“All men are the same,” you say. And it is true. But there are still national characteristics. For example, Indian men are like elephants. No, they’re not fat, they’re just sometimes impossible not to notice. Sometimes pompous, like peacocks. Sometimes they are as brave as mongooses. Friendly, like Labradors. Naive, like children. Because they…
...very dark
Blondes in India are considered almost divine beings, like cows. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether your blonde is artificial or natural. They will turn around, click their tongues in delight... They may even let you skip the line! Many people will want to touch you. There is a superstition in India: if you touch a white person, your skin will become a little lighter.
For the average Indian, a white woman is like a white Mercedes: impractical, but prestigious. A little expensive, of course, but everyone is jealous!
...infantile
Sometimes they act like children regardless of age . It's touching. Sometimes - like stupid fools. Or rather, like 12-year-old teenagers.
The fact is that even in the 21st century, India remains a country of draconian moral principles and... marriages of convenience. The vast majority of unions are not made in heaven, but by prior agreement of parents, who themselves look for a match for their children.
According to a recent survey, 75% of young people believe that an arranged marriage will be happy. In the north of the country there are even more supporters of this approach - 82%. A wedding resembles a solemn conclusion of a contract in the face of hundreds of witnesses, one of the important points of which is the production of offspring.
Of course, they have mothers who are constantly busy. They grow up surrounded by little sisters, elderly relatives and... women's secrets, which there is no way to solve. Once girls reach dangerous age, their contacts with men are strictly controlled. Segregated training, special seats or entire carriages “for ladies only” are commonplace in India.
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...superstitious
Don't be surprised if they ask you for your date of birth when you first meet. Indians trust astrology; almost everyone has a personal horoscope drawn up at birth. They also believe in good fortune, just like in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" and are generally quite superstitious. There are also many fatalists among our compatriots - nothing has changed since the time of Lermontov. But, you see, a macho man worried about the incompatibility of zodiac signs in our time is not a hero at all.
It so happened that we arrived in the small, relatively secluded town of Rewalsar in the Himalayas quite late, so late that the small, sleepy and lazy provincial hotels had a hard time bothering with our check-in. The hotel owners shrugged their shoulders, shook their heads and waved their hands somewhere towards the night and slammed the doors in our faces. But we were willingly, although not free of charge, accepted to live in a guest house on the territory of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on the shore of the lake.
As is often the case in Tibetan places, our meeting and accommodation were handled by a Hindu, since it is not appropriate for Tibetan monks to deal with monetary and worldly matters. In addition, the monastery had been immersed in the darkness of night for several hours, and the monks needed to get enough sleep so that tomorrow early in the morning they would have to go to meditation with a cheerful and pious face. The Indian who gave us the keys to the hotel room told us about this and other sorrows of the world, and in order to somehow console himself, he insistently recommended that we attend this event at seven in the morning.
The main topics are below: buses and trains, air tickets and visas, health and hygiene, safety, choosing a route, hotels, food, required budget. The relevance of this text is spring 2017.
Hotels
“Where will I live there?” - for some reason this question is very, simply terribly annoying for those who have not yet traveled to India. There is no such problem. There are a dime a dozen hotels there. The main thing is to choose. Next we are talking about inexpensive, budget hotels.
In my experience, there are three main ways to find a hotel.
Spiral
Typically you will arrive in a new city by bus or train. So there is almost always a great mass of hotels around them. Therefore, it is enough to move a little away from the place of arrival and start walking in a circle with an ever-increasing radius in order to come across many hotels. Inscriptions "Hotel" throughout large parts of India, it indicates a place where you can eat, so the main landmarks are signs "Guest house" And "Lounge".
In areas of mass idleness (Goa, the resorts of Kerala, the Himalayas), the private sector is developed, well, like we have on the Black Sea coast. There you can inquire about housing from the local population and follow the signs " Rent"In Buddhist places you can live in monasteries, in Hindu places in ashrams.
The further you move from the bus or railway station, the lower the prices, but hotels are becoming less and less common. So you look at several hotels that are acceptable in price and quality and return to the chosen one.
