Traditions and everyday life in India

Festivals, family customs, favourite places and everyday traditions, written by members of Global Penfriends who live in India. Each cultural keepsake is a short note about life where they are.

94 keepsakes from India · page 2 of 4
Buying a new vehicle/Starting a new business
Tradition

Buying a new vehicle/Starting a new business

Whenever one buys a new vehicle or even starts a new business, there is a ritual immediately following it. After say buying a new vehicle, one goes to an old temple and hires a Hindu priest to inaugurate the arrival of the…

Shared by sicketysick
Poush Parbon
Tradition

Poush Parbon

Poush parbon is a harvest festival celebrated in Bengal in the month of January. It marks the beginning of a new harvest season and all bengali households celebrate it by preparing various sweets like pithe, puli, patishapta…

Shared by Pratzel
Pongal Festival
Tradition

Pongal Festival

Harvest Festival is celebrated in different states of India with unique names when the nature's bounty is thanked for. We call it 'Pongal' in Tamil Nadu, that lies in the southern part of India. We light brass oil lamps, deck up…

Shared by Kattzz
Pongal festival
Tradition

Pongal festival

We celebrate pongal as a day of havest and thereby paying our respect and gratitude to all the factors that were for the growth of the crops.I is celebrated for 5 days in the month of January when we make pongal which is usually…

Shared by SANA__
Mysuru Dasara festival
Tradition

Mysuru Dasara festival

Mysore Dasara is a spectacular 10-day grand festival celebrated annually in September or October in the heritage city of Mysuru, India. Recognised as the official state festival (Nadahabba) of Karnataka, it honours the Goddess…

Shared by filter coffee
Festival called Teej
Tradition

Festival called Teej

This is a festival called teej which is celebrated by the people of Banjara Community in India. A very unique festival where seed of wheat are planted in a small basket and then waited till it grows upto somewhere around 6-7…

Shared by Arav01
Diwali- a celebration of lights
Tradition

Diwali- a celebration of lights

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India. We light lots of Diyas(candles) and decorate the house with lots of lights and colours. During Diwali, I like to make rangolis. It is a design that is made up of powdered colours…

Shared by i_niklodeon
Vishu kaineettam
Faith

Vishu kaineettam

Childrens recieve money from elders in coin or cash during vishu . It symbolises a form of love and getting abundance by shareing . At the end of the day childrens count who got more and buy things they want . It's a beautiful…

Shared by Mulberry parker
Ganesh Festival
Tradition

Ganesh Festival

This festival was popularized during colonial rule as a way of uniting the masses. Now it has become the major attraction of Mumbai. Big Idols of God Ganesh are built and worshipped across the city. Mumbai feels so warm and…

Shared by Reader11
Tea Time
Activity

Tea Time

so, tea time in the evening is a little refreshing activity that people in india do! we have milk tea (chai) during evening for a quick little break (as it gives an energy boost which helps in productivity too) with biscuits…

Shared by Anyaaaa
Evening at the Ganga Ghats
Everyday life

Evening at the Ganga Ghats

One of my favorite things to do is spend an evening near the Ganga ghats. The atmosphere becomes peaceful as the sun goes down. People come to sit by the river, pray, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the evening. The…

Shared by animesh
Majority of urban Indians are multilingual!
Everyday life

Majority of urban Indians are multilingual!

Its not surprising since we have 22 official languages and many more regional languages. We are taught atleast 2-3 languages in school and by working in multiple cities we tend to pick up couple more along the way! This also…

Shared by Ladyintherain
Onam harvest festival
Tradition

Onam harvest festival

Onam is an annual Indian harvest festival. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events. Onam commemorates Vamana and Mahabali. it is celebrated yearly by…

Shared by Nelin
Onam, festival of flowers
Faith

Onam, festival of flowers

Onam,the festival of flowers,my family celebrates Onam annually to mark the beginning of a new year,its a festival rich in tradition,faith,history and on this day we dress in new clothes,make flower Pookulam,eat various foods on…

Shared by arcane09
Houseboat trips in the backwaters
Activity

Houseboat trips in the backwaters

You hire Houseboats, then spend the day floating around in the Backwaters, see the beautiful coconut trees and greenery. The Houseboats also have ethnic food served inside. You also get to see the local sides of India, small…

Shared by Koopi
The city of Kanyakumari
Place

The city of Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari, (formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a city of the Kanyakumari district in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is the southernmost city of peninsular India. The vivekananda rock and the statue of thiruvalluvar adds…

Shared by beulah
Chithirai Thiruvila
Faith

Chithirai Thiruvila

The Goddess Meenakshi is accompanied by her brother God Azhagar for her marriage to God Sundareshwarar. There would be a great chariot assembled for her walk down the aisle being the Temple City Madurai itself. God Azhagar would…

Shared by yenniekay
Kullu Natti folk dance
Tradition

Kullu Natti folk dance

Kullu Natti is a traditional folk dance of Kullu and Shimla people. Men and women set pace in rounds and dance in their traditional dresses. Kullu Natti conducted on the event of Dusserha has recently entered the Guinness Book of…

Shared by Georgiee
Street food hopping
Place

Street food hopping

As different cities in the country are famous for their street food stalls serving amazing delicacies. The one thing my friends and I love doing is street food hopping in our city, Kolkata. We travel from one street food stall to…

Shared by Lunartic
Festivals of India
Everyday life

Festivals of India

Indian festivals are loud, colourful, full of people and full of joy. So much joy. Depending on which part of the country you are from, you celebrate a bunch of different festivals. The picture below is from the winter festival…

Shared by Queen in the North
Shanti Stupa
Place

Shanti Stupa

Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The stupa is a tourist destination place where you can witness a beautiful view of the surrounding…

Shared by believeinyourself
Diwali - Hindu festival
Faith

Diwali - Hindu festival

Diwali,is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil…

Shared by Sankey07
The statue of Unity
Place

The statue of Unity

This is the statue of a great freedom fighter from India Sir Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he played a keyrole in the independence of India. Funfact: Its double the height of statue of liberty. Contruction Started: 31 October 2013…

Shared by NirvanaJam
Durga Puja
Faith

Durga Puja

India is a land of myriad festivals. Durga Puja is a grand celebration of Lady Durga and her benevolence. It lasts for 5 days and is a sight to behold. The entire city becomes a parade ground, with food stalls, games and numerous…

Shared by FlayRax
Onam harvest festival
Faith

Onam harvest festival

It is an annual Indian harvest festival celebrated by people in Kerala. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state . Where we make beautiful arts using flowers and have family lunch like a…

Shared by Sid13
Diwali
Faith

Diwali

Diwali is the most important festivity for the Indians . it is also called the festival of lights. This usually marks the onset of winters . This depict the triumph of good over evil. It's explained in the details in our holy…

Shared by Asterion
Ganpati festival celebration
Faith

Ganpati festival celebration

Ganesh Chaturthi is a major festival here in Maharashtra. Every year we plan games, stalls as well as dances and performances in our apartment. We also decorate the mandir in our a complex and so much more both in our homes and…

Shared by RamaLekhika
Festival of Colors
Faith

Festival of Colors

Holi is a festival of colors and water. People all around the country celebrate. They put the dye on the faces and clothes of other people. Some might even throw a water balloon on others. In a nutshell, it is a pretty amazing…

Shared by Tudaru
Taj Mahal
Place

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an iconic white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It is one of the most famous and recognized landmarks in the world and is considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture. This Gate is a part of the Taj…

Shared by VickyG
Taj mahal
Place

Taj mahal

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz…

Shared by ARJUN AK

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