India is a country that will force you out of your comfort zone, make you feel more alive than you have ever been. A country where the ATM may not like you, and in McDonalds you will be offered to eat Maharaja Mak ...

This is how British photographer Michal Huniewicz prefaces his photo report on a trip to India. Sometimes in his descriptions there is panic, sometimes delight, and sometimes these feelings are simply mixed.

01. Welcome to India

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02. Bus ride
Riding the bus is very cheap, but they are often overcrowded or in disrepair. On the other hand, even if it is completely full, the Indians can always make room and find a place for one more person, you don’t have to worry about this.

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03. Indian wedding

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04. Any guidebook will tell you that India is a land of many paradoxes. You see modern buildings and technology, and a minute later someone offers you tea in a handmade earthenware cup – the way these cups are made has not changed for thousands of years.

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05. In this photo, two girls live in one of the slums of Delhi, near the Kirti Nagar station.
Of the 14 million people living in Delhi, 4 million live in slums.

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06. Puppeteer
But even the poor here have fun and smile. This guy entertains audiences in the slums of Kathputli, in Delhi. This calm looking place is in the middle of some of the most unsettling surroundings I have ever seen or breathed, for every one of my senses it was an awe-inspiring experience.

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07. Ganges (or Ganges) is the second largest river in the world, and its basin is the most densely populated. From a spiritual point of view, this is one of the main shrines for Hindus, in Hinduism she is worshiped as a goddess.
Unfortunately, the Ganges is also one of the five most polluted rivers in the world.

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08. Girls in Varanasi, on the other side of the river.

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09. Sunrise in Varanasi

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10. In the Ganges, Indians wash, brush their teeth, bathe, wash, dump waste, ashes and the remains of burnt corpses here.

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14. Birla Mandir, a Hindu temple in Varanasi. One of the many temples built throughout India by the Birla family.

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15. Street food.
Before traveling to India, I was warned not to buy food on the streets. We've all been paranoid about doing a lot of hygiene routines with different products like antibacterial soaps and more. We brushed our teeth with mineral water, drank strong alcohol, slept wrapped in silk cloth, and in no case tried not to touch our mouths with our hands.
One of us ended up getting sick. We decided that he was dying, and that we should leave him in Varanasi, where he would be burned along with the rest of the corpses... But he miraculously survived...
Of course, not all food in India is street food. Most food is prepared in the kitchens, and this is usually the cleanest place in the house.

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16. Red Fort, Agra.

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17.

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18. Unpleasant meeting
It happened in one of the slums of Delhi. At some point, the atmosphere heated up. Someone threw some rocks at us, someone splashed liquid, no one smiled and they said we had better leave.

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19. Pleasant meeting
The Indian people belong to at least four different racial groups. They speak 325 different languages ​​(15 of which are official, including English), and practice seven religions...

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20. Sacred cows on the freeway.

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21. A man cooks meat in Jaipur.

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22.

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23. The girl in the photo does not cover her face for religious reasons, but to protect herself from dust and dirt.

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24. Wedding cortege.

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25.

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26. Indian school.
This is a small school in Abhaneri (Rajasthan). The children did not speak English, but when my friend wrote the names of the days of the week on the blackboard, they began to sing a song that listed the days.
By the way, before going to India, I read in one of the guidebooks that I will definitely come across children who want to practice their English. And it really happened! One of the boys asked to explain to him the meaning of one mysterious English word: gotta(must).

