Yes, no one thinks that he is wrong in anything. According to Hindu laws, a man is always right.

What you should know if you fall in love with a Goan

Tell me, sad love stories with an Indian man are rare. Tell me, what about Maria Arbatova, whose husband is Indian. Oh, Maria Arbatova... For some reason she’s not going to her husband’s homeland. Among the educated and non-poor, everything is possible. Including happy Russian-Indian marriages. If you met at work, or in a company of friends, and the chosen one is educated, and not poor, and knows what European culture is, maybe something will work out.

Yes, in big cities, among educated and wealthy families, they love and take care of children, both boys and girls, there even young people sometimes marry for love, girls get an education, travel, work, have their own business and engage in their hobbies and generally live life to the fullest. But how many are there from total number Indian residents?

Yes, there are Indian men who adore their daughters and love their wives, and some not only love but also respect. And there are wonderful families where they live cheerfully and well, support each other regardless of gender, where the Indian mother-in-law is best friend his Russian daughter-in-law. I have personally seen such families in Goa. India is a huge country and everything is there.

And Goa is a small tourist state. Villagers, former fishermen and their children live there. Some are engaged in trade, some fish, like their ancestors, and some are looking for a faster path to a beautiful and prosperous life. Marrying a Russian woman who craves beautiful words and ardent looks and doesn’t demand anything else is a great option!

The eyes are often compared to the sun and moon. Other symbolic meaning- fire. Two eyes are capable of seeing only the past and present. The third eye is empowered to see the future. 2). SINDUR is a red mark in the parting. It is applied with blood-red powder. This decoration is used exclusively by married women. Sindoor - important component in Hindu deity worship (pujas). Red color is a symbol of fertility and restoration of power, feminine energy of Sati and Parvati. Sati is the ideal wife in Hinduism because of the sacrifices she performs to protect her husband's honor. 3). TIKA - the pendant should fall exactly in the center of the forehead. This place is considered the home of the Ajna Chakra. In this way, the woman repeats her status as married. 4). KOLYA - a wide black line around the eyes, where the arrows connect, giving a special sharpness to the look: “My eyes are not eyes, beloved, but arrows of light. My eyebrows are not eyebrows, but swords of destruction.” Every feeling of the heart is transmitted through the eyes. They can express reverence, sympathy, love, lust. Indian poets usually want to drown "in the depths of the eyes of their beloved." Most poetic similes about eyes are taken from nature. Eyes like a daffodil, an almond, a lily, like a “fish sparkling as it slides,” like seas and oceans, abysses, fire, etc. 5). NAT - a ring or other decoration on the nose. NAT is considered the most seductive jewelry. Nose earrings accept the most various shapes, ranging from precious stilettos to large, full-cheek gold hoops. 6). HAARA - necklace, beads, necklace. The neck is one of the important mystical centers. Therefore, it is believed that the necklace attracts and preserves love, brings good luck, and protects against the evil eye. Among other types of jewelry, necklaces have always had maximum magical charms. Probably, a bright and rich necklace distracted the ill-wisher from the face of the owner and thus protected him from the danger of the evil eye and hypnotic influence. Most likely, the predecessor of the beads was an ordinary flower garland. But the aroma of many flowers, for example, jasmine, roses, has a clear erotic connotation... 7). KARN PHUL - literally, a flower in the ear. Since ancient times, the earlobe has been considered as a sign spiritual development and high social status. According to legend, earrings are a consolation in pain and suffering. The more decorative and expensive the earrings, the more comfort a person receives. From ancient times to the present day, earrings in the shape of flowers and fruits have been the most popular. They reflect tenderness, youth, spiritual perfection, innocence, innocence - the main attributes of a female character. 8). MENDI - henna design. Unlike a tattoo, it is a temporary decoration of the body and lasts about three weeks. Most common in Arab countries, India, North Africa and Indonesia. Mehndi originated about 5000 years ago. Even in Ancient Egypt, noble ladies decorated their bodies and nails with designs. In the 12th century, it gained a foothold in India, becoming more than just a decoration. For example, many Arab women believe that mehndi brings happiness and protects against failure. So, the day before the wedding (on a bachelorette party), the bride is painted with a design, and the remaining henna is buried in the ground to protect the marriage and avoid the husband’s infidelity. Mehndi means the power of love in marriage . The darker the mehndi, the stronger love, red color is the color of fertility, power. Only plant ornaments are used in the drawing; they symbolically connect a woman with nature, the concepts of birth, nutrition, growth, regeneration. Mehendi protects from evil spirits, misfortunes, illnesses and even death. 9). Wrist BRACELETS. Poets call them shiny tokens of radiant life, circles of light for a happy daughter and happy wife. The bracelets symbolize the powerful energy of the sun. They are made from any material that can be processed: terracotta, stone, shells, copper, bronze, gold, silver, etc. Bracelets are a sign of a married woman. They have many romantic and love allusions. The ringing sound of the bracelet indicates the presence of a woman, that she needs attention, that she is angry or wants to exchange glances. A married woman will never allow herself to appear in society without bracelets. Typically, 8, 12 or 24 bracelets are worn on each wrist. 10). BAADJUBAND - a bandage, bracelet or thread with an amulet on the forearm. Depending on the traditions accepted in the community and the status of the woman in marriage, the baadjuband can cover the entire upper part of the arm from the elbow to the shoulder. The baajjuband should sit firmly on the hand. Made from various materials and richly decorated with ornaments. Serves as kavach - protection from bad looks and is considered a symbol of impeccable beauty. 11). ARSI is a ring with a mirror, worn on the thumb. According to legend, the first thing a woman should see when waking up is her face. To do this, you always need a mirror on hand... Gold rings are put on the other fingers, or jewelry consisting of a central medallion to which 8 chains are attached - three of them are attached to the bracelet, five are attached to the rings worn on the fingers. 12). KESHAPACHARACHANA - hair decoration. Hair is attributed to the earth element as something solid and material; to the element of water, since they are free, fluid; to the element of fire, because they come from the furnace of the brain to the element of air, since they are light and can be carried away by the wind. Hair has its own own life. They grow faster than all other parts of the body. They represent the connection between this world and the future. Hair is the source of life and magical power. They form a crown around the head, the holiest part of a person. Hair braided in a braid is considered the most auspicious symbol. According to mythology. Three braids of hair in a braid represent the three most revered Indian rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, as well as the trinity of gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. 13). KAMARBAND - a waist belt that holds and decorates a sari. Protects the manipura chakra. Holds a bunch of keys, which means a symbolic transfer of control from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, new powers and responsibilities.

