Indian Culture

With greasy fast food chains slowly dominating the American eating lifestyle, we're now all used to having our lunch delivered right at our very doorstep. Back then, even if it doesn't come close to a tasty gourmet meal, we still want it on silver platters and stuff, you know. But now, most of us wouldn't care less if our lunches are in those stiff boxes, or in anything that could be called a clean food container. As long as it's delivered right on time, that's what most of us would say. But in Mumbai, this system of delivering food to workstations, factories, and the like has been about a 120-year practice.

I think up until now, these tiffin-wallas, or dabbawallas, carry the lunches of their Indian countrymen working in these Indian factories and offices. They use a container to transport the food, which is called tiffins. Now that's my idea of a good tasty lunch! One that's prepared by your relatives or your own countrymen. In beautiful Mumbai, those delivered lunches are often made and actually prepared and served by the mothers, servants, or wives of the Indians working in the factories and other business establishments. Here in America, we have literally strangers preparing our food, but I think that's good enough. Well, that's 'cause we also have strict provisions on safe and clean food preparations and transportations as much as they have there back in India.

I have already discussed about Brahma marriage. As a reminder, this is the highest form of marriage considered by Indians. Now, let me talk about another forms of marriages that some Indian families have taken part in.

The usual marriage is done between a male and female of the same caste. However, the type of marriage that I am going to write about now is the fact that this marriage is done between a woman and a priest. This marriage is known as the Daiva marriage. It usually occurs when the woman's family cannot find a suitable husband for the bride-to-be. The family wits for a certain period of time, hoping for a good catch, so to speak. However, the parents resort to another tactic if no one would like to marry the daughter during the allotted time. So, what the parents do is to look for places where there are some sacrifices being held. The woman is then adorned and married off to the priest. It is not surprising to hear that this is considered an inferior marriage compared to the Brahma marriage since some people consider it insulting for the female if its is her family looking for a spouse. One must note that a woman's value is elevated if it is the man's family who looks for a spouse for the groom-to-be.

The modern age insists that the world open up for global trade. Various players are on the league, each with diverse culture but with equally-competitive investment proposals. On the far- east is a blossoming industry that is India. And while this traditionally-conserved land has produced native international talents--music gems, fashion trendsetters, artistic actors and innovative film makers; Indian corporate leaders are on their scale to global business venture as well.

The corporate setting differs in different lands you set afoot. Here in India, it is wise that you learn the culture first before you ensure triumph over business deals. You will find this tips useful to your advantage.

As part of protocol, when you meet Indian businessmen, always exchange business cards that are normally written in English or the universal language. Take note that the top ranks have the final say in decision making. Might as well focus on persuading those in the upper-crust of the organization. Do not get down to business just yet. Take interest in their personal life like their families or hobbies. From there, edge your way out to business transactions.

I'll have to warn you... It takes time before business rolls in India. When they say that things "can't be done", don't give up just yet. Hold on, be patient. After several visits, it may actually pay off. When they invite you for a drink, do not turn down the offer but remember to take it in moderation for as soon you empty your cup, they pour more and more. Although they regard you with courtesy and hospitality, there are times when they do not attend meetings on schedule. Rather keep an open mind, all you need is determination and the ample respect for their culture, enough for them to reward you with a done deal.

India cradles one of the oldest religions in history. Their quality of life is moved by faith and old-age beliefs. Perhaps one of the best disciplines in their spiritual voyage is Yoga.

Yoga is another word for union. The philosophical domain of which fosters the unity of mind and body. Like in the sacred union of marriage, man cannot possibly raise a family without the woman. And so with our body and mind, they are seen as complementing pieces of a staggering whole aiming for the so-called enlightenment.

This soulful regimen is embraced by many today, from east up across to the west. They have imbibed the culture and practices of this ancient phenomenon. Madonna is only among the most popular and world-renowned personalities to have succumbed to the zeal and rigor of Yoga.