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27. A dot on a woman's forehead is called bindi and means ... a little. It doesn't even have to be Indian. Widows shouldn't wear one, that's all. I used to think that only a married woman can see a bindi, but I was wrong.
(Bindi in Hinduism is a sign of truth, the so-called "third eye". Traditionally, only married women wear bindi. Although today the bindi is a stylish decoration, and every girl can try it on. The interest of the hippie and techno movement in India brought the bindi to Europe and America, where it has evolved from a spiritual symbol to a fashionable detail.Here you can see the bindi on the rave scene, in the US they have already become a massive decoration in various shapes and colors. - approx. valse-boston / wikipedia /)

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28. A woman digs through the garbage in Jaipur, surrounded by pigs and cows. She held out her hand to me, asking for money.
It is curious that many here refuse to take money for nothing. They're trying to sell you something, but they won't just take the money because they don't want to become beggars.
By the way, I thought that there were wild boars next to the woman, and I was very scared. And they were just hairy pigs... The locals were amused by my fear.

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29. If you are a foreigner in India, you can see more of India than the locals themselves. You have more freedom to move. People around are good and friendly, and almost everywhere and always you will be greeted with a smile.
I felt much more natural and relaxed than in the Arab countries I recently visited, where many men looked at me as if they would rather see me with a hole in my head.
With a foreign passport, you are unlikely to have any restrictions in India, especially if you have white skin. It's rather sad to understand this... But useful.

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30. Traffic on Indian roads is absolutely crazy. There are too many people and too many vehicles and everyone is honking all the time. All the time! Their horns mean: look around, I'm driving, be careful, get out of my way, I'll overtake you, yes, my car is bigger than yours... More than 130,000 people die in traffic accidents every year! But, on the other hand, this is only 11 per 100 thousand inhabitants (for example, in Egypt it is 42 per 100 thousand)

Rule of the road No. 1: the big car gets priority.
Rule of the road number 2: the obviously more expensive car gets priority, even if it's smaller.
Rule of the road No. 3: the cow always gets priority.

Every Indian will slow down to let a cow pass, but not everyone will let a pedestrian pass! Markings and traffic lights are only approximate instructions for drivers, nothing more.
India is a safe country, no one harassed or threatened me and my friends... but the roads, the roads...

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31. In the temple of Karni Mata in the city of Deshnok, known as the "Temple of the Rats"

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32. Karni Mata is a Hindu saint and politician. Considered the incarnation of the goddess Durga
Rats in the temple are considered sacred animals. There are over 20,000 black rats here. If you accidentally step on one of them and kill it, you will have to replace it with a solid gold one.
There are also white rats, but not many. If you see one, it's good luck.
In the temple a young man came up to me and said: "I have double luck today - I saw a white rat, and a white man!"

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33. In a workshop in Jaipur.
I remember being approached by a polite young man who asked, "I'm sorry, I don't want to embarrass you, but your light skin is so beautiful and my dark skin is so rough. How do you do it, what makeup do you use?" My jaw dropped and I was silent for a while. "...You don't embarrass me," I told him embarrassedly, and assured him that his skin was more than perfect.

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34. No matter where you are heading, as long as you stay in the city, rickshaws are always circling around you like vultures. Although they are not very fast or very safe to drive, they can get you where a normal car can't go.
You are offered a price that is at least twice the real price, but if you have enough time and patience, you can seriously reduce it by haggling. Once in Delhi, I organized a small auction among competing drivers.

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35.

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36. This guy didn't want to leave. He vowed to protect me from "the aggressive monkeys who bit the British tourist horribly the day before" but I told him for the millionth time that I didn't need help. I could protect myself - I had a cookie, with which it is easy to bribe any monkey here. In the end, he demanded money, which I refused to give him...

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37. This photograph illustrates the life of an Indian woman. There are no professions in India that women cannot do: they work as miners, in quarries, on construction sites and on farms. As a rule, they are paid less than men for the same work, and it is not at all uncommon for a woman to work while pregnant or caring for a child.

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38. Mehrangarh Fort - a fortification on the high cliffs of Marwar, rises above the city of Jodhpur.

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39. I am happy to tell you that this is the largest and best temple in the world.

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40. Untouchables - the lowest status, people who are outside the Indian caste system. They make up approximately 16% of society. More recently, the Untouchables were required to wear bells, demonstrating to those around them their "impure" presence.

