Part 4 White people of India. After the birth of their daughter, Ganatra's family decided not to have any more children. They believed that white skin was a sign of a serious illness and would require expensive treatment. Perhaps the reason for the unusual appearance was a “genetic leap into the past”

• Pooja Ganatra (24 years old) was born in Mumbai into a typical Indian family, but looks “ ugly duckling” with brown hair, freckles and white skin among his dark-haired and dark-skinned relatives
• During her childhood, she was sent for medical examination more than once with suspected skin disease.
• In her own country, the girl feels like a foreigner
• Strangers are often confused when she speaks in Hindi

A white-skinned girl, Pooja Ganatra, was born into an ordinary Indian family in Mumbai. Her appearance is absolutely typical of Scotland, but in hometown she endured ridicule from others who mistook freckles for a skin disease. How many times as a teenager did she try to bring her appearance to the “unattainable” standards of Indian beauty for her!

In the country of her birth, Pooja lives like a foreigner: local residents they ask to take a photo with her, taxi drivers start a conversation in English, traders try to sell goods at prices for tourists and are shocked when they hear her bargaining with them in Hindi.

How to explain her unusual appearance? Perhaps this is a kind of evolutionary shift, an atavism that lay dormant in the genes of her parents for many years and manifested itself at the birth of Punja?

Ganatra dreams of a DNA test so she can finally find out her genetic history.

Pooja Ganatra, 24 years old in traditional Indian attire. Born in Mumbai with red hair, emerald eyes and white freckled skin - a quintessentially Scottish appearance.

Relatives feared that Pooja's freckles were a strange congenital skin disease. Mom Hemaxi (46) and dad Rajesh (51) have no explanation mysterious appearance daughters.

Enterprising Puja has her own clothing factory. The young businesswoman says: “When I was born, my family looked at me as a curiosity because they all had dark brown eyes, black hair and dark skin, like most Indians.

When freckles began to appear on my skin at the age of 3, my parents took me to the doctors, fearing that it was a serious disease. They had never seen anything like it! At school I also suffered a lot of ridicule because unusual appearance.

Strangers would come up and ask, “What are these spots on your face?” What could I answer them?

Even in my first year at university, I was presented with special requirements. I was not allowed to wear short sleeves like everyone else because my fair skin was too eye-catching.”

Calm down, I'm Indian too

“Indians love to take pictures with foreigners with unusual appearance.

Local residents have asked me to take photos hundreds of times. I had to tell them, “Relax, I’m Indian too.” The funniest thing is when museums try to sell her a ticket at tourist prices, and Pooja has to show her documents.

“Even when I was traveling to America, the border guard double checked my passport and asked if I was really from India?”

The parents immediately took their daughter to the doctors when freckles appeared on her skin at the age of 3.

Ganatra suggests that her white-skinned appearance as a foreigner in India is a manifestation of ancestral genes.

Neither brother nor sister

After the birth of Punja, the parents decided not to have any more children, fearing that their daughter had a serious illness and they would have to spend a lot of money on her treatment in the future.

The girl's father Rajesh (51) is a typical Indian man with dark skin. Hemaxi's mother (46) has slightly lighter skin than most local women and has a few freckles on her skin. True, not on the face.

But for the whole family, their daughter’s appearance is a big mystery.

The legacy of ancestors?

Knowing that India was once a colony for several countries and was ruled by Britain for 100 for long years, it is quite possible that British genes appeared in Ganatra’s appearance.

Perhaps the reason for the unusual appearance was a “genetic leap into the past”?

A foreigner in her native country.

As a teenager, Punja tried very hard to look “like everyone else”

“When I was born, my family was very concerned about my appearance; they had never seen anything like it.”

Mama Hemaxi differs from most Indian women in having slightly lighter skin.

“My grandmother died when I was very young. I would so like to ask her about my ancestors!

In India, women are obsessed with clean skin; there should not be a single pimple on their face. My freckles were perceived as a big flaw and ugliness.”

Freckles under the Mumbai sun

Punja continued talking about her life: “Freckles become brighter in the sun. In hot Mumbai they became more and more apparent. I tried all kinds of creams to fight them, but nothing helped.

I was offered laser therapy and cosmetic surgery to remove my freckles. But as I grew up, I decided to refuse any “treatment.”

After the birth of their daughter, Ganatra's family decided not to have any more children. They believed that white skin was a sign of a serious illness and would require expensive treatment.

Poonja's appearance is a big mystery to the Ganatra family.

Natural beauty is amazing!

“One day I got tired of all the advice to hide my freckles under powder and I gave up trying to change myself.