Most probably, her indulgence does not differ from the routine of a yogi's disciplined training composed of breathing techniques and exercises. To strike for that balance out of life, they follow eight steps or eight limbs, a stride for what they call the path to enlightenment or the Ashtanga Yoga. It involves: Yamas (moral conduct; Niyamas (observances); Asanas (postures); Pranayama (breath control); Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects); Dharana (concentration); Dhyana (meditation); and Samadhi (superconscious experiences).

This is not just another fad or bandwagon started by the raging Pop Queen. Yoga actually requires sincere devotion and humble discipline for a harmonious quality of life that is-- with fit body and sound mind. And if ever you wish to take part in this healthy spiritual journey, might as well consider modifying your lifestyle and renewing your faith.

For a minute shut your ears from the beatings of the pop culture. We've heard a lot of RnB, a lot of pop rock and rap! Now let's eavesdrop to music from the crevesce of the Indian soul. Take a deep breath and just stride along with the rythm.

Although it may sound like a blab from outer space and the words?...more likely it will be impossible to decipher, you may actually find it soulful, moody and a bit complex once you give it a shot and starts to reel with the flow. The closest thing to compare it with is jazz. However, the Indian lilting sounds are more defined and tight while jazz is slack and rather smooth.

Have you ever heard Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar, Yehudi Menuhin? If not, you might as well change your mind into getting acquainted with them. They will be future music gems, India's best bet to introduce their music to the world.

This beautiful sound you may want to start humming along with, sprang out of a classical Indian jive. It has inspired many bands and solo career artists both in the region and up across the west. Hopefully, this will lead to a marriage of east and west, at least in music, combining both structures to soothe the listening crowd. .

The recent upbeat child of Indian music is the modern Hindi "pop". It incorporates the hypnotic raga moods with modern rhythms. I've heard this influence not only in India but in famous foreign artists as well. You may want to scurry away from the blast of that radio speaker or the trivial love songs for ages, instead listen this unique culture and hymn.

I know different cultures have various ways of uniting man and woman in marriage. Some of you might think that there's only one type of marriage for every culture. However, you might be interested to know that there are actually different types of marriages in India. To be specific, there are eight types of marriages that can take place in the sid country. But, let me just tackle one of them for this blog entry. For today, I have chosen to write about Brahma marriage.

Brahma marriage takes place between a man and a woman of good family descent. However, the man must first be able to finish his studenthood (Brahmacharya). If he is able to do this, his parents may approach the family of the desired girl. It is not just the parents of the man who chooses a worthy in-law. The father of the girl will choose a guy who is knowledgeable about the Vedas. This is how Indians go about a Brahma marriage. Also, there is no dowry for this type of marriage. Meaning, the girl's family does not have to give any financial amount to the family of the male. Thus, this type of marriage is revered as the highest kind of marriage by the dharmasastras.

I could not probably adopt the conventional Indian tradition of vegetarianism because I enjoy devouring yummy juicy steaks and I'm loving McDonald's Big Mac burger. But it doesn't mean that I loathe vegetables altogether. Though not a big fan of our leafy friends, every once in a while, I try to include them on my diet for the sake of so-called healthy living.

Anyway, India is probably among the countries which cuisine consists of more varieties of vegetable because this is what their religion and culture dictates. But what most orthodox Hindus might be surprised to know, this practice of shunning meat did not originate from the Aryans, in contrast what others perceive. In contrary, Aryans are carnivores because they are cattle raisers and during animal sacrifice to their gods, the meat usually eaten right after the ceremony.

The vegetarianism concept was initially introduced to India along with Jainism and Buddhism. Roots of vegetarianism can be found in the Hindu scriptures and the Mahabharata. Not all Indians follow this practice though, but some communities like the Vaishnava Hindus, vegetable eating is strictly followed. Now, not only is this practice of being a herbivore common in India, but it is also gaining popularity around the globe.