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41. This girl is from the Untouchables. I met her near the temple and asked her to pose for a photo. She refused to enter the area surrounding the temple. I couldn't understand why until a passer-by explained to me that she was not allowed to go near the temple because of her low status. She just sat outside in the garden, resting before returning to her menial work. No sign of rebellion, she just accepted her fate.
Even today, in rural areas, there are cases when untouchables are killed simply for disobedience and violation of customs.

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43. Varanasi.
Amazing fact: there are dolphins in the Ganges. It's hard to believe, knowing how polluted this river is.

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44. Pier of Fire
Here, the ritual burning of corpses takes place, and the ashes end up in the Ganges. This method of burial is desired and honored by most Hindus.

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45. In India you will never be alone - other people here are always very close to you. It's a little overwhelming at first, but after a while everyone gets used to it.
In this photo, a child in the city of Abhaneri.

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46. ​​In the Middle East, I had to ask people to pose for a photo, and they almost always refused. In India, on the contrary, it was necessary to ask people not to pose, not to take special poses when they saw me with a camera. People in India love to be photographed!
In this photo, a family in a tent, in the slums of Jaipur.

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47. India can be considered as a third world country, but do not forget that the middle class here, as a rule, is much more prosperous than in the West.

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48. A girl named Krishna is talking to my friend. Her English is very good. It turns out that many Indians speak English with each other - it has become the main language for educated people here.
Although many speak strange forms of English to foreigners, which I often could not understand (or even recognize as English). Heavy Indian accent and intonations, strange words and pronunciations that vary in different parts of India. In addition, there are words pronounced in a Spanish-figurative manner, with an "e" in front of them: estrait (street) or eskool (school). Some grammatical forms and words are archaic, while others mean something completely different than they should.

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49. Lotus Temple
Interestingly, if you learn to speak a little Hindi, you will be able to communicate with the locals more naturally, and they will like it - after all, you put in the effort. Now you can get the best prices and it will be easier for you to break the ice in communication.
But if you want to settle a serious issue, it seems to be better to use English - it is still perceived in India as the language of power.

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50.

Frank India. The Life and Death of Varanasi.

Much is said about how badly poor people live in India, but less is written about the life of rich people in this country. However, there are many rich people in India.

Crystal and rubies in the interiors of houses: myth or reality

When it comes to the life of rich people, what do we immediately imagine? Of course, the inlay of various items with precious stones, crystal chandeliers, as well as furniture made from the most expensive types of wood. And all this certainly shines, sparkles, dazzles, shimmers and shimmers.

However, such a representation ultimately turns out to be nothing more than a stereotyped vision.

Take the house of a famous Indian actor named Rajinikanth. Its interior looks like this:

It is quite impressive and large-scale, but in its content it is more like not a palace, but rather a house in which ordinary wealthy Indians live. Most of the houses of Indian celebrities have the following features:

1. Minimalism. Many celebrities in their own home want to feel cozy and comfortable, and not like in the walls of the Louvre. Therefore, all items that are chosen to decorate a home can be quite expensive, but they look noble and modest.
2. Loft style. Celebrities also follow fashion and are not indifferent to what interiors and styles are trending. Given the fact that the loft style has started to gain momentum, many wealthy people in India have begun to create loft interiors in their homes.
3. All the colorful elements are more exotic for, and the rich people of India want to see more of a European style in their home.

The glass interior of Rajinikanth looks quite stylish, but still, life in a transparent house is perhaps not as cozy as it seems at first glance. All the same, there is a feeling that the media is constantly trying to follow you.

Entertainment and additional elements

Naturally, the homes of wealthy people in India have not only elegantly furnished rooms, but also additional entertainment and hobby items that can be compared in luxury to imperial palaces. Here is where there is definitely room to roam:

This is the home of a billionaire named Mukesh Ambani, who built his own mansion, spending a billion dollars on it. He built a house for himself, his wife and sons. It has 27 floors, luxurious living rooms, comfortable bedrooms, as well as additional rooms, such as a pool and a billiard room.

