India Local Custom Tips by grets

Ice

Our bus had a cool bag with soft drinks for passengers to purchase, and to kep it cool, ice is needed. Unlike England, where you get ice in tiny little cubes, here it is bought in great big blocks from shops along the side of the road. It did the job beautifully!

Guardians of driving

Most private cars, buses and taxis would have an image of the driver's god or deity on the dash board.

This one was hanging from the mirror in the bus that took us around Rajastan on our first visit to India in 1988.

Horn please

Many lorries all over India have this sign plastered all over the back of their vehicle - Horn Please. Unlike England, the drivers in India are positively encouraged to use their horn - it is employed to warn other drivers that you are approaching or overtaking them, that they are taking up too much space in the road, or maybe doing something wrong.

You hear horns beign blasted day and night, especially in large cities such as Delhi.

When I first heard the horns, I would jump out of my skin, thinking something was desperately wrong, but after spending some time in India, I became very blase to the sound, and almost ignored it.

Peacock feathers

Peacock feathers seem to be very popular in India, especially amde into fans, as here.

We saw lots of peacocks along the side of the road, in hotel gardens and in the national parks.

Laundry

Most people do not have washing machines, so laundry is carried out in the rivers, and left on the grass or hung from trees to try. Seeing washing like this is a common sight in India. Often laundry is sent to the lower castes to be done, sometimes a family will have being laundry wallahs to the same people for generations.

Porter service

At all major railway station, porter service will be available. I am absolutely amazed at how they can carry one, two sometimes even three heavy bags on top of their heads. They don't even look as if they are straining, and they rush off a great speed, making it difficult to keep up with them.

Dining etiquette

Many Indians use their right hand when eating, especially in South India. The left hand is considered unclean, so must not be used for handling food etc. The first time I ate with my hands, I sat on my left hand so as not to be tempted to use it. LOL

You scoop some rice up into a little ball, dip it into the curry sauce and roll it on to the fingers. You then use your thumb to quickly flick it into your mouth. It is really quite easy once you get the hang of it.

Cow dung

Dried dung, used mainly as fuel, but also for building material. Shaped into pattied by the women, it is left out in the sunshine to dry before being piled high like this for storage.