Right from birth to death, Indians keep on performing various customs and traditions.

Almost every occasion such as birth, engagement, marriage, death and so on; has a ceremony attached to it. Following are some of the Indian customs practiced : Birth Ceremony Soon after the birth of a child, a ceremony for naming the child takes place. A priest tells the first alphabet from which the name of the child should start. The birth of a child in a family is an occasion that brings joy and happiness to everyone associated with the family. The first thing that comes to mind after the birth of a child is choosing an apt name for him/her. This name would give a unique identity to the baby and will stay forever. Naming a baby is considered to be sacred and therefore is an important Indian tradition. It involves the immediate families and also close relatives and friends. Traditionally known as Namkaran or Namakaran Sanskar, this ceremony is conducted in an elaborate form. The Namakaran Sanskar is usually held after the first 10 days of a baby's delivery. These 10 post-natal days are considered to be inauspicious as the mother and child are considered to be impure. After those 10 days, the house is cleaned and sanctified for the ceremony. The mother and child are bathed traditionally and are prepared for the ceremony. Relatives and close friends are invited to be a part of this sacred occasion and bless the child. Priests are called and an elaborate ritual takes place. The people involved in the baby naming ceremony are the parents of the new born, the paternal and maternal grandparents and few close relatives and friends. The child is dressed in new clothes and the mother wets the head of the baby with a bit of water as a symbol of purifying the child. The baby is then handed over to the paternal grandmother or the father who sits near the priest during the ritual. The sacred fire is lit and the priest chants sacred hymns to invoke the Gods in the heaven to bless the child. According to the date and time of birth of the child, a particular alphabet is chosen which would prove lucky for the baby. The baby is then given a name starting with that alphabet. Usually the father whispers the name four times in the right ear of the baby. The baby receives blessings from all, including the priests. An elaborate feast is organized for the priests and the guests, as a closing event of the ceremony.

Mundan Ceremony There are traditional many rituals that surround the birth of child in a typical Indian family. These traditions and rituals aim at blessing the child to have a long fulfilling life. One of these sacred ceremonies is known as Mundan Sanskar or the first haircut of the baby. The mundan ceremony is an important tradition in India and relatives and friends are invited to bless the child. This first haircut of a child in India has an important significance, which is discussed in the following lines. The child usually receives his/her first mundan in either the first year or the third year of age. A priest is called to conduct the rituals according to the traditions and a barber is called to shave off the hair. The priest recited sacred hymns and chants and shaves a part of the head. The barber then shaves the entire head, sometimes leaving a clump of hair at the back of the head. Some of this hair is offered in the sacred rivers in holy cities like Haridwar and Varanasi. To cool down the head and to cure nicks and cuts, a paste of turmeric and sandalwood is sometimes applied on the entire head. Thereafter, a child may be shaved now and then or never, depending on the desire of that particular family. There is a significant reason as to why the head is shaved in such an elaborate ritualistic way. According to the Hindu beliefs, the hair present at birth is supposed to represent unwanted traits from the past lives. In order to make sure that the child has no undesirable qualities of the past birth in this life, the head is shaved off to ensure a new beginning and a fresh start. Medically, it is said that shaving off the hair stimulates the cells and improves blood circulation to the brain. Some also believe that this gives the child a long life.

Traditional Welcome Indians believe in the phrase "Atithi Devo Bhava", meaning a guest is the reflection of God. In the traditional welcome, the guest is garlanded and a tikka (vermillion) is put on his/her forehead. Even the Tourism Ministry of India has launched the 'Atithi Devo Bhava' campaign to make people aware of India's rich culture and traditions. Wedding Ceremony Weddings are conducted in India with great fanfare, following various customs and rituals. The wedding is not a single day affair in India; rather, the functions carry on for 3 - 4 or even more days. Namaskar/Namaste The most popular form of greeting, especially the elders, is to say Namaste with the hands joined at the chest level. It is also used at the time of farewell. Lighting Lamp/Diya In almost every Indian household, a lamp/diya is lighted before the altar of God in the morning. Some people light the lamp in evening also. Prostrating Before Parents and Elders Indians prostrate before their parents, elders and teachers by touching their feet. The elders in turn place their hand on prostrating person's head and bless him/her. Death Ceremony After a person passes away, the cremation is done according to certain rituals. The rituals continue a few days after the death.