It is worth noting that in order to manage such a huge building, Mukesh needed to hire 600 people. In addition to the main rooms, Mukesh has a parking lot that can easily accommodate 160 cars, as well as a huge gym, in which he himself likes to spend time.

In addition, Ambani has an entire dance studio and his own home theater in his house, which can accommodate 50 people. The house has a magnificent observation deck with a wonderful view. There are several helipads on the roof of this skyscraper.

What do we know about India? In the imagination of most people, it seems to be a fabulous, romantic and mysterious country. But what is real life like in India? How strong is its economy? What is the size in India today?

Geographical location and general information about the country

(this is the official name of the country) is a large state in South India with a rich history and culture. It is the birthplace of the ancient Indus civilization, which has achieved significant success in art, urban planning and agriculture.

Modern India occupies the entire Hindustan peninsula, extends to the Himalayan mountains in the north, and has wide access to the ocean in the south. From the western side, it is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea, and from the southeast - by the Bay of Bengal. The total length of the coastline of India reaches 7500 kilometers.

Today India is home to 1.34 billion people (2017). In terms of population, it ranks second in the world, second only to China. Although, according to scientists, by the middle of the 21st century, India can overtake China in the “demographic race” and take a firm first position.

What does India produce? The country's economy and its structure

India is one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in Asia. The country has the fourth largest GDP in the world ($4.7 trillion). However, per capita income is low at $2,700 per year. According to this indicator, the country ranks only 118th in the world.

The structure of India's GDP is as follows:

• 18% - industry.
• 28% - agricultural sector.
• 54% - the service sector.

The main branches of the Indian economy: automotive, electronics, mining, oil, chemicals, food and pharmaceutical industries. The country is the largest supplier to the world market of mica, bauxite, various equipment, textiles, agricultural raw materials, as well as software and medicines.

The country's economy consumes a huge amount of energy resources (in particular, oil and coal). Agriculture in India is extensive. Rice, tea, wheat, cotton, jute, and sugar cane are grown here. Among other things, India is a significant donor of investment. Most of the Indian funds are invested in the economies of Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and the United States.

Currency and average salary in India

The monetary unit in India is the rupee. Fractional coin - pice. Rupee to dollar exchange rate: 68:1 (as of May 2018). That is, for one American dollar you can buy 68. For 100 Russian rubles, you can get about 110 rupees.

The currency of India is presented in coins and banknotes. The smallest denomination in the country is 5 rupees, and the largest is 2,000. The exchange rate of the rupee against the dollar, euro or ruble is constantly changing, so it is recommended to use online currency calculators.

The average salary in India according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) for 2017 is $223 per month. According to this indicator, the country occupies a disappointing 121st place in the world. The monthly minimum wage in the state is 4,000 rupees ($60) for rural areas and 5,500 rupees ($82) for urban areas. It should be noted that the value of the average salary in India has a significant regional differentiation. Thus, the ranking of cities with the highest earnings includes Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa and Calcutta.

Standard of living in the country: main indicators

In the ranking of countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), India is in 131st place, between Bhutan and Honduras. In general, India is a country of striking contrasts, where the stratification of society is quite noticeable.

In one city, the poorest slums can coexist with fashionable hotels, boutiques and expensive restaurants. Part of the Indians live in terrible conditions, eating mainly rice and vegetables. At the same time, other segments of the population can afford to have a permanent servant of housekeepers, gardeners and cooks. A list of the following statistical facts will help to better understand the standard of living in India:

• A third of the country's population are illiterate (cannot read and write).
• 90% of Indian cities do not have sewerage.
• Only half of India's cities have access to clean piped water.
• About 300 million people in the country are deprived of access to electricity networks.
• Only 20 major cities in India have municipal public transport.
• Nearly a quarter of India's population lives below the poverty line (less than two dollars a day).