If you are traveling in a group, then you can send one or two people lightly to find a hotel while the rest wait at the station with their things.
If the hotel refuses and says that the hotel is only for Indians, then insisting on check-in is practically useless.
Ask a taxi driver
For those who have a lot of luggage or are simply too lazy to look. Or you want to settle near a landmark, for example, the Taj Mahal, and not near the train station. Even in large cities there are places where tourists traditionally gather: in Delhi it is Main Bazaar, in Calcutta it is Sader Street, in Bombay it is also called something, but I forgot, that is, you have to go there in any case.
In this case, find an auto-rickshaw or taxi driver and set the task of where you want to live, in what conditions and for what approximately money. In this case, they can sometimes take you to the desired hotel for free, and even show you several places to choose from. It is clear that the price immediately increases; there is no point in haggling, since the taxi driver’s commission is already included in the price. But sometimes, when you are lazy or in the middle of the night, using this method can be very convenient.
Book online
This is for those who like certainty and guarantees, more comfort and less adventure.
Well, if you book in advance, then book hotels of higher quality and not too cheap (at least $30-40 per room), because otherwise there is no guarantee that in reality everything will be as wonderful as in the photographs. They also complained to me that sometimes they arrived at a booked hotel, and the rooms, despite the reservation, were already occupied. The hotel owners were not embarrassed, they said that a client came with money, and the client with cash did not have the willpower to refuse. The money was returned, of course, but it’s still a shame.
Finding, checking into and staying in budget Indian hotels can be an adventure in itself, a source of fun and sometimes not so fun memories. But there will be something to tell you at home later.
Settlement technology
- Free yourself from the presence of “Hindu assistants” and barkers, their presence automatically increases the cost of accommodation.
- Go to a hotel that seems worthy of you and ask how much it costs and decide whether it’s worth living there, at the same time you have time to evaluate the interior and helpfulness.
- Be sure to ask to see the room before checking in, show your dissatisfaction and indignation with all your appearance, ask to see another room, most likely it will be better. This can be done several times, achieving ever better placement conditions.
Those who are interested in the energy of Osho and Buddha, meditation and India, we invite you all on a journey to the places where the greatest mystic of the 20th century Osho was born, lived the first years of his life and gained enlightenment! In one trip we will combine the exoticism of India, meditation, and absorb the energy of Osho’s places!
The tour plan also includes visits to Varanasi, Bodhgaya and possibly Khajuraho (subject to availability of tickets)
Key travel destinations
Kuchvada
A small village in central India, where Osho was born and lived for the first seven years, surrounded and cared for by his loving grandparents. There is still a house in Kuchwad that remains exactly as it was during Osho’s lifetime. Also next to the house there is a pond, on the banks of which Osho loved to sit for hours and watch the endless movement of reeds in the wind, funny games and flights of herons over the surface of the water. You will be able to visit Osho's house, spend time on the banks of the pond, stroll through the village, and absorb that serene spirit of rural India, which undoubtedly had an initial influence on the formation of Osho.
In Kuchvad there is a fairly large and comfortable ashram under the patronage of sannyasins from Japan, where we will live and meditate.
A short video of the “emotional impression” of visiting Kuchvada and Osho’s house.
Gadarwara
At the age of 7, Osho and his grandmother moved to his parents in the small town of Gadarwara, where he spent his school years. By the way, the school class where Osho studied still exists, and there is even a desk where Osho sat. You can go into this class and sit at the desk where our beloved master spent so much time in his childhood. Unfortunately, getting into this class is a matter of chance and luck, depending on which teacher teaches in the class. But in any case, you can walk along the streets of Gadarvara, visit the primary and secondary schools, the house where Osho lived, Osho’s favorite river...
And most importantly, on the outskirts of the city there is a quiet, small and cozy ashram, where there is a place where, at the age of 14, Osho experienced a deep experience of death.