Beliefs and Superstitions No matter which part of the world you tour, you will find the natives nurturing certain beliefs and superstitions and India is no exception in this case. Though the Indian society is fast progressing, there are many people who are still superstitious and have a strong faith in the local beliefs. While some of them are quite hilarious, few others are really interesting, as many aspects of life are linked to them. Few beliefs even find their way into the Indian religious texts and scriptures. The standard viewpoint is that most of the Indian beliefs and values have sprung with an objective to protect from evil spirits, but some were based on scientific reasoning. With the passage of time, the reasoning part behind the origin of these cultural beliefs and superstitions got eroded. That is exactly why most of these beliefs appear unsubstantiated and false. However, in reality, there are many such beliefs in the Indians culture which are absolutely absurd and have no logic behind them. Superstitions are deemed as pertinent in India because these, generally, hint at future occurrences and can be either good or bad. Thus, anything from the call of a bird to the falling of utensils is considered an omen in India. Many of the traditional superstitions in India are connected with animals, birds and reptiles. For instance, seeing an elephant when one is leaving for a journey is considered lucky. This is because an elephant represents Lord Ganesha, the Indian God who is the harbinger of good luck and removes obstacles. Similarly, other auspicious signs could be cawing of a black crow in one's house, as it forecasts the arrival of guests. Seeing a peacock on a journey is also considered lucky, but hearing its shrill sound is bad. Indians feel happy if a sparrow builds a nest in a new house because it signals good fortune. A very old belief is that if you kill a cat, you have to offer one in gold to a priest. This belief or superstition was concocted by the priests to protect the cats, which are useful in killing the rats in people's houses. Leaving one's home after wedding or for some other important task is a significant occasion. Thus, Indians often consult astrological charts to fix an auspicious time for this. Again, it is considered lucky to see cereals, paddy, cotton, hay or a newly wed before embarking on a journey. In India, you may also come across or hear about people who help in interpreting other's dreams. Even the daily life of Indians is governed by beliefs and superstitions. For example, Monday is not an auspicious day for shaving and Thursday is a bad day for washing one's hair.

Indian Funeral Traditions The time after the death or passing away of a person in India is given a lot of importance. As per the Hindu Holy Scripture like the Bhagwat Gita, it is believed that the soul of the person who has just passed away is on its way to the next level of existence at such a time. As such, it is with an intention to help the departed soul in a peaceful crossover to that next level of his /her existence, that Indians observe so many death rites and rituals. One such Hindu death ceremony is the Teravih. It is a period of mourning observed by Indian people, starting from the day of the death of a particular person, whether male, female or children, to the 13th day after his /her funeral. During teravih death ritual, there are many rules that the family members of the deceased have to observe. For instance, they are not supposed to attend religious functions, eat certain foods like sweets, wear new clothes or participate in any cultural activity or festivity. The basic idea behind the Indians' following all these funeral traditions is to show reverence to the deceased person. Normally during this time, all the family members share each others sorrows and pray, so that the soul of the deceased person rests peacefully. Though it's basically during teravih that the death rites are strictly observed, but traditionally, the death rites in Hindu religion extend up to a year. At the end of one year, all elderly members of the deceased person gather once again for the Shraad ceremony. The 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day after the death of the person are also important, as all relatives gather to have a meal of the deceased's favorite foods. A small amount of the food is offered before his /her photo and later, it is ceremonially left at an abandoned place, along with a lit diya. However, there may be slight variations in the way people of different religious sect observe this death rite.

Arranged Marriage The traditional arranged marriage has long been an integral part of the Indian culture. As against love marriage, it is the concept in which the parents and family members search for the prospective bride or the groom, through their acquaintances or advertisements in newspapers and marriage portals. In the earlier times, with everything being fixed by family members, the bride and groom used to be practically clueless about the person they were marrying. Today the arranged marriage system of India has become more flexible. Taking the consent of the boy and the girl before marriage is important now. They meet each other before marriage, gauge their compatibility & if everything fits, they get engaged. The duration between marriage and engagement may vary from fifteen days to over a year. During this period, a lot of activities take place in the bride's as well as the groom's families. It is also during this time only that meetings, ceremonies and constant contact over the phone help the bride and the groom-to-be to know and understand each other better. Generally, there are several factors like compatibility of the to-be-couples' horoscopes, family background, wealth, social standing, caste and so on, which are taken into consideration by the parents of both sides under arranged marriages. The institution of marriage is considered very sacred in the Indian subcontinent. So, the parents think that since they are older and thus, wiser, they can take better decisions in comparison to their progeny. Though this system of marriage is on the decline in urban India, it's still strong in the rural regions. The strict adherence to the Hindu customs is what compels Indians to go through such a lengthy process for fixing up a marriage. Marriage in the Indian society is considered so auspicious that not just the day, but also the time of the marriage is fixed as per the astrological charts of both the bride and the groom. In Hindus, the marriage ceremony takes place during the night and stretches over approximately five-six hours. A priest is summoned to preside over the marriage, which is attended by the all the family members, relatives and friends.

