Religion

Hinduism

Hinduism is the most practiced religion in India. It is estimated that roughly 80% of Indians are Hindu. The origins of Hinduism date back to the Indus Valley Civilization around the 1500s BC. Hinduism has many broad religious and spiritual ideas and is sometimes referred to as a way of life rather than one specific religion that conforms to a strict set of dogma. However, there are some generally accepted ideas in Hinduism. For example, much Hindu thought and philosophy comes from the Vedas. Theses are the holy books of Hinduism and the four main Vedas are the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Another unifying Hindu practice is the worship of a single deity named Brahman, but other gods are recognized and multiple paths to Brahman are recognized too. For example, some of the main gods are Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Krishna, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Hindus also believe in a continuous cycle of life and death known as reincarnation and in the law of Karma, which is the universal law of cause and effect. One of the key goals of Hinduism is for the individual soul, Atman, to reach Moksha in which the soul finally breaks the cycle of reincarnation and becomes one with Brahman. In order to reach Moksha, people must try to achieve Dharma, which is a sort of code of good conduct and moral living. It is the Karma of this moral living that has a direct effect on who they will be in their next life. This brings us to the caste system. The caste system ranges from Brahmins, the highest caste, to the Dalits, or the “untouchables.” People are born into a caste that defines for them what jobs they can do and who they can marry. The caste system was banned in India during the 1950s but is still practiced in much of the country. Hinduism holds all living things in reverence, therefore many Hindus are vegetarian. The primary place of worship, or Puja, for Hindus is the Temple. Hinduism has many different holidays but Diwali (the festival of light) and Holi (the festival of color) the most widely known.

Islam has many different sects but there are five basic pillars of Islam. The first is the Shahadah which is when a Muslim sincerely recites the Arabic phrase that translates too “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.” The second pillar is the Salat which is when Muslims prayer five times a day. When in India you may hear the call to prayer over the loud speaker if you are near a Mosque. A Mosque is the Muslim place of worship. The third pillar of Islam is Zakat which is the giving of alms to help the poor and needy. Next is the Sawm, or fasting. This fasting takes place in the month of Ramadan on the lunar calendar. And finally, the fifth pillar is the Hajj; a pilgrimage to Mecca where Islam was born.

Christianity

What comes as a surprise to many people is that Christianity came to India in the 1st century AD. The apostle Thomas came to the south western coast, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and was later martyred in Tamil Nadu. It was said that when the Portuguese first arrived in India in the 1500s they were shocked to find Christianity already there, but they were even more shocked to find Christians who had never heard of the Pope! Currently, Christians only make up about 2-3% of the Indian population and are mostly congregated in the Northeastern States. Christianity spread throughout the subcontinent with the arrival of European Catholic and Protestant missionaries before and during the British Raj.

Christendom is basically divided into three general catagories; the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Protestant Church. Under these three main branches there are a host of subdivisions or “denominations.” The basic belief of the Christian faith is that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth by being born to the virgin Mary. He lived a perfect and sinless life and died on a cross, which was a torturous execution the Roman’s used. But He rose again from the dead after three days. By doing so He defeated sin and death, and He freely offers salvation and forgiveness of sins to anyone who would believe in His death and resurrection and put their faith in Him. Being saved or “born again” by putting your faith in Jesus means that you will have eternal live in Heaven and on the New Earth after you die. Christians believe that Jesus is coming again to judge the world and make all things right. Christians seek to live lives that are pleasing to God and use the their holy book the Bible to learn more about God and His will for their lives. In the Christian faith God is an all powerful being. He is one being but has three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. The main place of worship for Christians is the Church. However, Christians believe they can worship and talk to God whenever they want and wherever they are.

To understand the Christian faith better you can purchase a Bible here.

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Sikhism is a monotheistic religion and they believe that there is only one god and this divine being is the god of all people. The main tenants of Sikhism are truthful living, service to humanity and devotion to god. Sikh’s also believe in reincarnation and that it is through moral and pure living and the grace of god that one breaks free from the cycle of reincarnation. Sikh’s reject the Hindu caste system, however some Sikh’s practice a version of their own. Sikh’s worship in a building called a Gurudwara where the Guru Granth Sahib is housed. Some outwards symbols of Sikhism people may notice are the five Ks: the Kesh (uncut hair), Kanga (a comb), Kara (a steel bracelet), Kirpan (a knife) and Kachera (shorts). These five Ks symbolize a Sikh’s commitment to their faith.

Buddhism

Judaism first arrived in southern India, in Kerala in the 500s BC, however more Jews came to India in 70 AD after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Jews follow the teachings of their sacred text the Torah and many other prophetic writings in the Tanakh. Interestingly, these sacred texts make up the Christian Old Testament. The Hebrew Talmud is also used as a supplemental text for Jewish thought and teaching. Judaism teaches that there is one sovereign God and the Jews are His chosen people.