Video from Osho Ashram in Gadarwara
Jabalpur
A large city with more than a million inhabitants. In Jabalpur, Osho studied at the university, then worked there as a teacher and became a professor, but the main thing is that at the age of 21 he gained enlightenment, which happened to him in one of the parks of Jabalpur, and the tree under which this happened still grows old place.In Jabalpur we will live in a quiet and cozy ashram with a magnificent park.
From the ashram it is easy to get to the Marble Rocks - a natural wonder where Osho loved to spend time during his stay in Jabalpur.
Varanasi
Varanasi is famous for its cremation pyres, which burn day and night. But it also has a surprisingly pleasant promenade, the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and boat rides on the Ganges. Near Varanasi there is a small village called Sarnath, famous for the fact that Buddha gave his first sermon there, and the first listeners were ordinary deer.
bodhgaya
Buddha's Enlightenment Place. In the main temple of the city, which is surrounded by a beautiful and vast park, a tree still grows in the shade of which Buddha gained enlightenment.
In addition, in Bodhgaya there are many different Buddhist temples erected by followers of Buddha from many countries: China, Japan, Tibet, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma... Each temple has its own unique architecture, decoration, and ceremonies.
Khajuraho
Khajuraho itself is not directly connected with Osho, except that Osho often mentioned the tantric temples of Khajuraho, and his grandmother was directly related to Khajuraho.
So, there are 4 main ethnicities that make up the Indian diaspora: Tamils, Marathas, Hindustani and Bengalis. Due to the climate of their home states, representatives of these groups have characteristic differences in external indicators. There is an opinion that all Indians are small and dark, but this opinion is wrong.
The northern, southern, eastern and western peoples of India differ from each other, just as, for example, the Norwegians differ from the Spaniards. Perhaps these differences are not so striking to the untrained eye, but nevertheless they are colossal.
The entire population of India is divided primarily into two races - the Aryan Indians and the Dravidian peoples, of whom the latter were the original inhabitants of the country. Skopin V.N. Central Asia and India. - M., 1904. - p. 76. The general distinguishing features are as follows: Southern Dravidians have darker colored skin. Aryan Indians are Caucasians. Their skin color ranges from dark olive to yellow-brown. They inhabit northern and central India. In the East of India live Mongoloid peoples: short, short-headed, with yellow skin, slanted eyes, straight hair and a flat nose. Melvart A. India. - L., 1927. - p. 97.
Therefore, we can say that Hindustanis, the inhabitants of the northern state, are typical Caucasians. They are tall, have European facial features, and light brown skin. In India, Hindustanis are considered the ideal of beauty. It is representatives of this race who are filmed, and Hindustani girls have been representing the country at international beauty contests since ancient times.
The Bengalis living in East India are Mongoloids. Their appearance is similar to the Nepalese peoples, or, as they are called in India, the Gurkhas. Main features: small stature, lack of hair on the body and face, only on the head - straight, coarse hair, flat nose, characteristic Mongoloid eye shape. Bengalis are hereditary farmers. However, now, due to the dismal state of agriculture in the state, many rich families are concerned about the future of their children. Therefore, the majority of Indian students are Bengalis who come here for higher education in order to improve their family's prestige and financial status in their homeland. Dyakov A.M. The national question in modern India. - M.: Eastern literature, 1963. - p. 106.
The Marathas, immigrants from the Western part of India, are also Caucasians, but the close proximity of the descendants of the Dravidians affected their genetics. Marathas are a cross between Hindustani and Bengali. Main features: Marathi - of medium height, with European features, but with rather dark skin, with straight hair. Their eye shape can be either Caucasoid or Mongoloid. The Marathas who came to Moscow from Bombay and its environs are mainly businessmen. They have their own stores, companies, and entertainment centers in Moscow.
And finally, the last group is the Tamils who came from Madras, which is located in the South of India. Tamils are typical descendants of Dravidians. In their homeland, the Tamils even fought for state independence in 1961. They consider themselves the true children of India, and the rest of the peoples as invaders of their land. Indeed, the Dravidians are those peoples who inhabited the expanses of India before the arrival of the Aryans. Tamils are proud of their origins and clearly distinguish themselves from Caucasians. Externally, Tamils look like this: small stature, almost black skin, curly hair, abundant hair on the face and body, but at the same time they have large, wide eyes, rather of a Caucasian type. There, - p. 151. Tamils are one of the most literate peoples of India. They often go to Moscow to receive a second education, or they are invited by the diaspora to work in companies as lawyers, financiers, managers, and programmers. Alekseev V.I., Makarenko V.A. Tamil country. - M.: Mysl, 1965. - p. 49.