There is a lot of festivity and merry making before and after the marriage is fixed. Elaborate trousseau, jewellery and gift shopping is done by the families of both the bride and the groom. The wedding is performed as per the rules stipulated by the Vedic rites and rituals. The groom pledges to fulfill the bride's smallest of small desires, to the best of his ability. Both of them promise to be faithful to each other. She, in turn, is to treat him as her lord and master, her guide and advisor and be with him, through good and bad, for the rest of her life.

Griha Pravesh Ceremony Griha Pravesh ceremony is the first entry into a newly built house. It is one of the important Hindu rituals in India. It even finds an important place in Vaastu Shastra, the astrological book of architecture. According to the book, after the new house is completed in all respects, an auspicious moment is determined on astrological considerations. To start living, the entry into the new house on this auspicious day is termed as the Graha Pravesh ritual. According to the Holy Scriptures there are three types of Griha Pravesh: Apoorva: Apoorva means new. It states the first entry to live in a newly constructed house on a newly selected land. Sapoorva: Sapoorva griha pravesh states the entry to live in an already existing house after traveling abroad or migration elsewhere. Dwandwah: Dwandwah or old Griha Pravesh states the entry to live in a house after reconstruction or renovation on account of damage by fire, flood waters, electricity, wind etc. It is laid down in the scriptures that the Graha Pravesh ceremony should take place at an auspicious time i.e. muhurat and defect-less Panchang. For Apoorva Graha Pravesh stick to perfect auspicious time and for Sapoorva and Dwandwah Graha Pravesh, the purity of Panchang should be given priority. As far as possible Graha Pravesh should be performed during the day time as it is considered auspicious. Normally, it can be done at any auspicious moment in the day or night. According to Vaastu, the first entry into the house should be done only after the doors of a house are fitted with shutters, the roof is covered, the God, Vaastu have been worshipped and offered sacrifices and the priests have been offered feast. Failing to

abide by this, one may face troubles and problems in the new house. There are also some specific months for Graha pravesh. These auspicious months give good results and therefore should be followed. Magh month provides gain of wealth Falgun month provides gain of children and wealth

Baishakh month provides growth of wealth and prosperity Jeshtha month provides gain of son and cattle.

Besides these, Graha pravesh in the months of Kartik and Margashirsh produce medium results. In the months of Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin Paush, Griha Pravesh is considered inauspicious and should be avoided. Apart from this, the tithies (dates) 4, 9, 4, 30, Amavas (no moon night) and Tuesdays should be avoided for Graha Pravesh. Other than this ceremony, there is another ritual of Graha pravesh that takes place in India that is discussed below. According to Indian tradition, after marriage the arrival of the new bride at her new or marital home for the first time is also called as the Graha Pravesh. When the bride arrives at her new home, her mother-in-law, welcomes her with the traditional 'Aarti'. This is done in order to ward off any evil influences from her. After this, the bride kicks a vessel filled with rice and coins. This symbolizes the arrival of wealth and prosperity in her marital home. It is then followed by another ritual wherein the bride puts her right foot onto a tray kept on the entrance of the house. The tray contains vermilion powder mixed with water or milk. She covers her both the feet in the red paste and enters the house bare feet, making footprints on the floor. This symbolizes the arrival of good luck and fortune in the new house. In India, the newly wedded bride is considered as Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Due to this the Graha pravesh of the new bride is a very auspicious ceremony.

Respect for Women Indian women occupy a very special position in her home and the society. All important decisions pertaining to the home are taken by her, which she puts across to the eldest decision-making member of the family. He/she then invites a meeting or initiates a debate to arrive at a conclusion. Since in India, it is considered the responsibility of the womenfolk to look after home, their advice and decisions are respected and taken very seriously by their kin. Infact, women have always commanded a position of respect in the Indian society and are treated with full dignity by Indian men. There are evidences that women even participated in the running of the administration in the earlier days. Like Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, there were also other women rulers, who fought on the battlefield courageously. Even today, there are many noteworthy women administrators in our country. In present day India, we have the likes of tennis player Sania Mirza, actress Aishwarya Rai, NRI film director Meera Nair, who have made the country proud at the international level. With more and more Indian women achieving great feats these days, the general perception and treatment towards them is slowly changing for the better. All these have led to an enhancement of the social position of the women in India.