The natural beauty of a woman is magnificent. I am no longer embarrassed by the puzzled looks of others and what they think of me. I love and respect myself and dress the way I like, and I send my most benevolent smile to onlookers.”

With mother Hemaxi.

She once worried that she would never find a groom because of her “ugly” appearance.

In her native India, she felt like an “ugly duckling” until she traveled to Europe and America. There, Punja saw many people who looked just like herself and felt “normal” for the first time (a photo with a former school friend).

If there were a ranking of countries that are most unlike other countries in the world, then India would probably take first place in such a ranking. This state, located in southern Asia, has amazed and surprised travelers from both Europe and Asia in all centuries, because the traditions, customs and way of life of Indians have always been original and radically different from the way of life of other peoples. And even several centuries of life under the rule of Great Britain did not change the Indian nation, and in the 21st century, just like centuries ago, the people of India also surprise Europeans with their national character traits and way of life. What is the peculiarity of the worldview and psychology of the Indians, due to which the mystery of the soul of this nation for centuries could not be understood? the best minds Europe and Asia?

National characteristics of Indians

All travelers visiting modern India agree that this state is a country of contrasts, in which things that are incompatible at first glance are combined together: in Indian cities luxury mansions dollar millionaires coexist with slums, and modern factories and offices are next to ancient temples of Hindu gods. And the Indians themselves, like their country, are full of contrasts: these people use modern technologies, but there is still an unofficial division into castes in their society; they watch films about, but create families by agreement; they love everything beautiful and bright, but do not particularly care about the cleanliness of their cities and the surrounding nature.

There are few mediocre personalities among Indians, because artistry, sociability and curiosity are the national characteristics of this nation . It is these character traits of Indian residents that are most noticeable to foreigners, because Indians can easily approach a traveler on the street to get to know him and ask him about his country, and in Indian markets and shops local sellers will show great courtesy and wonders of ingenuity to convince the tourist buy something from them. However, the psychology of Indians is much deeper, and national characteristics This nation is not limited to sociability and artistry. And others, no less bright features national character residents of India are:

1. The spirit of collectivism. Indians have long been accustomed to living in large families and deciding everything important questions the entire community, and even now, in the era of individualism, the concept of personal space and... For Indians, there are no taboo or too personal topics - they can without hesitation ask intimate questions to an unfamiliar interlocutor and tell very personal things about themselves. The same attitude in India towards personal space in everyday life - an Indian will feel quite comfortable if he has to spend the night in the same room with distant relatives or even strangers.
2. 
   Goodwill. It is difficult to find more friendly and caring people than Indians, because the kindness and courtesy of these people is evident in everything. Residents of India will always readily come to the aid of both fellow citizens and foreigners who find themselves in difficult situation: for example, a tourist who gets lost in the city can be taken to a hotel at his own expense, and a person who asks for a glass of water on a hot day can be seated at the table with his family and fed lunch. The friendliness of Indians is also visible when simply communicating with representatives of this nation - they will listen to the interlocutor with great interest and will happily answer all his questions.
3. Peacefulness. Most tourists who have visited India agree that it was on the streets of Indian cities, surrounded by hundreds of people, that they felt most safe. And this is not surprising, because Indians really do not like conflicts and violence, so they always try to avoid disputes and behave in a friendly and peaceful manner.
4. Carefree. Indians are a very carefree nation, and most of the representatives of this people have an easy-going attitude towards life. A resident of India, unlike a pedantic one, will not worry about formalities and trifles and build detailed plans for the future. It is thanks to the carefree nature of the Indians that only in India can you see dentists, hairdressers and cooks working right on the street. And another striking sign of Indian carelessness is the fact that on the roads of this country almost no one follows traffic rules, and motorists and motorcyclists drive as they please. But despite the fact that the roadways in Indian cities are often a mess, the number of road accidents in this country is no higher than in other countries.
5. 
   Love of beauty and art. Indians like luxury beautiful clothes, jewelry made of gold and stones, as well as beautiful pieces of art. And the Indian people’s craving for beauty is evidenced by the elegant and luxurious-looking traditional Indian women’s outfit, the sari, and the Indian tradition of decorating their bodies with drawings on holidays, and the breathtaking architecture of Hindu temples. And Bollywood films are not as rich in special effects as Hollywood films, but their scenery fascinates with its beauty, and the plot with intensity of passions, sincerity and a special Indian flavor.
6. Religiosity. There are practically no non-believers in India, but despite the fact that adherents live here different religions(Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians), there are no conflicts on religious grounds. Almost every Indian home has prayer rooms, and even in modern offices it is considered the norm to place figurines of gods on the desktop, view the horoscope or read mantras before starting an important task. And religious Hindu holidays in India are celebrated throughout the country, and on a much larger scale than in Russia and Europe, and they celebrate Christmas or Easter.
7. Conservative. Indian society is quite conservative, so even though the Constitution of this state declares universal equality, caste system exists in India to this day, and it is very difficult to move to a higher caste. Indians also sacredly honor their religious, folk and family traditions, but at the same time they respect other people's morals and other people's gods.