So, from this paragraph it became clear that the Indian diaspora is quite diverse in terms of its members. In particular, this diversity is reflected in the appearance of the Indians who are part of the diaspora.
The character of Indians is mysterious and not entirely clear.
Caste laws have formed unique behavioral stereotypes among Indians. People from different varnas have different character traits, but there are typical “all-Indian” traits in their behavior. But first it’s worth talking about the differences.
Those who come from the Brahmin varna are naturally characterized by piety, high intellectuality, silence, and they have a highly developed sense of self-esteem. They have good control over their feelings and can hide irritability and displeasure. These people are aware of their superiority, but are not inclined to advertise it. They are responsible and willing to help others in trouble.
Representatives of the second varna in position are kshatriyas, i.e. warriors. They derived their origin from the lower castes or from an alien element who received the right of citizenship for their donations to the cause of religion. These are proud and arrogant people. They are the exact opposite of the Brahmana varna. People from kshatriya backgrounds are brave, too confident in themselves and in their rightness. They love to argue, and, without listening to the arguments of the interlocutor, they will still insist on their own. An argument can lead to a fight. Kshatriyas are hot-tempered, impulsive people, often driven by their feelings and ambitions. It is difficult to tolerate the superiority of other people. Strongly expressed leaders. Kotovsky G.G. India: society, power, reforms. - M.: Eastern literature, 2003. - p. 183.
The third varna is Vaishya. This is the varna of merchants. Many of today's Indian businessmen come from this varna. Their ancestral vocation, of course, could not but leave a mark on their character. These are smart, cunning people for whom their own interests come first. If they provide assistance to someone, they will definitely demand compensation later. They respect brahmanas and fear kshatriyas, but at the same time their respect and fear are just a screen, a cover to lull the vigilance of both. The lively mind of Vaishyas, often uneducated people, is constantly occupied with the thought of profit. All their actions are aimed at increasing it. They do nothing for nothing, and they do not disdain lies. Benefit for yourself is the main motto of the Vaishya. Realizing the benefits of higher education, vaishyas send their children to study. So many Indian students in Moscow are from the Vaishya varna.
Shudra - the fourth varna - was composed primarily of people of non-Aryan origin, from an alien element, and from people who came from a mixture of different castes. The entire composition of the fourth varna is very diverse in origin. Skopin V.N. Central Asia and India. - M., 1904. - p. 56-58. These people have been accustomed to obey since ancient times. They are silent, often gloomy, especially if they are in the company of people from other varnas. Even now, when caste boundaries have practically been erased, the Shudras still continue to behave as before. In their homeland, few of them go to university or engage in any prestigious work. Basically, these are taxi drivers, factory workers. The lack of education is compensated by excellent knowledge and, most importantly, the preservation of Indian folklore. You can hardly find people from this varna in Moscow.
After the main and specific differences in the characters of Indians - representatives of different varnas, it is logical to trace similar traits of Indian character.
Indians are spiritual. Religiosity has flowed in their blood since time immemorial, be it Buddhism, Jainism, or the numerous branches of Hinduism. Indians simply need to believe in higher powers, otherwise their entire existence, all their goals, objectives, life aspirations lose all meaning.
By nature, Indians are polite. But being very polite towards another person, the Indian at the same time demands the same towards himself. If this does not happen, then politeness quickly gives way to coldness and indifference. Indians initially treat strangers with trust. It is easy to earn their love and friendship. However, once this trust is broken, it is almost impossible to regain it.
Special mention should be made of the superstitiousness of Indians. They strictly follow their signs and observe customs. Breaking customs is a serious crime for an Indian. And to disobey a sign means to bring upon oneself serious troubles.