Henna Whenever there is any happy occasion or festivity, the Indian women celebrate it by applying henna designs on their hands and feet. Apart from serving the role of a body art, applying henna is also considered as very auspicious. Heena application is a complex art and the artist needs to be proficient to be able to paint intricate designs swiftly. Also called Mehndi, one can prepare the henna by making a paste out of the henna powder available in the markets across India. Traditionally, it is made by grinding the leaves of the henna tree to a paste. While using mehendi leaves, it should be ensured that they are not whole and unbroken after grinding. Henna does leave its deep red-brown stain on the skin until the Lawson molecules are not released from the leaf and this happens only when the leaves are properly grinded. So, people prefer using the henna powder for this form of body art. You need to mix henna powder with lemon juice, strong tea or other mildly acidic liquid, apply this paste and leave it on for about 10 hours to dry. Later, you can scrap it off with a blunt knife or a spoon. Since mehndi is considered lucky, in our country, its application on the hands and feet of a bride is mandatory. Henna artists usually apply the most complex mehndi patterns and designs on the bride as these look the loveliest. The traditional Indian henna has been glammed up lately with the use of glitters and other such things. People wear them to parties and get-togethers. But it's the traditional henna that is widely worn by most people because it is much cheaper and looks much more beautiful. In our country, henna artists generally belong from the Nai (barber) caste. The history of mehendi tells us that the knowledge or skill of its application is normally passed down from one generation to another. Mehendi application also provides a source of income to many women who are not allowed to work outside. All happy occasions in India, be it birth, weddings or religious ceremonies; include henna application as part of the celebration.

Lifestyle Punjabi, Marathi, Bihari, Bengali, Assamese, Nepali, Gujrati, Kashmiri. Though India consists of diverse ethnic races and groups and each of them strictly adhere to their own set of customs and tradition, yet there is a common lifestyle pattern followed by almost all the Indians. This, despite the fact that there is so much variation in their language, dressing style and custom! Read on to know about the life of people in the country and what traits put them together under the brand 'India': Joint Family System A majority of the people in India prefer to live in a joint family, which could comprise anywhere between a group of two or more members to even over 20 members sometimes. As per the Indian way of living, the commanding position in a family is held by the eldest earning male member. He consults other adult members on important issues, but it is his decision that ultimately prevails. However, a lot of importance is also given to the advice of the eldest retired members of the family. Women as Homemaker As per the lifestyle of the Indian people, it is the duty of a woman to take care of her home. As such, from her very childhood, a girl child is taught to rustle up mouthwatering dishes by her mother and other ladies in her family. She is also taught to attend to guests and strangers politely and elegantly because it is thought to greatly reflect upon her upbringing. Hers is a 24x7 job, yet she manages to execute it smoothly and is respected for this quality. Worshipping Worshipping is an important part of the daily life of Indian people. You will find the holy basil tulsi planted in maximum houses, which people water as well as worship everyday religiously. Many Indians are associated to various religious sects and attend weekly gatherings to listen to the sermons. Apart from temples, mosques and gurdwaras, there will also invariably be a personal place for worship, and pictures of Gods and Goddesses, in every house in India. Respecting Elders One common trait you will find amongst Indians is that children show utmost respect to their elders. Now this is one habit all Indian parents deliberately inculcate in their children, since beginning. It is an unsaid rule in India that a person cannot answer back to elders and more so, when he/she is at fault. It is deemed disrespectful in India to

refer to an elder by his / her name. Instead people prefer calling them uncle and aunt, especially if the person is very elderly. It is also customary in India for the youngsters to touch the feet of their elders as a way of greeting as well as on important occasions. Etiquettes India is a vibrant amalgamation of varied ethnic groups, climate, cultures, regions and traditions. As such, many people visiting the country for the first time find it uniquely different. On one hand, you will find many conservatively dressed Indian women flocking the temple entrance. On the other, there are others who have no qualms walking the fashion ramp in the skimpiest of clothes. While there are millions of illiterates in the Indian subcontinent, there are also those who are the driving force behind the booming IT industry in India. In order to avoid making any unintentional faux pas, read the below mentioned social and cultural etiquettes that are in tune with the general Indian manners and protocol. Dressing Etiquette Majority of the Indians, especially in the rural areas, small towns and cities, are a conservative lot. Short, revealing clothes, especially for women, is a strict no-no. As such, it's expected of you to dress up accordingly when you go out for sight-seeing. You can wear knee length Bermudas, tee shirts, long or quarter length skirts, capris and jeans. However, when inside your hotel rooms or at high-end restaurants, bars and discos, you can dress in a more relaxed manner, without worrying much about the dressing codes. Shoes Indian temple etiquette stipulates that you take off your shoes before entering the premises. The same applies to even certain churches in India. Usually, there will be people stationed outside most temples and gurdwaras, who will keep your shoes safely for a nominal sum. You will be expected to follow the same protocol when you visit as person's home in some of the cities of India. It will, thus, be convenient for you if you wear flip-flops or floaters instead of shoes. Touching Indian culture and tradition forbids unnecessary touching or any form of physical contact, especially between a man and a woman, in public. Kissing in public is a not advisable here. You can shake hands with people, or better still stick, to the traditional Namaste, the popular Indian style greeting. For this, you need to press your hands together with all fingers pointing towards the sky in front of your chest and politely say Namaste, while looking at the person you are saying it to. Avoid Offence

Indian manners and etiquette tips also comprises not speaking ill about or criticize the country or its people openly. The natives are bound to take great offence to it. At the same time, never address the elderly by their first name, unless they allow you to. It's advisable you call them sir or madam instead. With youngsters, you can choose to be informal. It is also considered disrespectful in India to use strong swear words publicly.