So, there are 4 main ethnicities that make up the Indian diaspora: Tamils, Marathas, Hindustani and Bengalis. Due to the climate of their home states, representatives of these groups have characteristic differences in external indicators. There is an opinion that all Indians are small and dark, but this opinion is wrong.

Northern, southern, eastern and Western peoples Indians are different from each other, just as, for example, Norwegians are different from Spaniards. Perhaps these differences are not so striking to the untrained eye, but nevertheless they are colossal.

The entire population of India is divided primarily into two races - the Aryan Indians and the Dravidian peoples, of whom the latter were the original inhabitants of the country. Skopin V.N. Central Asia and India. - M., 1904. - p. 76. General distinctive features are as follows: Southern Dravidians have darker colored skin. Aryan Indians are Caucasians. Their skin color ranges from dark olive to yellow-brown. They inhabit northern and central India. In the East of India live Mongoloid peoples: short, short-headed, with yellow skin, slanted eyes, straight hair and a flat nose. Melvart A. India. - L., 1927. - p. 97.

Therefore, it can be said that the Hindustanis, the inhabitants northern state, - typical Caucasians. They are tall, have European facial features, and light brown skin. In India, Hindustanis are considered the ideal of beauty. It is representatives of this race who are filmed, and Hindustani girls have represented the country in the world since ancient times. international competitions beauty.

The Bengalis living in East India are Mongoloids. Their appearance is similar to the Nepalese peoples, or, as they are called in India, the Gurkhas. Main features: small stature, lack of hair on the body and face, only on the head - straight, coarse hair, flat nose, characteristic Mongoloid eye shape. Bengalis are hereditary farmers. However, now, due to the dismal state of agriculture in the state, many rich families are concerned about the future of their children. Therefore, the majority of Indian students are Bengalis who come here for higher education in order to improve their family's prestige and financial status in their homeland. Dyakov A.M. National question in modern India. - M.: Eastern literature, 1963. - p. 106.

The Marathas, immigrants from the Western part of India, are also Caucasians, but the close proximity of the descendants of the Dravidians affected their genetics. Marathas are a cross between Hindustani and Bengali. Main features: Marathi - of medium height, with European features, but with rather dark skin, with straight hair. Their eye shape can be either Caucasoid or Mongoloid. The Marathas who came to Moscow from Bombay and its environs are mainly businessmen. They have their own stores, companies, and entertainment centers in Moscow.

