5 Unique Customs In India That Will Amaze You

If traditions offer reassurance in the face of chaos, they can also frame what might otherwise be taboo as mystical. Join us for a giant cocktail of rituals and customs dating back to the earliest centuries of Indian civilization.

* The Aghori sadhus of Varanasi

The Aghori sadhus are wondering monks who renounce all earthly possessions in order to attain eternal spiritual liberation. These ascetic Shaiva sadhus engage in post-mortem rituals such as meditating on corpses, cannibalism, keeping skulls as reminders of the impermanence of life, and smearing their bodies with ash, which is the last rite performed on a material body. Another vital ritual is a dip in the Ganges before sunrise, to cleanse themselves of all sins.

* The Hola Mohalla warriors of Punjab

Founded by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Hola Mohalla is a three-day event that usually falls in March, one day after the festival of Holi. It marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year and is held in the small town of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, turning it into a rambunctious carnival setting. It showcases the fierce martial arts of Nihang Sikhs, as well as kirtan (religious chants), music and poetry, and ends with a glorious military-style procession.

* The Buddhist chanting of Ladakh

In 2012, the Buddhist chanting of Ladakh was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tradition of Buddhist chanting is celebrated every day in monasteries and villages in Ladakh. Buddhist lamas (priests) chant and recite the teachings and philosophy of Lord Buddha for the spiritual and moral well-being of believers. The ritual is carried out in groups—monks don traditional attire and make use of bells, drums, cymbals, and trumpets.

* Chhau dance of Odisha

Another important tradition from India that made it to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 is the classical Chhau dance, from Odisha. The dance is used as a form of storytelling on stage, using vivacious all-male troupes. It combines martial arts, acrobatics, athletics and its motifs highlight religious themes of Shaivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism. This folk dance is egalitarian and is celebrated every spring.

* Nag Panchami

In Hindu culture, serpent blessings are sought to bring peace and welfare to the family. The festival usually falls during the months of July and August. Several stories about its significance have been narrated in different mythologies and folklore, including in the Mahabharata, the Sanskrit epic. On this day, serpent deities made out of silver, wood or stone are worshipped with offerings of milk, sweets and flowers, and sometimes a real snake is used. It is also considered a taboo to dig the earth on Nag Panchami as it could harm the snakes.