"No force can stop our country on the path to progress!" - these words were recently uttered by the Prime Minister of India. Indeed, India is already among the world leaders in the field of IT technologies. Light industry and high-precision production are developing at a rapid pace. However, whether all this will affect the well-being of the Indians - time will tell.

Let's also find out how things are in India with medicine, education and landscaping.

Medicine

According to numerous reviews of our compatriots who moved to distant India for one reason or another, the situation with medicine there is far from ideal. Medical services in this country are either very expensive or cheap, but of extremely poor quality. However, in recent years, India has become one of the centers of "medical tourism". This is due to the presence of a fairly large number of professional English-speaking doctors.

A large percentage of private and public clinics are equipped with the latest technology, and they employ real professionals. By the way, many of them studied abroad (including in post-Soviet countries). However, treatment in such clinics is available to only 10% of the Indian population.

Education

At this stage, the state is trying to provide school education to absolutely all its inhabitants, including those who live in slums and villages. But many families living in poverty and poverty prefer to send their children not to school, but to work from an early age. Child labor is a serious problem in modern India.

Today, there are about 500 universities in the country. Technical specialties are especially popular. Education in most universities is conducted in English. The cost of one year of study at an Indian university is about 15 thousand dollars. However, a person with a higher education has a good chance of finding a decent and well-paid job in his country.

Transport and landscaping

Inside the country, it is possible to travel by various modes of transport: from traditional trains and buses to very exotic bike and auto rickshaws. The most developed rail transport. The entire territory of India (with the exception of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir) is covered by a dense network of railways. In recent years, air traffic between major Indian cities has been actively developing.

The improvement of public spaces in India is in an extremely deplorable state. In many settlements, in fact, there are no recreational zones at all. The streets are rarely equipped with sidewalks, there are very few parks and squares. Some Indian hotels offer a unique service - the so-called "day pass". At this time, you can be in the well-groomed territory of the hotel and use a certain list of amenities.

In India, there is a rather acute problem with sanitary cleaning. Dirt and garbage on city streets is quite a familiar picture for this country.

Prices for products and services

In India, prices for local vegetables and fruits are very low. They are very tasty, as they are always fresh, and are available all year round. Dairy products are more expensive (a liter of good milk costs about 80 rupees), and cheeses are very difficult to find in local stores. The choice of meat is also very limited. More details about food prices are described in the following video.

Communication and Internet services, as well as travel are quite cheap. Clothes and shoes are also cheap. The price of household appliances is approximately comparable to Russian ones.

Finally…

Summarizing all of the above: is it worth thinking about emigration to this country? If you look for work here - then only in the field of high technology. Opportunity to work part-time in the tourism industry. As for working specialties, the salaries in India in dollars are extremely low. It is important to note that it is quite difficult for a foreigner to find a job here. To get a work visa to India, you need to conclude a contract with a local employer. At the same time, the monthly salary should not be lower than 2100 US dollars.

Publishes a story by photographer Katya Peshakova about how to arrange life in fabulous India.

I have been interested in India since childhood. When I was 16, a friend invited me to a Hare Krishna festival. In the Krishna consciousness movement, I was more attracted not by the organization itself, but by Indian culture in its general manifestation. It was important for me to know the essence of India: history, culture, language, religion. I literally fell ill with this country and admire it to this day.

Road to India

When I first visited India, I realized that I wanted to live in this country. It only remained to figure out how to stay here forever. The move was quite painful due to material and visa problems. I was 22, I could not immediately get on my feet, so I had to return home several times a year. My plan worked only three years later.

While I could not work, I simply began to contact Indian photographers and organizations. I needed to understand the process, get an idea of ​​how an Indian wedding works, so I offered my services to the studios for free. Only one responded, and every day I went to free shootings and lived on savings made in Russia.

