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This article was first published 10 years ago

Made in India: 8 things only Indians do

Last updated on: August 14, 2014 22:05 IST


Photographs: Ajay Verma/Reuters Divya Nair/Rediff.com

Our nationality is something we're proud of. However, with it comes a bunch of eccentricities that are unique to us folks. 

Read on and tell us if you agree with us or not.

Let's admit it: we Indians are a crazy, eccentric bunch.

In our country every fourth person follows a different religion.

We celebrate more than a hundred festivals every year.

And the extraordinary list of cuisines we have per state will put any other country to shame.

In fact, 29 states and seven Union territories just about sums up our diversity.

We travel the world, share our experiences and leave an indelible mark everywhere we go.

Ahead of Independence Day, here's presenting a list of things that will make you nod your head and say: Kya kare, we are like this only!

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Tags: India

Eating with bare hands


Photographs: scalino/Creative Commons

Yes, we go to fancy restaurants and know the difference between a fork, knife and spoon.

Some of us have also mastered the fine art of eating rice with chopsticks.

Ever tried eating the Mysore masala dosa, mutton biryani or the pani puri with a fork and spoon? Yeah, was yumm, right?

How will you get the real flavour unless you connect with the masala?

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Tags: Mysore

We never sell gold


Photographs: Reuters

Buying gold jewellery may be a dead investment, but in India, it's a tradition as old as the dinosaur.

Be it birthdays, festivals, weddings -- you can never go wrong by gifting the yellow metal.

Any celebratory occasion in India is incomplete without food and gold.

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Tags: India

We don't throw things away


Photographs: Babu/Reuters

Your mother will make you wear that faded t-shirt on Holi and after it's been washed, it will either become her kitchen napkin or a makeshift doormat.

That stained bathroom mug will be used as a flower pot and those empty milk packets will be exchanged for garlic.

And where else can you exchange your old clothes for new stainless steel utensils?

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Tags: 1

There's always an Indian version available


Photographs: Niyam/Creative Commons

Why go to New York when you have Mumbai; why go to Switzerland, when you can enjoy paradise in Kashmir?

India has an answer to everything that is global.

Have you tried our Chinese Bhel, Pav Bhaji Pizza and Sev Donut?

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We still believe in arranged marriages


Photographs: Niyam/Creative Commons

After her trip to India, the American queen of the talk show, Oprah Winfrey, confessed that she was surprised to find that Indian youngsters let their parents decide who their life partner will be.

Well, our grandparents and parents got married that way and they’ve survived two generations.

It’s an Indian thing you know.

Read this (50% Indians still prefer arranged marriages) if you don’t believe us. :-)

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To bargain is our birth right


Photographs: Danish Siddiqui /Reuters

We have our Walmarts and shopping malls, but nothing beats the excitement of buying stuff off the street/ bazaar.

We haggle for hours to save anything between five to fifty rupees, because we believe that a penny saved is a penny earned.

Trust an auntyji to ask a vegetable vendor for an extra tomato or curry leaves because "we are regular customers".

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Tags: 1

Rajinikanth is a phenomenon!


Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj

We love it when Jackie Chan breaks those walls and Sylvester Stallone gets angry. But back home, we worship the one and only Rajinikanth.

You certainly don't want us to get started on the list of things Rajini can do that others cannot even dream of, do you?

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Sports = Sachin Tendulkar


Photographs: Ben Radford/Getty Images

The last time a certain tennis player asked: Who is Sachin Tendulkar, she became the butt of Indian jokes.

For those who don't know, the batting genius is our answer to all the sporting legends of the world put together.

In our country, Sachin is not just a brilliant cricket player, he is God.