I believe in destiny. I mean, every creature has its beginning and its end. Maybe, my belief was influenced by my Indian friend. He was the one who introduced me to Bhagavad Gita. You might not yet heard of it, but it is simply an epic that elaborates on destiny. In actuality, the Gita is fiction that greatly influenced the Indian history. It stars a god named Krishna and the mortal whom he consequently explains the matter about destiny, Arjuna. Although the story circles around divine powers and majestic, intrepid deeds of mortals, still the whole story makes a lot of sense. I learned from Gita that setting aside divine intervention, men ought to live peacefully on earth. Man should accept the fact that he is mortal.

By the way, the conflict in the story is that Arjuna must kill his cousins in order to win the war. This reason alone held Arjuna back from fighting. Of course, who would dare murder his kinsfolk just to win a battle. But, in this situation did Krishna made Arjuna understand his fate. To make the story short, the message is, men must undergo sufferings, pains of the heart in order to attain the highest part of mortality – wisdom. The wisdom achieved could make an individual understand his destiny, thus making him more productive because he has an understanding of his goals and of the period of time he must perform his duties. Also, in this epic was yoga exercises introduced. The practice of Yoga was taught by Krishna so people will achieve the absolute realization of their destiny.

Moooh! Before me and my girlfriend visited the beautiful Ayurveda beach resort, I still recall the moment I had almost bumped to a humungous cow that was freely wandering in the streets of Delhi. These bulky creatures are revered and considered the most sacred animals among the Hindus. This could be attributed to the fact that cows have special role in Hindu mythologies in which they are often depicted as vehicle of several deities.

Although Hindus follow no single set of rules, reverence for cows can be found throughout the religion's major texts. Some trace the cow's sacred status back to Lord Krishna, one of the faith's most important figures. He is said to have appeared 5,000 years ago as a cowherd, and is often described as bala-gopala, "the child who protects the cows." Another of Krishna's holy names, Govinda, means "one who brings satisfaction to the cows." Other scriptures identify the cow as the "mother" of all civilization, its milk nurturing the population.

With cows, they’re the closest thing this country has to traffic police. They are highly esteemed here, and is thus the only thing that can get people to slow down on the streets. Don’t believe me? I watched a guy crash his new Yamaha bike into a tree to avoid one. The cow didn’t seem fazed one bit by the situation.

When I visit the lands of India, and I hope someday I will be able to, I would not miss the chance of experiencing Ayurveda. Well, I do not have much knowledge about this science, but I heard that it aims to prolong life. I have been drinking these past few years, and I know that that will have a very negative implication with my health.

The term Ayurveda literally means the science of longevity. I assume that the effect of having or undergoing it would result in cleansing the body of impurities. I look at it as a cure for medical maladies. It is some kind of a therapy beneficial for busy people like me who have been taking health for granted.

I once got hold of an article about Ayurveda which said that the science is all ancient as the earth. It was viewed as knowledge of the spirit that guided the ancient peoples of India. In fact, it was a used for healing purposes, while the wisdom gained from it is superior than any schooled man could achieve. It aims at teaching an individual to harmonize with nature. Such harmony is really difficult to achieve, since an individual will have to fight the external factors that will hinder the process.

The epic Mahabharata is a highly-valued ancient epic in India and is the 3rd longest epic in world history. Aside from being ranked among the best accomplishments of mankind in literature, the Mahabharata also has philosophical and religious importance in Hinduism. A chapter in the epic, the Bhagavad Gita, is regarded as a sacred text.

The title is translated as "History of the Great India" or "The Great Bharata Dynasty." Bharata is the king which was regarded as the founder of the Indian Kingdom, Bharatavarsha. Bharat is sometimes used as the name of the country and is widely used even today. The full account of the epic has more than 200,000 verses and contains about 2.5 million words.

According to the story, the epic itself was written by the Hindu deity, Lord Ganesh using Vyasa as his scribe. The story is about the struggle of a dynasty for dominance of the kingdom in Hastinapura, which is under the governance of the Kuru clan. There clan is divided into two branches that are fighting for power: the Kauravas, the elder family branch, and the younger family branch, the Pandava. The quarrel between the two branches culminates into the Kurukshetra war, which the Pandavas became the victor.

