100 FACTS ON INDIAN CULTURE AND BOLLYWOOD



As i'm pretty sure I'm going to pay close attention to indian culture and bollywood, in both contexts I'll pay attention to how weddings and romance are portrayed. I still have the idea I went through in the back of my head, the sort of "Bollywood by the numbers" idea but I don't want to get too ahead of myself yet. I might give it a test run and try tallying up one actors career if I have time before the crit and see how the tallies work out.

Here are some facts and interesting points i've found out about the overall theme of weddings and culture that applies, or can apply to India.

  1. Brides paint henna on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the evil eye.
  2. Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it  was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
  3. Diamonds set in gold or silver became popular as betrothal rings among wealthy Venetians toward the end of the fifteenth century.
  4. In the symbolic language of jewels, a sapphire in a wedding ring means marital happiness.
  5. A pearl engagement ring is said to be bad luck because its shape echoes that of a tear.
  6. Much like the modern tradition of feeding wedding cake to one’s spouse, in ancient Rome, couples pledged their unity by sharing food. Today a Japanese bride and groom drink sake together, Jewish couples drink from the same cup of consecrated wine, and Muslim couples eat from the same piece of candy.
  7. In Asia, wearing robes with embroidered cranes symbolises fidelity for the length of a marriage.
  8. Brides carry or wear "something old" on their wedding day to symbolise continuity with the past.
  9. Brahmin's the 'priests' are seen as the most prestigious caste
  10. Followed by Kshatriya's, descendants from warriors and rulers
  11. Followed by Vaisyas, descendants from skilled traders, merchants, and minor officials
  12. Followed by Sudras, descendants from unskilled workers
  13. Lowest castes are the Pariah "Harijans", outcastes, "Untouchables", "Children of God"
  14. M.F Husain, a very well renowned painter and artist from India, painted alot of Bollywood movie posters early in his career.
  15. Painting was more widespread because human labour was cheaper printing and distributing publicity material
  16. Nowadays a majority of the posters are made digitally.
  17. Bollywood produces over 1000 movies every year, much more than Hollywood
  18. Post-independence, movies generally had more social themes such as poverty and labour, such as Awaata
  19. Golden Age is the name of bollywood movies from around the 50s
  20. Raj Kapoor is one of the most well renowned Bollywood stars ever, appearing on a few 'Best performances ever's lists', such as Time magazine. In performances in films such as Awaara.
  21. Ghazal is a type of poetic song, usually about the pain of and loss of separation
  22. Mohammad Rafi, one of Indias most renowned playback singers often recorded songs for free.
  23. Mohammad Rafi, died performing on stage due to a heart attack
  24. Lata Mangeshkar, one of the most well renowned playback singers in India, has recorded over 30,000 songs in 14 different languages, making her the most recorded voice in history
  25. Javed Akhtar, was born as Jadoo Akhtar
  26. Dowries were outlawed in India, but are still prevalent in rural areas
  27. Around 60% of all female deaths in Bangladesh at one point, were dowry related
  28. Sons are often preferred as parents are aware of how much it costs to marry their daughter off and the idea of giving dowry and the pressure involved
  29. This leads to the murder of female babies, which is sadly still common
  30. The Hindu Marriage Act 1955
  31. Music is a massive part of Indian weddings
  32. Bollywood is a big part of Indian culture
  33. Both combine with the amount of songs that are wedding related in Bollywood, such as "Le Jayenge Le Jayenge", from the movie Chor Machaye Shor
  34. 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'
  35. Sharukh Khan is one of the biggest stars in the Indian movie industry, alot of people think he's the first thing they think of when someone mentions India, never mind Bollywood, according to my survey
  36. Public displays of affection are really frowned upon in India
  37. Richard Gere kissed Shilpa Shetty, probably unaware of this and received a massive public outcry
  38. Hindus do not eat beef, and beef isn't really found in India as cows are seen as sacred
  39. Hindus do not eat beef
  40. Cow is associated and referred to as Devi (goddess)
  41. Even when meat eating was permitted, the anicent Vedic scriptures encouraged vegetarianism
  42. Cow gives 5 useful products:  milk, curd, ghee butter, urine and dung
  43. Gopastami - Cow Holiday - once a year cows are washed, bathed, decorated and given offerings.
  44. During Holy Months such as Shrawan and Kartik, Hindus follow a vegetarian diet
  45. Homosexuality is frowned upon in India, still
  46. Many Hindus, especially Brahmin Hindus abstain from eating meat, and are vegetarian
  47. Among Hindus many people discourage eating onion and garlic along with non-vegetarian food during festivals or Hindu holy months of Shrawan and Kartik.
  48. Consumption of human flesh is forbidden in Hinduism
  49. In some castes widows are forbidden from eating meat
  50. The 4 castes are Brahmin (priestly), Kshatriya (defence), Vaisya (agriculture and business) and Shudra (menial labour)
  51. Alcohol and narcotics are forbidden with traditional Hindus
  52. It's also a taboo to collect fruit or break plants after sunset, origins of this could be back in the day before lights were available, it would be dangerous to pick at night, so it became taboo as you could hurt yourself or get sick from eating a dodgy fruit
  53. Pre-marital sex is frowned on and forbidden in terms of religion but definitely frowned on in Indian culture
  54. Segregation in sexes in schools is very common
  55. System of dating between a boy and girl is foreign in hindu culture and rarely approved
  56. Kissing or affection in public is very disrespectful and frowned upon in India
  57. Having a child outside wedlock
  58. Homosexuality is frowned upon
  59. Dowry plays a big part in Indian and South Asian culture, gonna look into this further.
  60. Hindus regard the cow as a sacred animal and will not kill or eat them, look into this further.
  61. In india shaking your head actually means yes.
  62. In some castes in the back, it was forbidden to even travel across the sea!
  63. Castes, all have their own traditions and taboos in Asian culture
