Indian Culture and traditions are something that has now become renowned all across the world.  We all refer to India and its culture as something very diverse and unique. But seldom do we give a thought to why things are done in certain specific ways. Indian Culture is full of several unique customs and traditions, which outsiders might find really intriguing. Most of these originate from the Ancient Indian scriptures and texts, which have dictated the way of life in India for thousands of years.

印度的文化和传统现在已经享誉世界。当我们提到印度及其文化时，都会觉得其是非常多样化和独特的。但我们很少考虑为什么事情是以某种特定的方式来做的。印度文化中充满了一些独特的习俗和传统，其他国家的人可能会觉得很有趣。其中大部分起源于古代印度的经文，这些经文支配了印度几千年的生活方式。

Here are 17 interesting Indian traditions and customs

这里有17个有趣的印度传统和习俗1. The Namaste (纳马斯特)

The namaste is one of the most popular Indian customs and isn't really just restricted to the Indian territory anymore. You have BarackObama, who has been seen doing it on various occasions, or you had Ban Ki-mooning, the UN Secretary-General, greeting everyone with a namaste at the Times Square in New York on the first International Yoga Day. But, what's the significanceThe Namaste, or namaskar, or 'namaskaara' is one of the five forms of traditional greetings mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas. It literally translates to 'I bow to you', and greeting one another with it is a way of saying 'May our minds meet', indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The word namaha can also be translated as 'na ma' (not mine), to signify the reductions of one'sego in the presence of the other.

纳马斯特是最受欢迎的印度习俗之一，不再仅仅局限于印度领土。有人在不同场合看到巴拉克奥巴马这样做,也有人看到联合国秘书长潘基文在纽约时代广场的第一个国际瑜伽日向所有人致意。但是，有什么意义呢？纳马斯特或纳玛斯卡或“纳玛斯卡拉”是古代印度经文《吠陀经》中提到的五种传统问候形式之一。字面意思是“我向您鞠躬”，用它互相问候是一种表达“愿我们的心相遇”的方式，这是由放在胸前的折叠手掌表示的。namaha这个词也可以翻译成“na ma”（不是我的），意思是一个人在另一个人面前减少自负。

图片

2. Always a Festive Season (总是节日)

India also sees a large number of festivals, mainly because of the prevalence of diverse religions and groups. The Muslims celebrate Eid, the Christians have Christmas, good Friday and so on, the Sikhs have Baisakhi(harvesting of crop), and the birthdays of their Gurus and the Hindus haveDiwali, Holi, Makar Sakranti, the Jains have Mahavir Jayanti, the Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's birthday on Buddha Poornima, and quite honestly, the number is endless. All of these translate to holidays in our book, of course.

印度也有很多节日，主要是因为各种宗教和团体的盛行。穆斯林庆祝开斋节，基督教徒庆祝圣诞节，耶稣受难日等等，锡克教徒庆祝白沙基（收获庄稼），他们的上师和印度教徒的生日有排灯节、胡里节、马克尔萨克兰蒂节，耆那教有大雄吉雅提节，佛教徒在佛陀波尼玛节庆祝佛陀的生日，说实话，这样数是无穷无尽的。当然，在我们的书中，所有这些都被翻译成假日。

图片

3.Joint Families (同堂家庭)

Also, in India, there exists the concept of a joint family, wherein the entire family (parents, wife, children and in some cases relatives) all live together. This is mostly because of the cohesive nature of the Indian society, and also reportedly helps in handling pressure and stress.

此外，在印度，有一个同堂家庭的概念，其中整个家庭（父母、妻子、孩子，在某些情况下有亲属）都生活在一起。这主要是因为印度社会的凝聚力，据报道也有助于处理精神压力和紧张。

图片

4.Fasting (禁食)

Fasting is an integral part of Hindu culture. Fasts or Vrats or Upvas are a way to represent your sincerity and resolve, or express your gratitude to the Gods and Goddesses.  People throughout the country observe fasts during various religious occasions. Some people also observe fast on different days of a week in favor of a particular god or Goddess associated with that particular day. It is widely believed that by doing so, you are depriving your body of basic necessity and thus,   punishing yourself to cleanse off the sins that you have committed until the day of fast. The rules and regulations of a fast are in accordance with the particular occasion. The origin of fast probably comes from the  Vedic ritual of kindling the sacrificial fire for sacrifice purposes. Since the word 'upvas' has been used for denoting both fasts and kindling a sacrificial fire, it can be thought that people observed fasts when they had to kindle or rekindle the domestic fires kept in their homes to perform daily sacrifices.