And finally, the last group is the Tamils ​​who came from Madras, which is located in the South of India. Tamils ​​are typical descendants of Dravidians. In their homeland, the Tamils ​​even fought for state independence in 1961. They consider themselves the true children of India, and the rest of the peoples as invaders of their land. Indeed, the Dravidians are those peoples who inhabited the expanses of India before the arrival of the Aryans. Tamils ​​are proud of their origins and clearly distinguish themselves from Caucasians. Externally, Tamils ​​look like this: small stature, almost black skin, curly hair, abundant hair on the face and body, but at the same time they have large, wide eyes, rather of a Caucasian type. There, - p. 151. Tamils ​​are one of the most literate peoples of India. They often go to Moscow to receive a second education, or they are invited by the diaspora to work in companies as lawyers, financiers, managers, and programmers. Alekseev V.I., Makarenko V.A. Tamil country. - M.: Mysl, 1965. - p. 49.

So, from this paragraph it became clear that the Indian diaspora is quite diverse in terms of its members. In particular, this diversity is reflected in appearance Indians who are part of the diaspora.

The character of Indians is mysterious and not entirely clear.

Caste laws have formed unique behavioral stereotypes among Indians. People from different varnas have different character traits, but there are typical “all-Indian” traits in their behavior. But first it’s worth talking about the differences.

Those who come from the Brahmin varna are naturally characterized by piety, high intellectuality, silence, and they have a highly developed sense of self-esteem. They have good control over their feelings and can hide irritability and displeasure. These people are aware of their superiority, but are not inclined to advertise it. They are responsible and willing to help others in trouble.

Representatives of the second varna in position are kshatriyas, i.e. warriors. They derived their origin from the lower castes or from an alien element who received the right of citizenship for their donations to the cause of religion. These are proud and arrogant people. They are the complete opposite of the Brahmana varna. People from kshatriya backgrounds are brave, too confident in themselves and in their rightness. They love to argue, and, without listening to the arguments of the interlocutor, they will still insist on their own. An argument can lead to a fight. Kshatriyas are hot-tempered, impulsive people, often driven by their feelings and ambitions. It is difficult to tolerate the superiority of other people. Strongly expressed leaders. Kotovsky G.G. India: society, power, reforms. - M.: Eastern literature, 2003. - p. 183.

The third varna is Vaishya. This is the varna of merchants. Many of today's Indian businessmen come from this varna. Their ancestral vocation, of course, could not but leave a mark on their character. These are smart, cunning people for whom their own interests come first. If they provide assistance to someone, they will definitely demand compensation later. They respect brahmanas and fear kshatriyas, but at the same time their respect and fear are just a screen, a cover to lull the vigilance of both. The lively mind of Vaishyas, often uneducated people, is constantly occupied with the thought of profit. All their actions are aimed at increasing it. They don’t do anything for nothing, and they don’t disdain lies. Benefit for yourself is the main motto of the Vaishya. Realizing the benefit higher education, Vaishyas send their children to study. So many Indian students in Moscow are from the Vaishya varna.

Shudra - the fourth varna - was composed primarily of people of non-Aryan origin, from an alien element, and from people who came from a mixture of different castes. The entire composition of the fourth varna is very diverse in origin. Skopin V.N. Central Asia and India. - M., 1904. - p. 56-58. These people have been accustomed to obey since ancient times. They are silent, often gloomy, especially if they are in the company of people from other varnas. Even now, when caste boundaries have practically been erased, the Shudras still continue to behave as before. In their homeland, few of them go to university or engage in any prestigious work. Basically, these are taxi drivers, factory workers. The lack of education is compensated by excellent knowledge and, most importantly, the preservation of Indian folklore. You can hardly find people from this varna in Moscow.

After the main and specific differences in the characters of Indians - representatives of different varnas, it is logical to trace similar traits of Indian character.

Indians are spiritual. Religiosity has flowed in their blood since time immemorial, be it Buddhism, Jainism, or the numerous branches of Hinduism. Indians simply need to believe in higher powers, otherwise their entire existence, all their goals, objectives, life aspirations lose all meaning.

By nature, Indians are polite. But being very polite towards another person, the Indian at the same time demands the same towards himself. If this does not happen, then politeness quickly gives way to coldness and indifference. Indians are originally strangers with confidence. It is easy to earn their love and friendship. However, once this trust is broken, it is almost impossible to regain it.