  64. Orgon donation is very rare, because Hindus believe in reincarnation and you may be reincarnated with vital organs missing. Of the 1.1 billion population only around 80 organ donors appear on record in one study
  65. Things like reality tv are really challenging the perceptions and taboos in indian culture, with dating and talk of sex etc much more prevalent and slightly more accepted in society with shows like the Indian Big Brother
  66. Do not offer to shake the hand of a person of the opposite sex unless they offer first.
  67. Do not walking over books and paper, even newspaper or even touching them with your feet, as Indian people treat books as a metaphor for the Goddess of learning.
  68. Do not use the same hand for eating and also for taking food from a common dish on the dining table. Indians believe other people’s saliva is unhygienic. Tasting and taking a sip from others’ glasses is regarded as violation of private space. If you need a spoon, you will need to ask for it or bring one along.   Typically, people eat with their (right) hand.
  69. Do not breaking temple rules while on a visit to a temple. Feet, particularly shoes/sandals, are considered unclean, always take them off when entering a temple (except in some Westernized, urban congregations). In some temples tourists are not even allowed to walk into the most holy areas with their shirts on!
  70. Do not touch anyone or receive/give anything with one’s left hand, as the left hand is only used for one’s “morning business.”
  71. Do not drink any alcohol or smoke in public. It’s offensive.
  72. Do not hunt, as killing wildlife can get you in serious trouble. Do not hurt a cow, as many Hindus consider the cows are holy, and are offended if they are hit by strangers.
  73. Do not discuss religion, especially with Muslims who form 11% of India’s population. Do not make comments of ridicule or disrespect toward the society or any religion.  People are very resentful of Western (ignorant) judgments.
  74. Do not do any public preaching or handing out of tracts, and that kind of activity is prohibited when you are in India on a tourist visa
  75. Do not visit areas in the extreme north or north-east, as foreigners, especially west Europeans and Americans are at risk to be hostaged by terrorists in those areas. The other areas of India is safe for everyone.
  76. Do not buy food from roadside stalls or mobile canteens. Do not drink local tap water, drink bottled water only. Do not eat fresh fruit and vegetables that you cannot peel.
  77. Do not take offers of spiritual salvation and magic remedies from saints, godmen and quacks. There is no way you can distinguish the genuine ones from the crooks.
  78. Do not try to explore Indian road yourself, nor to drive in India unless you have been trained on Indian roads.
  79. Do not ever purchase air, rail or bus tickets through strangers or unauthorized travel agents or tour operators. In any case avoid persistent touts and taxi-wallahs at airport/stations/bus stand to help you find your hotel. Always use tourist assistance desk for proper advice.
  80. Do not hire any type of transportation from unlicensed operators. In case of taxis and auto-rickshaws, try to hire them from the pre-paid booths if possible. Otherwise, insist on going by the meter or set a fare in advance to avoid being over charged.
  81. Do dress modestly if you are female. No sleeveless blouses, no short skirts, no shorts, no low, loose collars. And  men do not wear shorts.
  82. Do prepare yourself at the earliest. Indian traffic and roads are hapless.
  83. Do greet people with big smile. Handshake with ladies especially in rural areas should be avoided.
  84. If possible do cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss and medi-claim. Do exchange money only through authorize banks or money changers.
  85. Do immunized yourself against various diseases like typhoid, malaria, hepatitis and tetanus that are prevalent in India. Do take whatever medications you need in ample supply.
  86. Do bargain with half price when you buy things from roadside stalls or hawkers, but do not bargain in proper shops especially where display “fixed price” signs.
  87. Do make sure to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship or mausoleum.
  88. As customary, do bring some small gifts as hostess gifts and as presentations to one’s students, it can be as small as a postcard from your home region.
  89. Polygamy was frequently practiced in ancient Hindu Society
  90. Priest chants mantras - which are spiritual or sacred syllables which contain divine power
  91. Brides mother blesses groom with rice and applies tilak of vermillion and turmeric
  92. Tilak isa vertical mark placed on the top of the forehead of a devotee of a ritual worship
  93. Sacred fire is to make the atmosphere pure and spiritual
  94. Bride leads the laps around the fire, seven times. It is custom but also in effect legalises the marriage according to the Hindu Marriage Act
  95. Different areas of India, such as Southern and Northern have slightly different marriage ceremonies, similar to how Catholics and Orthodox Christians have slightly different marriage ceremonies
  96. Couple make food offerings to fire and feed each other a morsel of food to express mutual love and affection
  97. Pre-wedding events are interesting, especially mehndi ki raat, where they apply henna to the bride
  98. The exit of the bride and groom is much more sombre in South Asian culture with lots of tears and hugging of the bride as the groom takes her away
  99. Brides family tend to push the wedding car as it moves off to symbolise helping the couple on their way
  100. Worlds oldest religion
  101. A billion followers
  102. Belief in reincarnation is a vital characteristic
  103. Cycle of births and deaths
  104. A way of life, a 'Dharma'
  105. Responsible for birth of concepts such as Yoga, Kharma, Puja, Tantra
  106. Some scholars believe it existed around 10,000BC
  107. Rig Veda is earliest Hindu scripture
  108. Hinduism not found anywhere in scriptures, word Hindu inf act comprised from foreigners referring to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu
  109. Key hindu scriptures are called 'shastras'
  110. Most popular texts are the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata
  111. One supreme Absolute called 'Brahman'
  112. But thousands of worshipped dieties/gods/godesses
  113. Also worship trees, animals and even planets

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