禁食是印度文化的一个组成部分。斋戒是一种表达你的真诚和决心，或表达你对上帝和女神的感激之情的方式。全国各地的人们在各种宗教场合都遵守斋戒。有些人也会在一周中的不同日子斋戒，以纪念某个特定的神或女神。人们普遍认为，直到禁食日这样做是剥夺了你身体的基本必需品来惩罚自己、清除你所犯的罪。斋戒的规章制度是根据特定的场合制定的。斋戒的起源很可能来自吠陀的祭火仪式。因为“upvas”这个词被用来表示斋戒和点燃祭火，所以可以认为人们是在必须点燃或重新点燃家中保存的家火来进行日常祭祀时观察斋戒的。

图片

5. Holy Cow (圣牛)

Cow, in the Indian culture, is considered to be a Holy animal. She is worshipped as a maternal figure and is a depiction of the bounty of Mother Earth. Lord Krishna, who grew up as cow herder is often depicted as playing his flute among cows and Gopis (milkmaids)dancing to his tunes. Interestingly, Lord Krishna is also known by the name of  'Govinda' or 'Gopala', which translates to the 'friend and protector of cow'. Hence, cows have an auspicious significance in Indian culture and religion. Even Lord Shiva's trusted vehicle is Nandi- the sacred bull. Thus, feeding a cow or making contributions to cow shelters is of immense religious importance for Indians. The Vedic scriptures, in various verses, have emphasized the need to protect and care for cows. Cows are a source of life-sustaining milk. Even the cow dung is an essential and energy-efficient source of fuel, especially in rural India. Killing the cow or consuming comment is considered to be a sin. Hence, several states in India have banned the slaughter of cows by law. Mother cow is, however, not worshipped as other deities. Indian culture and religion appreciate and express its gratitude towards this innocent animal who gives back to mother Earth and its people in more than one form.

在印度文化中，牛被认为是神圣的动物。她被奉为一个母亲的形象，是对大地母亲慷慨的描绘。克里希纳勋爵，作为牧牛人长大，经常被描绘成在牛群中吹奏长笛，女工们跟着他的曲调跳舞。有趣的是，克里希纳勋爵也被称为“戈文达”或“戈帕拉”，意思是“奶牛的朋友和保护者”。因此，牛在印度文化和宗教中具有吉祥的意义。甚至湿婆神最信任的交通工具是南迪-神圣的公牛。因此，喂养奶牛或为奶牛庇护所捐款对印度人来说具有极其重要的宗教意义。吠陀经文，在不同的诗句，强调需要保护和照顾奶牛。奶牛是维持生命的奶源。即使是牛粪也是一种必不可少的节能燃料，特别是在印度农村。杀死奶牛或食用奶牛会被认为是一种罪行。因此，印度的几个州已经依法禁止屠宰奶牛。然而，母牛并不像其他神那样受到崇拜。印度文化和宗教欣赏并感谢这种以多种形式回报地球母亲及其人民的无辜动物。

图片

6. The Science Behind Temples (寺庙背后的科学)

Most temples are located along magnetic wave lines of the earth, which help in maximizing the available positive energy. The copper plate (called Garbhagriha or Moolasthan) buried under the main idol absorbs and resonates this energy to its surroundings. Going to the temple often helps in having a positive mind and garnering positive energies, which in turn leads to healthier functioning.

大多数寺庙位于地球的磁力线上，这有助于最大化可用的正能量。埋在主神像下面的铜板（称为加尔巴格里哈或穆拉斯坦）吸收并共振这种能量到周围环境。去寺庙往往有助于有一个积极的思想和获得积极的能量，这反过来导致健康的功能。

It is also a practice to take off footwear before entering places of worship because they would bring in the dirt to an otherwise cleansed and sanctified environment.