Aarti The Hindu ritual of aarti accrues from the ancient Vedic concept of fire ceremony or the 'homa'. Generally, one or more wicks made of cotton, or thin cloth strip, is soaked in ghee or camphor, lighted and offered to the deity. The term 'aarti' may also refer to the traditional Hindu devotional songs that are sung while the fire ritual is being performed. Apart from the national anthem of India, perhaps, the only other song sung popularly and lovingly across all age and social groups and regions is the aarati. Though arti may be sung differently in different parts of the Indian subcontinent, the core intention never varies. All aarti songs signify the highest form of love for God. As per Indian beliefs and tradition, worshiping God through 'bhava' or emotion is the highest form of worship. And in arti, both the singing of the traditional hymn, or the devotional song, and the fire serve to prevent the deflection of the worshipper's concentration from the act. In Sanskrit, the term aarti can be broken up into two words - "aa' meaning towards and "rati" meaning the highest love for God. Traditionally, aarati is done two or three times a day, at the conclusion of a puja, bhajan or havan. It is a mandatory ritual performed on all auspicious occasions of Hindus. The aarti thali, which contains diya, flowers, incense and akshata, is circulated in front of the deity and arti song is sung by all members present there. When arti is performed before God, it is believed that the plate and the light get blessed by the deity. The pandit, or the priest, passes on the arti plate from one person to another, present there, who cup the flickering fire lightly with their down-turned hands. Then, they put their hands over the flame and then touch their forehead, as a gesture of seeking holy blessings. The plate on which the aarati is performed is usually made of silver, bronze or copper. Aarti is also performed in front of a person, either as a welcome gesture or to ward off bad influences from him. Infact, the whole purpose of arti is to ward off the evil spirits and bad omens.

In India, the aarti is also performed before people of high status, little kids during certain ceremonies, on people embarking or returning from a long journey (especially if it's a pilgrimage) and on a newly married couple when they enter their house for the first time, etc. The arti is also performed on some newly acquired land and before initiating some pertinent chore. There are different types of arti for different Indian deities and often arti contains important snippets about them. Janeu Ceremony Janeu is a consecrated thread that is worn by each and every Hindu Brahmin of India. This holy thread of 'Janeo' suggests the development of a male, from a young boy to a man. It is believed that a boy cannot be surmised as "Dvija" (twice born) until he wears the janeu. Besides the Brahmins, Janeo thread is also worn by the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. The type of Janeu is different for different caste groups or sects of people of the Indian subcontinent. One is Brahmgandh Janeu (with 5 knots or 3 knots), which is meant for Brahmins and the other is Vishnugandh Janeu (with one knot), meant for other classes. In case a Brahmin desires to become scholarly in the Vedas, he must wear janeu at 5 years of age. If a Kshatriya desires to gain strength, he should wear janeo at 6 and if a Vaishya desires for success, he must wear the Janeu at 8 years of age. Janeu is generally made of cotton thread; however Kshatriya and Vaishya wear threads made out of hempen and wool respectively. Janeu (Thread) Ceremony Brahmins celebrate the development of a boy through "Upanayanam Samskara" (sacred thread ceremony). The ceremony is generally observed between the ages of seven and fourteen. In case the ceremony could not take place due to any reason all through this age period, then it is required to be done before the marriage. The purpose of thread ceremony is to prepare a young man to share the responsibilities of elders. The thread is worn by the man in the company of a group chant of 'Gayatri' mantra. The thread is twisted in upward direction to make certain that 'Sattwaguna' (good quality of truth) prevails. The ceremony also suggests that the wearer of 'Janeu' can participate in the family rituals, from now onwards. Significance of three strands in Janeu Brahmins use 'Janeu' thread with three strands. These three strands of 'Janeo' have been studied many a times and different personalities gave several opinions regarding this tradition. To some people, the three strands stand for the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Others interpreted it as symbolical of Mahasarasvati, Mahalakshmi

and Mahakali. Many people believed it to be related with past, present and future. A number of persons stated it to be representative of three qualities - sattva, rajas and tamas. A few considered the three strands as sign of three states-wakefulness, dream and deep sleep. Some of them mentioned it to signify three dimensions of Heaven (swarga), Earth (mrityuloka) and Nether Regions (pataloka). Out of all opinions, the most logical is janeu's account with Ida, pingala and susumna nadi, through which the 'kundalini' (hidden) energy reveals in 'prana' and realization. How to wear Janeu at different occasions Janeu is a not an ordinary thread, its sanctity is regarded to get disturbed if it is not worn properly. Here are given different methods to wear Janeu at different occasions. To attend or perform any auspicious ceremony, one should wear 'janeu' hanging from the left shoulder (Upaviti). For attending or performing inauspicious event, one should wear 'janeu' hanging from the right shoulder (Prachnaviti).