Another important feature is unquestioning submission to elders, a kind of cult of parents. Moreover, most often it is the mother who enjoys greater respect, and not the father - the head of the house. It is to the mother that adult children go for advice and fulfill her requests, although this can often entail a change not only in status (marriage), but also a change in their entire life. For example, many Indian students came to study in Moscow only because their parents decided so. And the choice of faculty is also their decision. Ivanov I.I. Hindus. - St. Petersburg, 1980. - p. 102-104.
Indians tend to be clean and tidy. But they express this in forms that are quite strange for a Russian person. For example, an Indian’s clothes are always spotlessly clean, and an Indian also monitors the cleanliness of his body, maintaining hygiene. However, he can eat unwashed fruit. Living in a room where there is chaos, but at the same time he always knows where and what he has. Russians about India: through the eyes of friends. - M., 1957. - p. 69.
Another amazing feature of Indians is their attachment to their homeland. All Indians are patriots of their country. An Indian born in Moscow says with full confidence that here he is only a guest, a stranger, and his hometown is, for example, Delhi. Where his ancestors could have moved to Moscow sixty years ago.
Indians, surrounded by the customs and traditions of another ethnic group, are especially zealous in following their own. They are absolutely immune to the spiritual achievements of other peoples and are not inclined to succumb to the influence of other cultures. Therefore, the national level of self-awareness of Indians is at a fairly high level. On the contrary, when Indians find themselves in a foreign country or city, without imposing their own rules, they very soon gather around them a large number of people who want to adopt their culture.
But Indians’ failure to accept the customs of other cultures cannot be considered indifference. On the contrary, Indians are curious by nature. But their curiosity is rather cognitive, educational and scientific in nature. They love, as they say, to get to the bottom of things, disassemble, analyze the subject of research and understand it. Only after this do they form their opinion about a particular subject. Snesarev A.E. India as the main factor in the Central Asian issue. - M., 1937. - p. 120.
Indians also have a strong sense of duty. If an Indian gives his word, he will definitely keep it, even to his own detriment.
However, the attitude of Indians towards their vices is of interest. Having committed an offense, an Indian will not hesitate to admit and repent of his sin. He will cry, wring his hands, and put on real performances. But the very next time, the same Indian may again be caught in the same sin (for example, deception). And everything will start all over again. Possessing perseverance and a strong will in connection with big plans and aspirations, in small things the Indian behaves like a spoiled child.
The Indian attitude towards lies is also funny. Lying is one of the most terrible crimes in the concept of Indians. But like all business people, Indians cannot do without it. And here they found such a trick. Indians will never lie or deceive, but they can either tell the so-called “almost the truth” or not tell the truth at all. For example, to the question “Is the product of good quality?”, an Indian may answer: “It was made in the best factory!” Well, the product really could have been made in a better factory, but the question of quality remained open.
Indians are well aware that Europeans are far from their customs, and do not seek to “burden” other peoples with explanations about their traditions.
For the most part, Indians are cheerful and passionate people. They have a great, cheerful sense of humor. For example, at the end of the conversation about the Indian character, I would like to quote one funny story told to me by an Indian living in Moscow: when a Muscovite came to the Hare Krishna temple in Moscow who wanted to change his faith and become a Hare Krishna, the Indian who was having a conversation with him said that for For this he will have to undergo the test of iron and fire. The frightened young man quickly retreated from the temple, and the Indian only meant that the visitor would have to light a special candle in the temple and hold a sacred cup made of iron in his hands.
But before moving on to a description of the life of Indians in the capital, it is necessary to touch upon two rather important everyday topics - the clothing of modern Indians, as well as their diet.