在进入礼拜场所之前脱下鞋子也是一种习惯，因为它们会把泥土带到一个原本清洁和神圣的环境中。

图片

7. Arranged Marriage System (包办婚姻制度)

The concept of arranged marriage in India traces its origin to as early as the Vedic times. For royal families, a ceremony known as the 'Swayambar' would be arranged for the bride. Suitable matches from all over the kingdom were invited to either compete in some competition to win over the bride, or the bride would herself choose her ideal husband. Even today, the concept of arranged marriage remains a favorite among Indians and is an integral part of 'Indian Traditions'.

印度包办婚姻的概念最早可追溯到吠陀时代。对于皇室成员来说，将为新娘安排一个被称为“斯韦安巴尔”的仪式。来自王国中的人们被邀请参加一些比赛来赢得新娘，或者新娘自己选择她理想的丈夫。即使在今天，包办婚姻的概念仍然是印度人的最爱，也是“印度传统”的一个组成部分。

The process for a suitable match is one long and tiring effort, which begins with matching some criteria like the horoscope, religion, caste, professional stature, physical appearance, and culture. It is made sure that the majority of the criteria are a'match made in heaven' (even if it has to be tailor-made). After all, the checkboxes are ticked, the elders of the family meet for a face to face interaction. Once the talks are successful, preparations for the wedding begin in full swing.

一个合适的匹配过程是一个漫长而累人的过程，首先要匹配一些标准，如星座、宗教、种姓、职业身材、体貌和文化。确保大多数标准都是“天作之合”（即使必须量身定做）。勾选所有复选框后，家里的长辈见面进行面对面的交流。一旦交谈成功，婚礼的筹备工作就全面展开。

 

图片

8. Religious Symbols (宗教符号)

The Indian traditions and scriptures contain various signs and symbols which have various meanings. For example, the usage of the Swastika, in the Indian context, does not point towards Adolf Hitler or Nazism. It is the symbol of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.The arms of the Swastika have various meanings. They signify the four Vedas, the four constellations, or the four basic aims of human pursuit.

印度的传统和经文包含着各种各样的标志和符号，它们有着不同的含义。例如，在印度的背景下，纳粹党徽的使用并没有指向阿道夫·希特勒或纳粹主义。它是甘尼萨勋爵的象征，清除障碍。纳粹党的武器有多种含义。它们象征着四个吠陀，四个星座，或人类追求的四个基本目标。

图片

9. Atithi Devo Bhavah (客人等同于上帝)

In India, the saying 'Atithi DevoBhavah' is also integral. It means 'the guest is equivalent to god'. It is a Sanskrit verse taken from the Hindu scriptures which later became a part of the' Code of conduct for Hindu society since the guest has always been of supreme importance in the culture of India.

在印度，“阿提提提提德维巴瓦”这句话也是不可或缺的。意思是“客人等同于上帝”。这是一首梵文诗，取自印度教经文，后来成为印度教社会行为准则的一部分，因为客人在印度文化中一直是最重要的。

图片

10. Indian Ethnic Wear (印度民族服饰)

Indian women are often seen sporting'saris'. The sari is a single cloth and needs no stitching; it is easy to make and comfortable to wear, and also adheres to religious etiquette. It initially started out as a Hindu tradition but has very elegantly spread across all religions. The same applies to the more functional 'Kurta-Pyjama', and the ceremonial wear of 'Sherwani' for Indian men of all religions.