In case the person wears 'janeu' round the neck like a garland, then, he is called as 'Niviti'. While going for daily ablutions or doing impure tasks, the holy thread must be raised and its upper part ought to be put behind ear. Males and females both can wear 'janeu', yet females should wear it around the neck. Following a birth or death in the family, 'janeu' should be removed and again a new thread ought to be worn after 15 days of event. One must replace the old or broken thread with a new thread.

Sindoor Traditional authentic Kumkum of India is made by grinding the dried turmeric to a powder. A few drops of lime are then added to this yellow powder, which changes its hue to a bright red. Kumkum is considered to be very auspicious by Indians and thus, used for various purposes on special occasions like wedding and festivals. People, however, use both red and the original yellow powders depending upon what they need the Kumkum for. Kumkum holds a great degree of significance in India, especially for married women. When an Indian woman wears a little red Kumkum in the parting of her hair just above the forehead, it conveys the meaning that she is married. In this case, the Indian vermillion or kumkum is referred to as Sindoor or Sindur. Whenever a female visits someone's house, it is customary for the elder ladies of that family to offer or apply a little kumkum on her forehead. In south India, whenever married women visit temples they dip their finger in yellow turmeric powder and apply a dot on their necks. Sindoor is not just used by the womenfolk of India. Even men, boys, girls and little children apply a dot of this powder on their forehead when they visit a temple or attend some religious function. However, for married Indian woman, it's is almost compulsory to apply Kumkum in the parting of their hair everyday. As per Hindu customs, she is supposed to cease wearing Sindur only after the demise of her husband. In earlier times, women preferred to prepare Kumkum at home. Now, most of them buy the readymade Sindur from the market. Depending on what brand of Kumkum you are buying, the cost of one small box of Sindur varies from Rs. 5 to 20. A traditional component of the sindoor is powdered red lead and other ingredients are alum and turmeric. Another custom followed by married Hindu ladies of the country is to wear a bindi on their forehead. At times women apply a kumkum dot instead of the bindi.

Indian Family Value System Values can be defined as certain attitudes and beliefs that a person follows in his conduct. Those standards as per which an individual judges his own actions, whether he is right or wrong can be called as values. Value system comprises of all those beliefs and viewpoints that the parents pass on their next generation, they further pass it on to their offspring and so, the legacy goes on and on. Now let us come to the 'Indian Family Value System' - what is it and how does it influence individuals. In the Indian culture, there are certain rules and regulations that each and every child is taught right from his childhood. Examples of Indian family values are - a young person should always touch the feet of his elders; he should never speak in a high or rude tone to those who are older to him; he should always give respect to elders and refer to them as 'aap'; he should not consume alcohol and tobacco or smoke cigarettes; he should respect women; he should always speak truth and try to engage in non-violent behavior; and so on. Most of the values that the parents impart to their children in India, as a part of the family value system, are similar in nature. However, there may be some variations too, depending upon different families. For instance, in some houses, girls are not allowed top wear skirts after they reach certain age, while in others, they can wear anything, as long as it is decent and not bodyrevealing. Even these variations are quite trivial, as the basic essence behind them remains, more or les, the same. Most of the values that the Indian parents believe in imparting to their children do not appeal to the outside world. But then, it is these beliefs that make India the wonderful country that it is today. Some other values that are part of India's cultural heritage are: Living peacefully and respecting each other's rights. Never ever compromising on integrity for the purpose of prosperity.

Maintain strong bonds with the family members as well as relatives. Being hospitable to everyone who comes to your home, irrespective of his caste, creed, financial position or status. Treating guest as God i.e. 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. Remembering and bowing to God first thing in the morning.

Indulging in yoga and meditation. Always taking the advice of elders in case of any important decision.