In their homeland, Indians still often wear traditional clothing, especially women. Indian women's traditional clothing is a sari, choli blouse, shalwar kameez, orkhna, kameez ghagra. Men's costume, especially in the 20th century, has undergone great changes since the days of the “veil”. Now Indians wear: churidar, achkan, dhoti, kurta, chadar, paijama, turban and cap (Gandhi-topi). Ultsiferov O.G. India: Linguistic and Regional Dictionary. - M.: Russian language - Media, 2003. - p. 349. However, in the conditions of such a large metropolis as Moscow and our climate, such attire is impossible. In Moscow, Indians remained faithful to the simplicity and modesty of their attire. Men wear formal dark suits, buttoned jackets with a collar, so-called Beatle jackets, but in India they have a different name - Gandhi, after the suits that Mahatma Gandhi liked to wear. Indian students in Moscow dress more democratically. In this sense, they are no different from other students; they also follow fashion whenever possible. They wear both jeans and T-shirts. The requirements for Indian women are less liberal. Under no circumstances can she wear a short skirt - this is unacceptable. An Indian adult woman in Moscow wears a business suit, often a trouser suit, of a strict cut. Or he puts on a long skirt with a jacket or T-shirt. Moreover, the requirements for the top of the outfit are less strict than for the bottom. Indian female students also wear long skirts and are sometimes seen in wide trousers. But, if the weather permits, an Indian woman will definitely wear a sari. Abdulaeva M. Women of India. - M.: Soviet artist, 1976. - p. 136.
Indian food consists of plant elements. They don't eat meat at all. Previously, finding truly vegetarian products in Moscow was a big problem for them, but now everything has changed. In Moscow there are many stores specializing in vegetarian products, and restaurants for vegetarians have opened. Traditionally, Indians eat two meals a day.
Indians love to eat rice, beans, milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables. They eat very spicy food, generously seasoned with red pepper and other spices, because it was the Indians who gave the world a curry recipe that they themselves can eat in unlimited quantities. It is difficult for a person who is not prepared for such food to eat Indian dishes - they are so spicy. For dessert, Indians often prepare amazingly delicious flatbreads - muto kondo, as well as pancakes - kal batashi, which taste like our Tula gingerbread cookies. Indians do not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco. In general, they tend to have a healthy lifestyle.
So, from questions of clothing and food, we can move on to questions of Indian occupations in Moscow. In particular, their work, leisure time, and also find out how they satisfy their religious needs.
- Pooja Ganatra (24 years old) was born in Mumbai into a typical Indian family, but looks like an “ugly duckling” with brown hair, freckles and white skin among her dark-haired and dark-skinned relatives
- During her childhood, she was sent for medical examination more than once with suspected skin disease.
- In her own country, the girl feels like a foreigner
- Strangers are often confused when she speaks in Hindi
A white-skinned girl, Pooja Ganatra, was born into an ordinary Indian family in Mumbai. Her appearance is absolutely typical of Scotland, but in her hometown she endured ridicule from others who mistook freckles for a skin disease. How many times as a teenager did she try to bring her appearance to the “unattainable” standards of Indian beauty for her!
In the country of her birth, Pooja lives like a foreigner: locals ask to take photos with her, taxi drivers start conversations in English, traders try to sell goods at tourist prices and are shocked when they hear her bargaining with them in Hindi.
How to explain her unusual appearance? Perhaps this is a kind of evolutionary shift, an atavism that lay dormant in the genes of her parents for many years and manifested itself at the birth of Punja?
Ganatra dreams of a DNA test so she can finally find out her genetic history.
Pooja Ganatra, 24 years old in traditional Indian attire. Born in Mumbai with red hair, emerald eyes and white freckled skin - a quintessentially Scottish appearance.
Relatives feared that Pooja's freckles were a strange congenital skin disease. Mom Hemaxi (46) and dad Rajesh (51) have no explanation for their daughter's mysterious appearance.
Enterprising Puja has her own clothing factory. The young businesswoman says: “When I was born, my family looked at me as a curiosity because they all had dark brown eyes, black hair and dark skin, like most Indians.
When freckles began to appear on my skin at the age of 3, my parents took me to the doctors, fearing that it was a serious disease. They had never seen anything like it! At school I also suffered a lot of ridicule because of my unusual appearance.
Strangers would come up and ask, “What are these spots on your face?” What could I answer them?
Even in my first year at university, I was presented with special requirements. I was not allowed to wear short sleeves like everyone else because my fair skin was too eye-catching.”