After some time, they began to pay me a hundred dollars for shooting, although later I found out that the studio was selling my work several times more expensive. When I gained a client base, I decided to open a company and work under my own name. At first there were difficulties, but in the end we overcame everything, and my company has been successfully operating to this day.

Varanasi

Upon arrival in India, nothing surprised me: I was well prepared for this country, so there was no dissonance. I did not dream of a fabulous India and took all the realities for granted. When you really want something, you stop noticing minor inconveniences.

I settled in Varanasi, and before that I lived in Goa and Delhi. Varanasi is a very specific city, it is especially revered because it is considered the city of Shiva. Many believe that Shiva is present here, and those who complete their life path by cremation in Varanasi will immediately receive liberation, even if they did not deserve it with their lifestyle.

The city is like a labyrinth: new roads are cut into the old part, located on the river bank. Until now, while walking, I find new streets here, although I have lived here for a long time.

I settled in the old part of Varanasi because I wanted to be closer to the river. This area is considered Europeanized. I feel comfortable here, because on the one hand - a European piece of life, on the other - a historical place with many temples within walking distance.

Life is a game

The locals are very open and friendly. Hospitality is one of the principles of Indian culture: the host must treat the guest as a deity. Indians of all Asians are most similar to Russians, so I do not feel a barrier in communication. They can come up on the street, ask about life and immediately become your friend.

I managed to live for some time in an Indian family, thanks to which I improved my language a lot, although I learned Hindi back in Russia. Even though I am fluent in it, I try to take additional lessons from the teacher.

In Varanasi, you rarely meet a native speaker of the Russian language, which cannot be said about Goa. However, the attitude towards our compatriots in these two states varies greatly. In Varanasi, people are more modest, stick to traditions, and in Goa, people are spinning in the tourism business, and this has ruined many. Although Indians don't see anything wrong with making money. In Indian religion, a person must go through four stages to achieve liberation: kama - satisfaction of desires, artha - making money, dharma - spiritual growth and moksha - liberation. Artha is one of the steps: a person is not considered bad if he makes a profit. It's a sin not to make money on tourists!

Indians do not deceive tourists, but play with them. In their view, life is a game. A person with an Eastern mentality has an attitude: "I call a thousand, because we will bargain and reach a certain amount that suits both." The Indian enjoys the process, and at the word “thousand” we turn around and leave without even joining the game.

The older generation at the mention of Russia often says: “Oh, Hindi Rusi bhai bhai!” ("Indians and Russians are brothers"). This is the slogan of Soviet-Indian friendship, which was popular in the 1950s-1980s. People remember this.

Traditions

India is famous for its myriad of holidays and unusual traditions. New Year is an occasion to take a walk for young people. The most important Hindu holiday is Devali. Many set off fireworks, decorate houses with garlands, and businessmen close account books, so in my mind this holiday has become the New Year. The holiday of victory over evil is more important to me, I try to celebrate it with loved ones.

I like to watch wedding ceremonies. In each state they are different, even different castes of one state celebrate this event in their own way.

The wedding ceremony begins with matchmaking. The groom's relatives come to the bride and agree on the wedding. In the morning, a mihendi ceremony is held - the skin of the bride and her girlfriends is painted with henna. In the evening, on the eve of the wedding, a sangid is held - a dance wedding program. The highlight of the evening is the dance of the bride.

On the wedding day, a haldi ceremony is organized. Turmeric paste mixed with oils and incense is used to anoint the bride and groom. On our white skin, it does not look so beautiful - it takes on a yellow tint, and Indian shimmers with a golden color. The wedding is considered completed after the newlyweds walk around the fire seven times.

Housing problem

The cost of renting housing in Indian cities varies depending on the area. Apartments in a residential complex are more expensive, as you need to pay a membership fee. In Delhi, I rented a three-room apartment in a residential area for 25 thousand rubles. Apartments outside the residential complex will cost 10-15 thousand rubles, but the conditions here are much worse.