Kajal In India, Kajal is a form of eye makeup, which has been in vogue since the ancient times. It's the womenfolk of India who mostly apply kohl to darken their lower eyelid. However, it is also applied in case of children's and earlier, even the Indian men used to wear kajal. Kajal accrues the word Kohl, which is also at times spelt as Kol, Kehal or Kohal. Traditionally, it was prepared at home by females, as protection against eye ailments. However, today, it is easily available in almost all the shops. Infact, the concept of applying Kajal has become more of a fashion trend in urban India in the recent times. Those people who prepare Kajal at home make it out of soot and other ingredients. In old times, people believed that kajal or Kohl provided relief from the sun's glare. Another perception pertaining Kajal was that it wards off bad luck or vibes. As such, many women even today apply the Kajal as a small dot on the forehead of their toddlers as well as in their eyes. It is also applied at the nape of a child's neck, where it is not visible. Some people believe this will strengthen the child's eyesight. Applying Kajal is a strong tradition practiced by inhabitants of almost all the regions in India. Method of preparing Kajal at home Kajal preparation begins with dipping a clean, white, thin muslin cloth about four by four inches square in a sandalwood paste. The cloth is then dried in shade. After the sun is down, a wick is made out of the cloth and then used to light a mud lamp filled with castor oil. A brass vessel is positioned over the fire, leaving enough gap for the oxygen to aid the burning of the lamp. This is left burning overnight. Next morning, one or two drops of pure ghee or castor oil is added to the soot on the brass vessel and stored it in a clean dry box.

Fasting in India Keeping a fast is an integral part of the Indian culture and tradition. It basically connotes willingly abstaining oneself from eating certain or any kind of food, drink or both. It is known as Vrat in Indian households. The period of fasting also varies i.e. it could be partial or prolong for 24 hours. Some people of certain Indian religious sects like the Jains are known to keep a fast for weeks at a stretch, though this type of religious fasting has now been banned in India. Though people in India may keep a fast for varied reasons, the most important ones pertain to religion and spiritual aspects. There are mentions about fasting in many Indian religious scriptures. As per most Hindu sacred books like the Bhagwad Gita and others, fasting helps create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. One is expected to live piously, give charity and refrain from eating non-vegetarian food whenever observing fast for a spiritual or religious purpose in India. Our religious scriptures state fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for inculcating self-discipline too. Apart from certain Hindu festivals like Shivratri, Karva Chauth and so on, there are specific days on which Indians keep fast from varied reasons. For instance, people fast on Tuesdays for Lord Hanuman, the Indian monkey God. On Fridays, the devotees of the Goddess Santoshi Mata abstain from taking anything citric. There is also another type of fasting when people forego taking all cereals and eat only fruits. Such fasting is called Phalahar. However, there are many others who keep a fast solely for maintaining good health. People also fast these days for health reasons because fasting helps in the detoxification of the body. Everyone wants to look good and fit these days. As such, you will find many youngsters in India fasting. In medical context, fasting refers to the state achieved after digestion of a meal. A number of metabolic adjustments occur during fasting and many medical diagnostic tests are standardized to fasting conditions. Thus fasting has both religious and medical significance in India.

Touching Feet Those who do not know much about the Indian culture and tradition get very baffled when they see children in India touching the feet of their elders. This is, infact, the commonest Indian gesture and touching someone's feet means the person who is doing the act is showing his respect and subservience to the one whose feet he/she is touching. However, one important aspect related to this gesture is that the person's whose feet is being touched is always superior in age and position. Touching elders' feet is the first lesson in manners and etiquette that all Indian children are taught. So, generally, one is supposed to touch the feet of a person if he/she happens to be an elder member of the family or a respected spiritual person. Since Indians normally live in joint families, this gesture is performed by the sons and daughter-in-laws for their parents and grand parents. Though very young children are guided by their parents to learn this gesture, the comparatively elder ones are expected to do it spontaneously. In Indian culture, there are specific occasions when a person is expected to touch his / her elders' feet. These occasions include before one is departing for or arriving back from a journey, weddings, religious and festive occasions, etc. In earlier times, it was a like a custom in India for youngsters to touch their parents' feet first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Though there are many who still follow this rule, the truth is that the tradition is now slowly waning away with time. When an elder person's feet are being touched, he /she, in turn, is supposed to touch the head of the person doing the act and bless him /her for long life, fortune and prosperity. Interestingly, the act of touching feet gets somewhat intensified during certain occasions. For instance, many people prefer prostrating before the deities in temples or before persons of high rank spiritually and even politically. Touching the feet is an integral part of the Indian culture and tradition and not adhering to it by natives is considered as disrespectful.