Calm down, I'm Indian too
“Indians love to take pictures with foreigners with unusual appearance.
Local residents have asked me to take photos hundreds of times. I had to tell them, “Relax, I’m Indian too.” The funniest thing is when museums try to sell her a ticket at tourist prices, and Pooja has to show her documents.
“Even when I was traveling to America, the border guard double checked my passport and asked if I was really from India?”
The parents immediately took their daughter to the doctors when freckles appeared on her skin at the age of 3.
Ganatra suggests that her white-skinned appearance as a foreigner in India is a manifestation of ancestral genes.
Neither brother nor sister
After the birth of Punja, the parents decided not to have any more children, fearing that their daughter had a serious illness and they would have to spend a lot of money on her treatment in the future.
The girl's father Rajesh (51) is a typical Indian man with dark skin. Hemaxi's mother (46) has slightly lighter skin than most local women and has a few freckles on her skin. True, not on the face.
But for the whole family, their daughter’s appearance is a big mystery.
The legacy of ancestors?
Knowing that India was once a colony for several countries and was ruled by Britain for 100 long years, it is possible that Ganatra's appearance showed British genes.
Perhaps the reason for the unusual appearance was a “genetic leap into the past”?
A foreigner in her native country.
As a teenager, Punja tried very hard to look “like everyone else”
“When I was born, my family was very concerned about my appearance; they had never seen anything like it.”
Mama Hemaxi differs from most Indian women in having slightly lighter skin.
“My grandmother died when I was very young. I would so like to ask her about my ancestors!
In India, women are obsessed with clean skin; there should not be a single pimple on their face. My freckles were perceived as a big flaw and ugliness.”
Freckles under the Mumbai sun
Punja continued talking about her life: “Freckles become brighter in the sun. In hot Mumbai they became more and more apparent. I tried all kinds of creams to fight them, but nothing helped.
I was offered laser therapy and cosmetic surgery to remove my freckles. But as I grew up, I decided to refuse any “treatment.”
After the birth of their daughter, Ganatra's family decided not to have any more children. They believed that white skin was a sign of a serious illness and would require expensive treatment.
Poonja's appearance is a big mystery to the Ganatra family.
Natural beauty is amazing!
“One day I got tired of all the advice to hide my freckles under powder and I gave up trying to change myself.
The natural beauty of a woman is magnificent. I am no longer embarrassed by the puzzled looks of others and what they think of me. I love and respect myself and dress the way I like, and I send my most benevolent smile to onlookers.”
With mother Hemaxi.
She once worried that she would never find a groom because of her “ugly” appearance.
In her native India, she felt like an “ugly duckling” until she traveled to Europe and America. There, Punja saw many people who looked just like herself and felt “normal” for the first time (a photo with a former school friend).
The eyes are often compared to the sun and moon. Another symbolic meaning is fire. Two eyes are capable of seeing only the past and present. The third eye is empowered to see the future. 2). SINDUR is a red mark in the parting. It is applied with blood-red powder. This decoration is used exclusively by married women. Sindoor is an important component in Hindu deity worship (pujas). Red color is a symbol of fertility and restoration of power, feminine energy of Sati and Parvati. Sati is the ideal wife in Hinduism because of the sacrifices she performs to protect her husband's honor. 3). TIKA - the pendant should fall exactly in the center of the forehead. This place is considered the home of the Ajna Chakra. In this way, the woman repeats her status as married. 4). KOLYA - a wide black line around the eyes, where the arrows connect, giving a special sharpness to the look: “My eyes are not eyes, beloved, but arrows of light. My eyebrows are not eyebrows, but swords of destruction.” Every feeling of the heart is transmitted through the eyes. They can express reverence, sympathy, love, lust. Indian poets usually want to drown "in the depths of the eyes of their beloved." Most poetic similes about eyes are taken from nature. Eyes like a daffodil, an almond, a lily, like a “fish sparkling as it slides,” like seas and oceans, abysses, fire, etc. 5). NAT - a ring or other decoration on the nose. NAT is considered the most seductive jewelry. Nose earrings come in a variety of shapes, ranging from jeweled studs to large, full-cheek gold hoops. 