Special mention should be made of the superstitiousness of Indians. They strictly follow their signs and observe customs. Breaking customs is a serious crime for an Indian. And to disobey a sign means to bring upon oneself serious troubles.

One more important feature- unquestioning submission to elders, a kind of cult of parents. Moreover, most often it is the mother who enjoys greater respect, and not the father - the head of the house. It is to the mother that adult children go for advice and fulfill her requests, although this can often entail a change not only in status (marriage), but also a change in their entire life. For example, many Indian students came to study in Moscow only because their parents decided so. And the choice of faculty is also their decision. Ivanov I.I. Hindus. - St. Petersburg, 1980. - p. 102-104.

Indians tend to be clean and tidy. But they express this in forms that are quite strange for a Russian person. For example, an Indian’s clothes are always spotlessly clean, and an Indian also monitors the cleanliness of his body, maintaining hygiene. However, he can eat unwashed fruit. Living in a room where there is chaos, but at the same time he always knows where and what he has. Russians about India: through the eyes of friends. - M., 1957. - p. 69.

Another amazing feature of Indians is their attachment to their homeland. All Indians are patriots of their country. An Indian born in Moscow says with full confidence that here he is only a guest, a stranger, and his hometown is, for example, Delhi. Where his ancestors could have moved to Moscow sixty years ago.

Indians, surrounded by the customs and traditions of another ethnic group, are especially zealous in following their own. They are absolutely immune to the spiritual achievements of other peoples and are not inclined to succumb to the influence of other cultures. Therefore, the national level of self-awareness of Indians is at a fairly high level. On the contrary, when Indians find themselves in a foreign country or city, without imposing their own rules, they very soon gather around them a large number of people who want to adopt their culture.

But Indians’ failure to accept the customs of other cultures cannot be considered indifference. On the contrary, Indians are curious by nature. But their curiosity is rather cognitive, educational and scientific character. They love, as they say, to get to the bottom of things, disassemble, analyze the subject of research and understand it. Only after this do they form their opinion about a particular subject. Snesarev A.E. India as the main factor in the Central Asian issue. - M., 1937. - p. 120.

Indians also have a strong sense of duty. If an Indian gives his word, he will definitely keep it, even to his own detriment.

However, the attitude of Indians towards their vices is of interest. Having committed an offense, an Indian will not hesitate to admit and repent of his sin. He will cry, wring his hands, and put on real performances. But the very next time, the same Indian may again be caught in the same sin (for example, deception). And everything will start all over again. With tenacity and strong will In connection with big plans and aspirations, in small things the Indian behaves like a spoiled child.

The Indian attitude towards lies is also funny. Lying is one of the most terrible crimes in the concept of Indians. But like all business people, Indians cannot do without it. And here they found such a trick. Indians will never lie or deceive, but they can either tell the so-called “almost the truth” or not tell the truth at all. For example, to the question “Is the product of good quality?”, an Indian may answer: “It was made in the best factory!” Well, the product really could have been made in a better factory, but the question of quality remained open.

Indians are well aware that Europeans are far from their customs, and do not seek to “burden” other peoples with explanations about their traditions.

For the most part, Indians are cheerful and passionate people. They have a great, cheerful sense of humor. For example, at the end of the conversation about the Indian character, I would like to cite one funny story, told to me by an Indian living in Moscow: when a Muscovite came to the Hare Krishna temple in Moscow, wanting to change his faith and become a Hare Krishna, the Indian talking to him said that for this he would have to undergo the test of iron and fire. The frightened young man quickly retreated from the temple, and the Indian only meant that the visitor would have to light a special candle in the temple and hold a sacred cup made of iron in his hands.

But before moving on to a description of the life of Indians in the capital, it is necessary to touch upon two rather important everyday topics - the clothing of modern Indians, as well as their food.