Never keep your head toward north while sleeping keep towards south or east only for peaceful/ restful sleep & healthy life. 1. Do not proceed, if a cat cuts across your way 2. If there is itiching on the right palm (left for female) you can get some money or favours. 3. Unusual winking of eyes is a symptom of ill luck or decease. 4. If a lizard makes a sound when you make a statement, it shows that what you said is true. 5. Tuesdays are inauspecious for any good thing 6. There are two months in a year which are inauscpecious 7. Watching moon on Ganesh Chaturthi day is inauspecious 8. Stitching cloth after sun set is a bad practice 9. Never sleep with head to the north 10. Spell your name according to numerologically auspecious way. eg. Jayalalitha as Jayalalithaa. 11. Never call one back when the person is leaving the house. 12. Never wash the front couryard immediately after someone leaves the house. 1. not to cut nails at night/evening 2. if a cat crosses the path, wait for a while and then move ahead as a cat cutting ones path is a bad omen 3. when a crow crows at some ones window, it announces the arrival of guests 4. If a cat is heard crying, its a bad omen 5. If milk spills while boiling its bad omen 6. at times, there is fluttering of eyes. (it happens to a lot of people) even that indicates the happening of good and bad in their lives (good if right eye flutters and bad the other way or something like that) The cawing of a crow in one's house foretells the coming of guests, A dog howling near a sick man's chamber predicts his death, Seeing a cat or a cow's face early in the morning brings ill luck, yellow or white substance dropped on the threshold by a cow indicates the gain of gold or silver, A sparrow is encouraged to build a nest in a new house for good fortune. I wasn't really raised on Indian Superstitions, but I studied superstitions in high school for fun, and because I have some of my own. Those are just a few that I can remember.

when you are going out -these are considered bad--1.some one asks you 'where are you going?' 2. some body sneeze odd no; of times 3. a widow, a single Brahman or a man carrying oil or milk or a cat crossing your path. 4. going below the ladder. 5. hitting your head or feet on the thresh hold.

these are good-1. eating curds with jaggery 2. sighting a married lady with flowers on the head & kumkum on fore head. 3. sighting an elephant or braying of a donkey.sound made by lizards others--not good 1. milk over-flowing except on sankranthi day 2spilling of oil, turmeric, kumkum 3.hair-cutting on Tuesdays or in evenings 4. lizard falling on head 5. keeping money inside the bag meant for carrying your purchase. 6. doing things during Rahu-kala or travelling during in auspicious time 7. getting married on New moon day,or during certain months 8.not lending or borrowing after sun set ( lighting the lamp in the evening ) 9.exchanging things across the the threshhold. 10.giving or taking with the left hand. 11. not crossing the broken pumpkins or coconuts on the road. 12. cries of dogs & hooting of owls. others 1. cawing of crow- itching of right palm-arrival of guests itching of left palm--money gain 2.right eye twitching --good for men left eye twitching good for women. there are many more--depending upon the different regions in India. ~When your food arrives, eat them immediately, don't let the food to wait for u. ~After you finish your meal, wash it immediately, don't let your plate dry up. After shifting in to their new homes, they will patch cow dungs on the wall of their entrance to prevent evil spirits from coming in... A black cat crosses your path and you go back, a crow caws and visitors are expected. A lizard falls on your head and you live in fear of death! Are these omens or figments of

an over-active imagination? Did old wives have nothing better to do than cook up tales to frighten generations ever after? Irrespective of the veracity of these, they make for great reading. Read on for a sampling of some Indian ones! Here are some evergreen Indian superstitions!

Do not ever leave home without consulting an astrologer. Rahu and Ketu, two ominous planets, are waiting to ruin things for you. Wait for the shubh mahurat, based on the Hindu calendar. This also holds true for weddings, naming ceremonies, housewarming rites and everything in life! Consult a horoscope before getting your children married. Go ahead only if the virtues and gunas match perfectly. Seeing an elephant during a journey is auspicious as Ganesha, the God who removes obstacles will ensure success. A dog howling at night chills the blood a portent of approaching death. When leaving home, it is auspicious to see a bride, a Brahmin or an religious idol. However, sighting a widow or a barren woman is not lucky! A new bride is judged by the fortunes or misfortunes that occur in her new family for a year after marriage. She enters her new home putting her right foot first. Mensturating women are regarded unclean and are isolated. They cannot enter the kitchen till they are clean again. Pregnant women are not allowed to travel alone at night or enter an uninhabited home because ghosts might possess them. They should read religious books and watch inspiring movies so that the child grows up to be a good person. Hiccups indicate someone is thinking of you. But an itchy eye refers to someone maligning you, or your envy of someone. A barber shop remains closed on Tuesday as hair is not cut on that day. Nails should not be cut at night for fear of evil spirits. Twitching of the eye is highly inauspicious. An eclipse occurs when Rahu and Ketu swallow the sun, and people avoid eating anything, and go and take a dip in rivers after it is over.

When there is a birth or death in the family, the members are unclean, and do not go to the temple till the stipulated period is over.

These colorful customs, no matter how absurd, keep the religious folk busy and the irreverent ones in mirth.