6). HAARA - necklace, beads, necklace. The neck is one of the important mystical centers. Therefore, it is believed that the necklace attracts and preserves love, brings good luck, and protects against the evil eye. Among other types of jewelry, necklaces have always had maximum magical charms. Probably, a bright and rich necklace distracted the ill-wisher from the face of the owner and thus protected him from the danger of the evil eye and hypnotic influence. Most likely, the predecessor of the beads was an ordinary flower garland. But the aroma of many flowers, for example, jasmine, roses, has a clear erotic connotation... 7). KARN PHUL - literally, a flower in the ear. Since ancient times, the earlobe has been considered as a sign of spiritual development and high social status. According to legend, earrings are a consolation in pain and suffering. The more decorative and expensive the earrings, the more comfort a person receives. From ancient times to the present day, earrings in the shape of flowers and fruits have been the most popular. They reflect tenderness, youth, spiritual perfection, innocence, innocence - the main attributes of a female character. 8). MENDI - henna design. Unlike a tattoo, it is a temporary decoration of the body and lasts about three weeks. Most common in Arab countries, India, North Africa and Indonesia. Mehndi originated about 5000 years ago. Even in Ancient Egypt, noble ladies decorated their bodies and nails with designs. In the 12th century, it gained a foothold in India, becoming more than just a decoration. For example, many Arab women believe that mehndi brings happiness and protects against failure. So, the day before the wedding (on a bachelorette party), the bride is painted with a design, and the remaining henna is buried in the ground to protect the marriage and avoid the husband’s infidelity. Mehndi means the power of love in marriage . The darker the mehndi, the stronger the love, red is the color of fertility, power. Only plant patterns are used in the design; they symbolically connect a woman with nature, the concepts of birth, nutrition, growth, regeneration. Mehendi protects from evil spirits, misfortunes, illnesses and even death. 9). Wrist BRACELETS. Poets call them shining tokens of radiant life, circles of light for a happy daughter and a happy wife. The bracelets symbolize the powerful energy of the sun. They are made from any material that can be processed: terracotta, stone, shells, copper, bronze, gold, silver, etc. Bracelets are a sign of a married woman. They have many romantic and love allusions. The ringing sound of the bracelet indicates the presence of a woman, that she needs attention, that she is angry or wants to exchange glances. A married woman will never allow herself to appear in society without bracelets. Typically, 8, 12 or 24 bracelets are worn on each wrist. 10). BAADJUBAND - a bandage, bracelet or thread with an amulet on the forearm. Depending on the traditions accepted in the community and the status of the woman in marriage, the baadjuband can cover the entire upper part of the arm from the elbow to the shoulder. The baajjuband should sit firmly on the hand. Made from various materials and richly decorated with ornaments. Serves as kavach - protection from bad looks and is considered a symbol of impeccable beauty. 
eleven). ARSI is a ring with a mirror, worn on the thumb. According to legend, the first thing a woman should see when waking up is her face. To do this, you always need a mirror on hand... Gold rings are put on the other fingers, or jewelry consisting of a central medallion to which 8 chains are attached - three of them are attached to the bracelet, five are attached to the rings worn on the fingers. 12). KESHAPACHARACHANA - hair decoration. Hair is attributed to the earth element as something solid and material; to the element of water, since they are free, fluid; to the element of fire, because they come from the furnace of the brain to the element of air, since they are light and can be carried away by the wind. Hair has a life of its own. They grow faster than all other parts of the body. They represent the connection between this world and the future. Hair is a source of vitality and magical power. They form a crown around the head, the holiest part of a person. Hair braided in a braid is considered the most auspicious symbol. According to mythology. Three braids of hair in a braid represent the three most revered Indian rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, as well as the trinity of gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. 13). KAMARBAND - a waist belt that holds and decorates a sari. Protects the manipura chakra. Holds a bunch of keys, which means a symbolic transfer of control from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, new powers and responsibilities.