 Language

India is a country made up of many different ethnic groups and there are hundreds of different dialects spoken throughout the country. Language is very regional in India and most Indians speak two or more languages. Hindi is the most spoken Indian language however English is very widely spoken too.

Below are some of the main languages in India and where they are generally spoken:
- Hindi (spoken across northern India)
- Bengali (spoken in West Bengal and Bangladesh)
- Marathi (Maharashtra)
- Telugu (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh)
- Tamil (Tamil Nadu)
- Gujarati (Gujarat)
- Urdu (many Muslims speak Urdu, it is also Pakistan’s main language)
- Kannada (Karnataka)
- Odia (Odisha)
- Malayalam (Kerala)
- Punjabi (Punjab)

As a tourist, if you are interested in knowing some phrases to speak while you are in India, you should check which region or state you are visiting. Then, find out what the main language spoken there is and learn some phrases from that language. To illustrate, if you are traveling in southern India, Hindi will not get you very far since it is mostly spoken in the north and south Indians can be fiercely opposed to northern influence in their affairs. Fortunately, many Indians speak English, especially those involved in the tourist industry

For a couple helpful resources to begin with check out:
- Lonely Planet - Hindi, Urdu and Bengali: Phrasebook & Dictionary (2016)
- Indian English: Language and Culture (2008)

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Clothing

Culturally, there is an expectation of modest dress in India. There are lots of beautiful traditional Indian clothes. However, more and more people, especially in the cities, dress like folks do in the west.

For women, the most well known forms of clothing are the Sari (the picture on the left) and the Kameez. The Kameez is a long top that is often worn with a Salwaar or a Churidaar. The Salwaar is a loose fitting pants that go all the way to the ankle and the Churidaar is a more tightly fitting pants that also goes to the ankle. Women often wear a Dupatta with their Kameez, which is a scarf/shawl. There are multiple variants of the clothing described above and they vary region to region. There is a noticeable difference between the way northerners and southerns dress.

The most well known traditional menswear is called the Kurta Pyjama. The Kurta is a collarless tunic goes down to the waist or the knees. The Pyjama can be either loose or close fitting and are worn as pants. Another traditional form of men’s clothing is the Dhoti, a long white cloth that is wrapped around the waist and often embroidered on the edge. Similar to the Dhoti is the Lungi, which is often worn by men in southern India and can be tucked in at the waist to make it knee length.

Social Etiquette

As with any culture, Indian social etiquette cannot be boiled down to a paragraph or two. Here are just some basics to help navigate your entrance to this new and vibrant country.

A common way to greet people in India is to put your palms and fingers together with a slight bow of the head and saying “Namaste.” Men will often shake hands but mostly only with other men. It is best to avoid winking, or strong eye-contact or touching someone of the opposite gender.

Feet and shoes are considered very dirty in India. Always take your shoes off at the door of someone’s house or at a temple or mosque and be sure to sit in a way that does not expose the soles of your feet towards another person. Also refrain from touching your feet. Additionally, the left hand is considered dirty too. Therefore, try to eat with your right hand and avoid passing things to people with your left hand. In many parts of India people eat with their hands rather than utensils.

Indians pride themselves on their hospitality. If you are invited to someone’s home compliment them on their hospitality. Plus, be prepared for them to serve you Chai (a delicious, creamy spiced tea) and/or food. A refusal on your part will be seen as you being polite and they will most likely insist you partake. It is also appreciative to bring a small gift for the family or their children, such as fruit or chocolates. When it comes time to leave politely ask their permission to leave.

In India there is a joke that their time zone, Indian Standard Time (IST) is actually called Indian Stretchable Time. This is because Indian culture is not very punctual and people will often arrive late (late in the eyes of many western cultures) for a meeting or event.

Be prepared to haggle and negotiate when buying items on the street. You will also notice many Indians nodding their head as you speak. That does not necessarily mean they are affirming what you are saying but just acknowledging what you are saying. However, a side-to-side head bobble is used to communicate understanding and “yes.” Also, out of politeness many people will answer “yes” to a direct question even if it is not true so it is often more effective to use open ended questions. For example, instead of “is the hotel this way?”, ask “which way is the hotel?”

In regards to modesty, it is suggested, especially for women, to wear clothes that cover most of your skin. Tank tops, spaghetti straps, short shorts or dresses that end above the knees will likely draw a lot of unwanted attention. Even for men, wearing tank tops or shorts that end above the knees are somewhat unusual. Also, for women visiting the beach, it may be better to opt for a one-piece swimsuit and board shorts rather than a bikini. In order to be safe from unwanted attention and not to risk any offense, one idea is to simply purchase some salwar kameez and enjoy wearing some traditional Indian garb as you travel.

A couple more things to be aware of would be to avoid pointing with your finger as this can be seen as accusatory or rude, but rather gesture with your whole hand. And when it comes to personal space you may notice that when standing in line, people stand very close together and sometimes people will try to squeeze their way to the front. In these situations move with the crowd and inch forward but do not push anyone. However, when speaking with someone, arm’s length or a little more is a comfortable distance.