My area in Varanasi is considered expensive due to the huge number of Europeans, so I pay about 20 thousand rubles for an apartment. But this does not mean that poor people have to live on the street - you can find a room even for two thousand rubles. There is housing for every budget, it all depends on requests.

I use the so-called free medicine - that is, state. Even a tourist in India can count on preferential service. This type of medical care is good, but the hospitals are poorly equipped, and the waiting lists for doctors are long. All poor people use state medicine, because a visit to a government clinic costs only 20-30 rubles.

Detractors

My whole life is vacation. I read a lot, explore the city, do yoga, arrange workshops for European travelers who want to get to know India better. Today, for example, we talked about Indian folk painting. In my free time I blog. My goal is to show India in all its glory.

There are ill-wishers who see only the bad in India. The question is often asked: “How do you live among such dirt?” I stopped answering that there is something to see in India besides dirt. When I am once again asked about this, I ask a counter question: “Is there really nothing else to pay attention to in a civilization that is more than five thousand years old?” I want people to notice more subtle things, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I recently posted a photo of a man meditating on the Ganges River. The camp of commentators was divided: some wrote, “How I want to be there,” and others, “Why is he sitting in such a garbage dump?” This is an exemplary situation - how differently people can look at the world.

Indian fairy tale

Mom was prepared for my move - she knew that sooner or later it would happen. Real friends supported, and what the rest think - I don't care. This is my life and I don't care how others feel about it.

I've been here for almost ten years. I often receive friends from Russia. I am changing the established notion of India as an unsafe place - with my life and blog, I show that this is just a stamp and a template.

I still do not understand why a positive thinker is told that he looks at the world through rose-colored glasses? Why are we used to the fact that negativity must be taken for granted? I show India as we saw it in childhood: like an Indian fairy tale, like something unusual. Because that's what she is.

Since the borders of our state were opened for its inhabitants, one of the popular decisions of Russians or citizens of the former CIS has been the decision to change their country of residence. Among other popular states, life in India is considered as a simple and comfortable alternative.

The opinions of compatriots who have already decided on such an act differ so much that it is worth carefully assessing the reality of ideas about this almost mythical state for us and the objectivity of what is happening.

India has successfully become a part of the multinational global space.

In reality, like centuries ago, life in India is strictly subject to the rules called "castes".

Until now, every person in this country belongs to a certain caste.

Only officially, no other Indian will pay attention to the caste of his colleague or interlocutor. From the point of view of official rules, even the legendary caste of untouchables is endowed with rights. In fact, the ranking is preserved. It is all the more noticeable, the higher the caste belongs to the one with whom you need to communicate.

India is one of the few countries in which the original wedding traditions that have come from ancient times have been preserved.

Marriages are "concluded" almost always only by senior representatives of families. People in India do not have the right to choose their own partner for further family life. The wedding celebrations are paid for by the bride's family. This is one of the reasons for expecting the birth of a son and not a daughter. The young must belong to a common religion.

The majority of the population is wary of a long-term partnership, especially marriage to a foreigner. A person here cannot and usually does not want to belong to himself, preferring family and national traditions. This will need to be taken into account when dealing with the local population. It is especially not recommended here to show a negative attitude towards accepted norms.

beauty of indian women

Indian women are very beautiful, but not from a European point of view. Rather, Indian movie actresses differ in relative proximity to the standards of appearance and personal care that we are used to. In reality, the local beauty is naturally inclined to be overweight. There is no habit of observing dietary restrictions. Most of the girls from early youth are quite full. Even the most slender of them quickly gain weight with age.

Here, European ideas about female age are unusual. As if in our homeland decades ago, marriages are concluded at an early age. The genetic propensity for early aging turns a former beauty by the age of forty into a wise old woman who has long had grandchildren.