In their homeland, Indians still often wear traditional clothing, especially women. Indian women's traditional clothing is a sari, choli blouse, shalwar kameez, orkhna, kameez ghagra. Men's costume, especially in the 20th century, has undergone great changes since the days of the “veil”. Now Indians wear: churidar, achkan, dhoti, kurta, chadar, paijama, turban and cap (Gandhi-topi). Ultsiferov O.G. India: Linguistic and Regional Dictionary. - M.: Russian language - Media, 2003. - p. 349. However, in the conditions of such a large metropolis as Moscow and our climate, such attire is impossible. In Moscow, Indians remained faithful to the simplicity and modesty of their attire. Men wear formal dark suits, buttoned jackets with a collar, so-called Beatles, but in India they have a different name - Gandhi, after the suits that Mahatma Gandhi liked to wear. Indian students in Moscow dress more democratically. In this sense, they are no different from other students; they also follow fashion whenever possible. They wear both jeans and T-shirts. The requirements for Indian women are less liberal. Under no circumstances can she wear a short skirt - this is unacceptable. An Indian adult woman in Moscow wears a business suit, often a trouser suit, of a strict cut. Or he puts on a long skirt with a jacket or T-shirt. Moreover, the requirements for the top of the outfit are less strict than for the bottom. Indian students also wear long skirts, sometimes they can be seen in wide trousers. But, if the weather permits, an Indian woman will definitely wear a sari. Abdulaeva M. Women of India. - M.: Soviet artist, 1976. - p. 136.

Indian food consists of plant elements. They don't eat meat at all. Previously, finding truly vegetarian products in Moscow was a challenge for them. big problem, but now everything has changed. In Moscow there are many stores specializing in vegetarian products, and restaurants for vegetarians have opened. Traditionally, Indians eat two meals a day.

Indians love to eat rice, beans, milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables. They eat very spicy food, generously seasoned with red pepper and other spices, because it was the Indians who gave the world a curry recipe that they themselves can eat in unlimited quantities. It is difficult for a person who is not prepared for such food to eat Indian dishes - they are so spicy. For dessert, Indians often prepare amazingly delicious flatbreads - muto kondo, as well as pancakes - kal batashi, which taste like our Tula gingerbread cookies. Indians do not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco. In general, they are characterized healthy image life.

So, from questions of clothing and food, we can move on to questions of Indian occupations in Moscow. In particular, their work, leisure time, and also find out how they satisfy their religious needs.

India is a country with incredible story and unique original culture. The special flavor of this nation has long fascinated and captivated the minds of Europeans. Representatives of the fair sex, born in this state, occupy a special place in the list of Indian wealth. look mysterious and mystical. They are distinguished from residents of any other countries by their special appearance, some inner strength and definitely bright and rich outfits. Let’s try to figure out what we should all learn from them and what secrets “Indian beauty” consists of.

Traditions in clothing

To his appearance Indian women giving special attention. Knowledgeable person can determine the status social status and the religious affiliation of a representative of the fair sex in national dress standing in front of him only by her appearance. The basis of the wardrobe of any woman who respects traditions is a sari - this is a unique garment made from a large piece of fabric that is fixed to the figure. For Indian women this outfit has deep meaning. A sari is usually made for a specific lady, the patterns on it tell about her life and worldview. Such clothes are quite practical in themselves - they are not difficult to care for, they are easy to store. Usually, girls are taught the skill of wearing and wrapping sarees from the age of 12.

Bright details of the image

Women in India wear a lot of jewelry. Gold and gems. Bracelets are worn on both hands, there should be a lot of them, and when moving they should ring and shimmer in the sun. A popular decoration is nose piercing. A ring is worn in the piercing, and by its location you can tell which region the woman is from. If the piercing is in the left nostril, we have a native of the north, and if in the right - a southerner. Toe rings are considered another national jewelry-amulet. However, today they are worn mainly in villages. But many ladies choose ankle bracelets and necklaces.

Indian woman's appearance and marriage

One look at an Indian woman is enough to tell whether she is married or not. The traditional one is usually made and worn proudly after the wedding. We all know that Indian women should have a dot on their forehead. But for young girls it is located between the eyebrows, and for married ladies it is higher. Another important sign of marriage is a ring on the middle toe. However, this tradition is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

In addition, married women paint the parting on their heads. There is another interesting tradition: During the wedding, the groom ties a special necklace - a thali - around the neck of his chosen one. It symbolizes the unity of spouses and the magical protection that a woman gives to a man. However, it is not customary to wear a thali for show; on the contrary, for the sake of the well-being of her husband, a lady must hide it from prying eyes.