Lastly, this may not fit in a social etiquette section, but a word of caution. Just like in the west, be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. As a tourist you may be seen as a target for pick-pockets, so keep your valuables in your front pockets or, if you are carrying a purse, keep it in front of you. At night, it is best to walk in pairs or groups rather than alone, especially for women.

There are many more social cues and forms of social etiquette to learn. Have fun learning on the way and be prepared to make a gaffe here and there. Do not take yourself too seriously, it is ok to make mistakes, you can always apologize and ask for help. Tourists are very welcome in India and many folks will happily explain things to you.

Food

Because India is mostly a Hindu nation and Hindus are for the most part vegetarian, Indian cuisine boasts of some fabulous vegetarian dishes. Additionally, the large Muslim minority has influenced much of the cuisine too. The cuisine in India varies from region to region.

Indian cooking uses many different herbs and spices; most notably cumin, tumeric, ginger, chili, coriander, cloves, garlic, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, hing, safron, fenugreek and fennel. Curry and the famed Garam Masala are actually a blend of spices. A lot of food is cooked in Ghee which is basically clarified butter, and coconut oil is often used in the south. Indian food can be quite spicy, especially in some southern regions. However, many restaurants are used to tourists and offer a milder option of the same dish if you ask. Indian desserts are incredibly sweet but are delicious!

There is too much to be said about food and it would take days and pages to write. One of the best parts about visiting India is eating your way across the country.

Here are some notable dishes to get you started:

Biryani - This is a spicy baked rice dish that is popular all across India. It can be vegetarian or include basically any kind of meat (See above picture).
Butter Chicken - This dish is a favorite for many tourists because it is not spicy. It is spiced (but not hot) chicken served in a buttery creamy sauce.
Tandoori Chicken - Spicy marinated Chicken that is baked in a clay oven called a Tandoor (See picture on left).
Chicken Tikka Masala - Chunks of marinated chicken roasted on a skewer and then cooked in a curry sauce.
Chicken Karahi - This dish is popular in Pakistan and northern India. It is a spicy chicken dish cooked with ginger and peppers in a metal dish called a Karahi.
Chana Masala - This is a vegetarian dish of chickpeas cooked with Masala in a tomatoey sauce. Depending on where you are in India it may also be called Chole Masala.
Dal - There are many different types of dal depending on where you are in India. Basically Dal is lentils that are cooked with Curry, Masala or in a form of spicy soup. Dal is mostly eaten with bread but in the south it is often eaten over rice using your hands.
Paneer - This is a unique kind of dairy product that most closely resembles cottage cheese, although it is more firm. It is vegetarian and can be cooked as a stand alone dish or cooked with different vegetables or lentils.
Aloo Ghobi - Aloo is potato and Ghobi is Cauliflower. This vegetarian dish is curried and eaten with bread.
Roti/Naan/Chapati - Roti is the Hindi word for bread. Tandoori Roti is a flat bread that is baked in a Tandoor. Naan is a pita like flatbread that is also cooked in a Tandoor. It is often buttered or baked with garlic. Chapati is a flatbread that is made on a skillet with wholewheat flour.
Samosa - Samosas can be can be served as a snack or an appetizer. It is a fried or baked pastry with a spicy filling of meat or vegetables. Most often it is filled with potato.
Chai - The Hindi word for tea is chai. Chai is immensely popular all across India. Chai is made with tea leaves, milk, sugar and spices. Most notable are Masala Chai and Cardamom Chai. It’s style and flavor vary from region to region.

Idli Vada - This is a south Indian vegetarian breakfast (or snack). Idli is basically a steamed cake made from rice and chickpea flour. Vada is made of chickpea flour and spices and deep-fried in the shape of a donut. Both are eaten with different kinds of chutney and a spicy lentil soup called Sambar.
Dosa - Dosa is also a south India breakfast food. It is a rice flour pancake or crepe that is crispy, and like Idli and Vada, it is eaten with Sambar and various kinds of chutney.
Desserts - Indian desserts are vary sweet and are often made with flour, milk, sugar and spices like Cardamom. Ones that come highly recommended are Jalebi (basically an orange colored deep fried syrup), Barfi (milk based fudge), Gulab Jamun (deep fried dumplings soaked in syrup) and Gajar Halwa (a pudding of milk, sugar and grated carrots). The list can go on of course and they are well worth a try!
Street Food - India has some delicious street food. Rather than give you a list just explore and give it a try. However, be forewarned of the possibility of food poisoning. It is suggested to eat the items that are hot off the stove or right out of the frier to ensure there is no bacteria.

Here are some cook books if you want to try yourself!
Indian Cookery Course, by Monisha Bharadwaj
Made in India: Recipes from an Indian Family Kitchen, by Meera Sodha

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