印度妇女经常穿着“纱丽”运动。纱丽是一种单布，不需要缝合，制作简单，穿着舒适，还遵守宗教礼仪。它最初是印度教的传统，但在所有宗教中都有很优雅的传播。这同样适用于功能性更强的“库尔塔睡衣”，以及各种宗教的印度男人穿的“舍瓦尼”的仪式服。

图片

11.Indian Dances (印第安舞曲)

India is a land of  'unity in diversity', and our dances are no different. Different forms of dance(classified as folk or classical) find origin from different parts of the country, and they are a way of representation of the particular culture from which they originate. Eight classical dances, which are classified as Indian classical dances and find a mention in the Hindu Sanskrit text 'Natyashashtra', (a text of performing arts) are:

印度是一个“多元统一”的国度，我们的舞蹈也不例外。不同形式的舞蹈（分为民间舞蹈或古典舞蹈）起源于该国不同的地区，是它们起源的特定文化的一种表现方式。八种古典舞蹈，被归类为印度古典舞蹈，在印度梵语文本“Natyashashtra”（表演艺术文本）中有提及：

Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu  泰米尔纳德邦的Bharatnatyam

Kathakali from Kerela  来自Kerela的Kathakali

Kathak from North, West, and Central India    来自印度北部、西部和中部的Kathak

Mohiniyattam from Kerela      来自Kerela的Mohiniyattam

Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh  来自AndhraPradesh的Kuchipudi

Oddisi from Odhisa    来自Odhisa的Oddisi

Manipuri from Manipur  来自 Manipur的Manipuri

Sattriya from Assam    来自Assam的Sattriya

All the dance mentioned above forms a complete dance drama, wherein a dancer or performer narrates an entire story, almost entirely and exclusively through gestures. Such stories are mostly based on the vast Indian mythology. Classical dances in India are strictly classified as and performed according to the rules and guidelines prescribed in the Natyashastra. Just like Classical dances, folk dances in India originate from different regions of the country. These performances are mostly based on stories that are orally passed on from one generation to the other. Folk dances mostly trace their importance to the rural areas, where performances depict the day to day life of rural inhabitants.

所有上述舞蹈形式都是一个完整的舞蹈戏剧，其中一个舞蹈演员或表演者几乎完全通过手势讲述了一个完整的故事。这样的故事大多是以印度神话为基础的。印度的古典舞蹈被严格地分类，并按照《印度舞蹈家》中规定的规则和指南进行表演。就像古典舞蹈一样，印度的民间舞蹈也起源于印度的不同地区。这些表演大多是以故事为基础的，故事是由一代人口头流传到另一代人身上的。民间舞蹈的重要性大多追溯到农村地区，那里的表演描绘了农村居民的日常生活。

图片

12.Indian Food (印度菜)

Indian food and cuisine not only form an integral part of Indian culture but are also one of the key factors of India's popularity worldwide. The style of cooking varies from region to region, though unanimously, Indian food has a major reputation for its extensive use of spices and herbs. Just like dances, religious practices, language, and clothes, you will also find a wide variety of food throughout the country. Almost every region is known for a signature dish or ingredient. The staple, however, throughout the country consists mostly of rice, wheat and Bengal gram (Chana). While vegetarian food is an integral part of Gujrati SouthIndian and Rajasthani cuisines, non-vegetarian dishes form a central part of Mughlai, Bengali, North Indian and Punjabi cuisine. It is also interesting to note that certain cuisines like that of Kashmir have also been influenced by foreign cooking styles from Central Asia, Persia, and Afghanistan.

印度美食不仅是印度文化不可分割的一部分，也是印度在世界范围内受欢迎的关键因素之一。不同地区的烹饪风格各不相同，尽管一致认为印度食品以其广泛使用香料和草药而闻名。就像舞、宗教习俗、语言和衣服一样，你也会在全国各地找到各种各样的食物。几乎每个地区都以招牌菜或配料闻名。然而，全国的主食主要是大米、小麦和孟加拉克（Chana）。虽然素食是古吉拉特南印度和拉贾斯坦邦菜肴的一个组成部分，但非素食菜肴构成了穆格莱、孟加拉、北印度和旁遮普美食的中心部分。同样有趣的是，克什米尔的某些菜肴也受到来自中亚、波斯和阿富汗的外国烹饪风格的影响。

图片

13.Epics (史诗)

Indian literature can be traced back to the great epics written in the form of poems, plays, stories, and even self-help guides. The most famous Hindu epics are Ramayana and Mahabharata. Mahabharata, by Ved Vyasa, is the longest poem written in Sanskrit. Both these epics are written in order to highlight human values of sacrifice, loyalty, devotion, and truth. The moral of both stories signify the triumph of good over evil.