In India, they prefer to stick to the usual traditional bright costumes, choose numerous decorations.

Dirt on the streets of India

The unique dirt on the streets of almost any locality of this state has already become a legend. In the tradition of the country there is no practice of the institution of professional cleaners. It is impossible to hear the measured sounds of a broom in the early morning on the local streets. Moreover, professional and regular cleaning is not carried out even in wealthy neighborhoods. In numerous slum areas of this state, real unsanitary conditions reign. This is important to consider even during a normal tourist trip.

Although in areas where the “travellers' path” is being laid, they try to maintain relative cleanliness. But it is enough just to go to the next street to face garbage and dirt again.

The exception is the state of Goa. Where the streets are washed and cleaned, sidewalks and roads are being repaired to create normal conditions for tourists to relax.

Poverty

It is worth considering the presence on the streets, even in Delhi, of a large number of beggars. too high for most of the population, which pushes a large number of residents to this, poverty is very common.

An important difference from the usual beggars in our cities is a polite attitude towards a person passing by, they will not beg in India. Separately, it is worth paying attention to the sannyasi. They are clearly visible in bright orange clothes. These are those who consciously chose the path of renunciation of worldly life and its benefits. These wandering monks don't ask for money. They are used to serving food. In this state, meeting a sannyasi and helping him is considered a good deed. Most of them live permanently in ashrams.

You can see the price tag in a cafe in South Goa in the next video.

Despite the large number of beggars, there is virtually no theft. Even children are not fond of petty theft among Europeans. Thefts are very rare, and minimal measures of respect for your belongings are enough.

All these factors, especially the level of poverty in India, should be taken into account when planning to move permanently or temporarily to this country. Or even in a tourist trip situation.

The role of religion in life

The people of India are not as religious as it is commonly believed. Most of them believe in karma and reincarnation. But it is approximately at a similar level with us in the fulfillment of Christian commandments.

But it is important to pay attention to the lack of tolerance between representatives of different religions, often described as "friendship" between representatives of different faiths. Most repatriates to this country note rather a negative attitude between supporters of different faiths. Most of the population, about 80%, professes Hinduism. About 13% of the inhabitants profess Islam. There are Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches. The locals are wary of those who decide to convert to Hinduism.

Here, despite the low standard of living, a large one has been operating for a long time. Including the children and grandchildren of those who left Russia in search of a better life during the first emigration waves after the October Revolution and the years of the formation of Soviet power. The inhabitants of our country stand out, in different years, contrary to the customs of this state, who created families with Hindus. Most often, a resident of Russia marries an Indian. This is due to the demographic bias.

Official statistics prove that there are more men in the country at the age when they start families than women. The growth in the number of such unions is also facilitated by the strict qualifications for choosing a bride from compatriots. A potential husband must meet strict caste and financial requirements. As a result, finding a spouse abroad is becoming easier and more profitable for many Indians.

The number of potential emigrants to India is noticeably restrained by the policy of official Delhi.

The authorities willingly accept supporters of spiritual practices for temporary residence. They are sympathetic to the long-term residence in their territory of the owners of free professions, earning a living through remote employment. Such guests can even get a residence permit.

Becoming an Indian citizen is much more difficult. There are a lot of requirements for applicants. In addition, for an expat, life in India is incredibly difficult. This is due to a large number of factors.

From the video below, you can learn how to move to India for permanent residence from Russia.

Labor market congestion

This state in terms of population is in second place on the planet. At the same time, most of the population belongs to a young age. More than 140 million local residents reach working age in 2020. For this reason, it is quite difficult for a repatriate to try to break into the labor market. Today, even among the local population is very high.

This is further exacerbated by a significant percentage of job seekers who apply for highly paid positions. More than 500 applicants with proper education and work experience apply for one position in an international corporation. As a result, more than 80% of working citizens of the state are employed in the shadow sector of the economy. Unemployment in India is incredibly high.