The unique fashion of India mirrors so much of its exotic culture. Even in the Western part of the globe, world-renowned designers like Armani and Issey Miyake draw some elements from Indian fashion to infuse them into their amazing designs. Hollywood celebrities, especially the young women, wear Indian-inspired gowns and dresses to parties, awards and other special important events. Definitely, Indian fashion is not only popular in the country but has conquered western fashion as well.

Some of the traditional Indian clothing that are given modern twists by Indian designers are the Shalwar Kameez, Choli, Saree, and Lehanga. The shalwar kameez originated in Punjab and Kashmir. Celebrities like J.Lo, Hillary Clinton, and Princess Diana wore this in important events.

The shalwar kameez is made up of a loose trousers and a long tunic called kameez. The saree, textile 5-6 yards long, is usually silk or chiffon, that can be draped around the shoulders in different styles. The choli is a tight-fitting blouse that one can wear with the saree, while the lehanga is a pleated skirt that is commonly partnered with the choli. The choli and lehanga both originated from Rajasthan, India and is still worn by most women there.

There are many gesticulations in the Indian culture that signify different things. These movements and gestures are what make Indians really unique. They use these motions to say the things that words cannot explain or to support the words they are saying.

The most common gesture would be the tugging of ears. This is done to show that the person apologizing is sincerely admitting his mistake and demonstrates that he repents for the sin done against the person. Touching someone's feet is also another gesture that shows sincerity in paying respect to an elder or superior. This is usually done to a person who has done you a great deed and you want to show gratitude and respect to that person. The feet are considered to be the dirtiest part of the body since it is always touching the ground.

This is also the reason why people leave their slippers on the doorstep of a temple and why it is considered very rude to direct the soles of your feet to another person. Touching the feet means you have a great respect to that person, as if you are worshipping him or her that even touching his or her feet is a privilege.

One of India's pride is Bollywood. Bollywood is to India as Hollywood is to America. It is their prime music and film industry that has evolved and stayed on top despite strong international competitions. This is India's pride as it a good source of income for many people and it is also the most popular source of entertainment for Indian masses.

The conventional Bollywood film has one or more song and dance number in it. This is because the audience wants to get their money's worth when they watch a Bollywood movie. The movies made here usually take for as long as three hours and has formulaic plots and scenes. The usual Bollywood movie would involve drama, action, and comedy, all packaged into one film. Bollywood films mostly cater to the large Indian masses. Before, the films were strictly coinciding with Indian culture like arranged marriages, plus, nudity was a no-no. Nowadays, Western influences have made it loosen and has several movies now include on screen kisses, dating, and nakedness.

Watching Bollywood movies will give you a glimpse of what it is that Indians appreciate and how they want their movies done.

Hijras are basically biological males or hermaphrodites who belong to the middle and lower class and choose to abandon their families behind to assume female life. Hijras then join a community and eventually, have their male organs castrated to symbolize their renewed identity.

Traditionally, hijras are perceived to have the power of blessing newborn boys through singing and dancing. They are given alms or contributions, but unfortunately, some hijras today are looked down on and many become beggars or prostitutes.

Traditionally, Indian literature was in oral form. The stories were sung or recited and was passed down to generation after generation by this method only after about a century were the stories written down. Majority of the literary pieces were sectarian in nature, and most of the authors remain anonymous.

Indian literature were written in several dialects: Sanskrit, Prakit, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Bihari (which can be broken down into five classifications), Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam. Among these dialects, the Tamil literature seem to be the oldest, dating back as early as 500 BC. The most famous stories in Indian literature and the Sanskrit epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

One of India's trademarks in traditional clothing and customary fashion is the sari. The sari is basically a wide, rectangular fabric that can be wrapped any way around the body of the person.

This makes the sari a very versatile material and in fact, the sari is available in a variety of colors, texture and styles. The use of the sari is according to the regional and caste system in India, and one can tell the status, religion, age, or occupation of a person from the way the sari is draped.