印度文学可以追溯到伟大的史诗，以诗歌、戏剧、故事甚至自助指南的形式书写。最著名的印度教史诗是《罗摩衍那》和《摩诃婆罗多》。《摩诃婆罗多》是梵文中最长的一首诗。这两部史诗都是为了强调人类的牺牲、忠诚、奉献和真理的价值。这两个故事的寓意都表明善战胜恶。

图片

14. Indian Martial Arts (印度武术)

India is home to quite a few unique styles of martial arts, some of which have ancient origins. While some martial art forms require the use of weaponry, some don't. Mainly used for combat, some martial art forms are also used for healing. In today's times, these martial art forms are popular as self-defense techniques and even fitness.

印度有许多独特的武术风格,其中一些有古老的起源。有些武术形式需要使用武器，有些则不需要。主要用于战斗，有些武术形式也用于治疗。在当今时代，这些武术形式作为自卫技术甚至健身运动而广受欢迎。

图片

15. Eating with hands (用手吃饭)

Eating with hands may not sound great to many people. However, it has many benefits. Fingers being heat receptors, they prevent your mouth from burning when the hot food is put inside. You get to check the temperature before eating the food. Other than that, you tend to eat slower when you eat with hands — this aids in digestion. Traditionally, the right hand is used to eat, and the left hand is considered to be dirty. One must thoroughly wash his/her hands with soap and water before eating. This practice makes the eating process very hygienic. Eating with hands is a widespread practice in South and East India, but it’s a bit rare in North and West India. In North and West India, people use spoons to pick up the rice to eat but use fingers to break down the bread. 

用手吃饭对很多人来说听起来不太好。然而，它有很多好处。手指是热感受器，当热的食物被放进去时，它们可以防止你的嘴被灼伤。吃东西之前你得先检查一下温度。除此之外，当你用手吃饭时，你往往吃得慢一些，这有助于消化。传统上，右手是用来吃饭的，左手被认为是脏的。吃饭前必须用肥皂和水彻底洗净手。这种做法使饮食过程非常卫生。在印度南部和东部，用手吃饭是一种普遍的做法，但在印度北部和西部却有点罕见。在印度北部和西部，人们用勺子舀米饭吃，但会用手指掰开面包。

图片

16.Languages (语言文字)

India is socially, culturally, and linguistically very diverse. Hindi and English are widely spoken and recognized for official purposes. Other than than, there are 22 scheduled languages recognized by the constitution of India. However, more than 400 languages and dialects in India are still not recognized. Dialects change even with a few kilometers of travel in the state. Over the years, about 190 languages have become endangered due to very few surviving speakers.

印度在交际、文化和语言上都非常多样化。印地语和英语在官方场合被广泛使用和认可。除此之外，印度宪法承认有22种预定语言。然而，印度仍有400多种语言和方言未被承认。即使在这个州旅行几公里，方言也会发生变化。多年来，大约190种语言由于很少有幸存的使用者而濒临灭绝。

 

图片

17. Yoga (瑜伽)

Yoga is a precious gift to the world. It’s an umbrella term for practicing physical exercise and philosophy. Yoga is one of the 6 traditional Hindu philosophies. Other 5 are philosophies are :

Sankhyaor Samkhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika or Vaiśeṣika” Mimamsa and Vedanta.

瑜伽是世界珍贵的礼物。这是练习体育锻炼和哲学的总称。瑜伽是6种传统的印度教哲学之一。其他5个哲学是：Sankhya或Samkhya、Nyaya、Vaisheshika或Vaiśeṣika“Mimamsa和Vedanta。

There exist thousands of traditions in India, and quite a few of them would leave outsiders rather curious. But the crux of Indian society and culture has always been to be well-mannered, polite, respect others, and progress together.

印度有成千上万的传统，他们中的很多人会让其他外国人感到好奇。但印度社会和文化的关键一直是彬彬有礼、有礼貌、尊重他人、共同进步。