Beauty ideals for Indian women

This sounds paradoxical, but not all Indian women are happy with their appearance. While we think that beauties in sarees are the most beautiful women world, Indian women have their own ideals and strive to live up to them in every possible way. So, first on the list of signs of “real” beauty for these ladies is white skin. Indeed, not all Indians are dark-skinned; residents of the northern regions can boast of a completely “Slavic” appearance. They have light eyes, white skin,

And it is precisely such external data that are considered signs of higher castes. And therefore, many natives of the southern provinces who have dark skin whiten it in every possible way using modern cosmetics. Modern India in many ways remains true to its traditions. For example, despite fashion trends from European countries, here a feminine figure with rounded shapes is held in high esteem. For an Indian woman, a few folds at the waist are a source of pride, not extra centimeters. Provided that they do not interfere with graceful movement and walking with a perfectly straight back.

How do Indian women live?

India still maintains strong social stratification, reinforced by differences in traditions observed among different families and the diversity of religious beliefs within society. And yet, to a greater extent, patriarchy flourishes here. Marriages are still concluded by agreement between relatives of the newlyweds. Often the bride and groom barely know each other before the wedding. The attitude towards women is ambivalent: on the one hand, they are revered and surrounded by care from childhood, on the other hand, it is believed that the main task of the fair sex is to become a good wife and mother. In wealthy families, women are not supposed to work, and all their hobbies boil down to raising children and communicating with relatives. But at the same time, housework and helping my husband with his professional activity It is not considered serious work.

India today

Beautiful Indian women have made themselves known to the world quite a long time ago. Residents of this country win big titles in world beauty contests, act in films and perform on stage. They are still far from European feminists, but today there are many Indian women striving to build a career or engage in creative work. Modern India provides its women with enough opportunities for self-realization. Often, representatives of the fair sex even receive the approval and help of their family if they want to go into business or politics. As for appearance, in large cities you can increasingly see girls in jeans and T-shirts or ladies in the prime of life in business clothes. However, traditional saris and jewelry are always present in the wardrobe of these “new” Indian women and are taken out of the closet on especially special occasions.

The most beautiful women in the world reveal their secrets

Each country has its own folk recipes for health and beauty, and India also has them. And thanks to the belated development of the local cosmetics industry, many of them have been tested for generations and are actively used today. Let's start with nutrition. The peculiarity of Indian cuisine is the abundance of spices and spicy foods. According to many local actresses and dancers, it is pepper that allows them to remain slim and beautiful. And this one interesting fact confirmed by scientists. Indeed, this spice stimulates metabolic processes and prevents the accumulation of excess fat deposits. But be careful - excessive consumption of spicy foods can lead to serious problems with the digestive system.

A simple and cheap secret for facial beauty: get used to washing your face cold water. This is an excellent exercise for blood vessels and a natural way to narrow. Many Indian women use food products in self-care. Fresh fruits and vegetables, spices and herbs, as well as natural oils are the components of masks, homemade creams and skin scrubs that are popular in this country. This is one of the rules of Ayurveda - effective cosmetics are obtained only from what can be eaten.

The chic curls of Indian beauties make many people envious. The main secret is daily head massage and refusal to use chemical coloring agents. Indeed, many Indian women still prefer to make their own decorative cosmetics from natural products. If your hair does not grow well and your skin begins to peel, you should use coconut oil. It is simply applied with massage movements to areas of the body that need additional nutrition, or to the entire length of the curls.

Traditional beauty recipes from India

Not only does it make her so beautiful and charming. All representatives of the fair sex take care of themselves in the same way as their peers around the world. You can prepare a scrub for the face and whole body from dry green peas. The grains should be ground using a coffee grinder and then diluted with water to a creamy consistency. This composition is applied to the skin using massage movements and then washed off with water.

The spice turmeric is found in many cosmetic recipes. However, it must be used with caution. The thing is that turmeric is a persistent natural dye and for this reason is suitable only for dark skin. Let's look at one skin softener: add bran to a glass of milk. A pinch of turmeric is added to the mixture. The finished composition is applied to the entire body before the bath.

What can we learn from Indian women?

Indian culture is incredibly popular today. Often on the world's fashion catwalks, outfits appear that resemble saris and national motifs of this country, which can be seen in the jewelry and makeup of the models. Indian married woman has the right to draw or glue a special dot on the forehead - a bindi. Today, many Russian women wear this type of jewelry. themed parties or just to create an interesting image.

Mehendi - henna designs on the body that last from several days to 2 weeks - have recently become especially popular in our country. Jewelry and bijouterie created in India are also loved by ladies all over the world and are often worn with the most casual clothes. Over the entire period of the development of civilization, Indian women have come up with many interesting and beautiful items of clothing and accessories. So let's say "Thank you" to them for this! and let's hope that the influence European culture will not kill the national flavor and will only improve and complement them.