India is a diverse country with a national culture made up of different ethnic and religious groups. There’s a lot to learn about Indian culture, but here are 12 of the most intriguing and weird facts you probably didn’t know. More interesting cultural facts and information can be found here in pamoora.
Read here at — What Do You Know About India
1. India is hosting a festival visible from space
Kumbh Mela is a national festival held every 12 years. The festival is a pilgrimage to four river banks: Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Participants take a ritual bath in the water at each location. In Indian culture, people believe that the religious ritual of swimming “washes away their sins”.
The festival is huge, with more than 100 million participants making the pilgrimage some years. Satellites in space followed the festival
2. India Was the First to Mine Diamonds
India was the only place where diamonds could be found in ancient times. India was the first and only country to discover and mine diamonds until Brazil discovered diamonds in the 1720s. Since the 1900s, India’s diamond mining has decimated as other countries found rich diamond veins. India still has industrial mines that make up a small part of the global diamond industry.
3. India Invented Yoga
India is the birthplace of yoga, a physical and spiritual practice that focuses on the harmony of body and mind. While many now view yoga as purely physical, its origins are more spiritual. It was conceived as a discipline that encompasses mind, body, culture, and religion. Traditional yoga focuses on meditation and liberation from earthly bondage.
4. The Hindu Calendar Recognizes 6 Seasons
Unlike most calendars that have four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter), the Hindu calendar has six seasons. The spring season is known as Vasanta Ritu. The summer season is called Krishna Ritu and the rainy season is called Varsha Ritu. Then comes autumn, which is called Sharad Ritu, and pre-winter, which is called Hermand Ritu. The winter is called Shida Ritu or Shishir.
5. India Has 26 Official Holidays
India knows how to celebrate, with 26 nationally recognized and celebrated public holidays. Some of these holidays are religious, while others honor the country itself. India became independent on August 15, 1947, hence this day is celebrated as Independence Day every year.
In Indian culture and tradition, Holi is the “festival of colors”. This festival is a Hindu tradition that celebrates unity and victory over good and evil by throwing colorful powders. Many other holidays are national holidays.
6. Cows Are Considered Sacred
Hinduism originated in India, so it’s no surprise that 80% of the country’s population is Hindu. The cow is considered sacred in Indian culture because of its association with Hindu heritage. There are various deities in Hinduism, many of which are associated with cows. The cow is associated with Krishna (the shepherd god), Shiva (the bull rider), and Kamadenu (the deity known as the “mother of all cows”).
Because cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, many Indian citizens avoid beef and other cow products such as milk and cheese.
7. India Invented the Word ‘Shampoo’
Many people don’t know that India invented and introduced the first shampoo to the world. The English word “shampoo” is derived from the Hindi and Urdu words “champo”. Back then, shampoo was not comparable to the bottles that you can buy in stores today. People have made it from various plants and plant extracts. Ancient Egypt was first recorded using a raw form of shampoo mixed with citrus fruits and water.
The most effective shampoo of the time was made from boiled soap (a type of shrub) and dried gooseberry along with several other herbs in some areas. Sapendos is often referred to as “soap” because of its cleansing properties.