Psychology of Indians in personal life and everyday life

Because Indian society conservatively, are strong here patriarchal traditions, and it is still not uncommon for young people to create families not out of love, but as a result of an agreement between their parents. However, when Indians treat their son or daughter, they pay attention not only to financial condition future son-in-law/daughter-in-law, but also on a number of factors - appearance, character, habits and even zodiac sign. Couples are selected very harmoniously, so in such arranged marriages, love and mutual understanding appear over time.

Divorce in India is quite rare because Indians have been traditionally oriented from the very beginning family values and are sure that marriage is for life. In contrast, the majority of Indian youth do not seek to acquire their own housing, but prefer to live with their parents. And if in major cities the situation is gradually changing, in the provinces most people live in large families - It is not uncommon for three or four generations of the same family to live under one roof. Such large families The patriarchal structure is preserved, in which all decisions are made by the older men of the family.

Indians, like the British, are confident in the truth of the saying “my home is my castle,” so they prefer to live in large and comfortable houses, where there is everything necessary for the comfort of each family member. A mandatory element of every Indian private home is one or more courtyards, which are always cool thanks to the shade from the house and the trees growing here. If the house has several floors, then the first floor is almost always occupied by utility rooms, and the bedrooms are located on the second floor and above. Due to the hot climate, Indians prefer to spend their free time in cool rooms at home or in courtyard. Since in India neighbors and relatives regularly communicate with each other, Indian families often either receive guests at home in the evenings or go to visit neighbors or relatives to chat.

“All men are the same,” you say. And it is true. But there are still national characteristics. For example, Indian men are like elephants. No, they’re not fat, they’re just sometimes impossible not to notice. Sometimes pompous, like peacocks. Sometimes they are as brave as mongooses. Friendly, like Labradors. Naive, like children. Because they…

...very dark

Blondes in India are considered almost divine beings, like cows. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether your blonde is artificial or natural. They will turn around, click their tongues in delight... They may even let you skip the line! Many people will want to touch you. There is a sign in India: if you touch white man, your skin will become a little lighter.

For the average Indian, a white woman is like a white Mercedes: impractical, but prestigious. A little expensive, of course, but everyone is jealous!

...infantile

Sometimes they act like children regardless of age . It's touching. Sometimes - like stupid fools. Or rather, like 12-year-old teenagers.

The fact is that even in the 21st century, India remains a country of draconian moral principles and... marriages of convenience. The vast majority of unions are not made in heaven, but by prior agreement of parents, who themselves look for a match for their children.

According to a recent survey, 75% of young people believe that an arranged marriage will be happy. In the north of the country there are even more supporters of this approach - 82%. A wedding resembles a solemn conclusion of a contract in the face of hundreds of witnesses, one of the important points of which is the production of offspring.

Of course, they have mothers who are constantly busy. They grow up surrounded by little sisters, elderly relatives and... women's secrets, which there is no way to solve. Once the girls reach dangerous age, their contacts with men are strictly controlled. Segregated training, special seats or entire carriages “for ladies only” are commonplace in India.

...superstitious

Don't be surprised if they ask you for your date of birth when you first meet. Indians trust astrology, almost everyone has personal horoscope, compiled at birth. They also believe in good fortune, just like in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" and are generally quite superstitious. There are also many fatalists among our compatriots - nothing has changed since the time of Lermontov. But, you see, a macho man worried about the incompatibility of zodiac signs in our time is not a hero at all.

As a result of one event, I was ready to fast. About Indians. We discuss them every day, there’s no one else. And you're probably interested. After all, India is primarily Indians. And the Indians... and the Hindus are a separate issue.

It is impossible to say for sure what kind of Indians they are, but I can try to present some facts. I don’t know what order it will be, but rather from bad to good, because it’s accumulated!!!
Hindus are curious and very sociable people. Sometimes it makes you happy, it’s easy to make contact with them, and sometimes it irritates you to such an extent that you no longer have the strength. I'm learning patience. I already wrote that my 2 favorite questions are what’s your name and where you came from. If you decide to visit India, be prepared to answer them a hundred times a day in tourist places. And not in tourist ones - two hundred each, since they cannot ask other questions in English. Only those places where they don’t speak English at all are saved, but there will be an incessant “Hello”!

Often on the streets there are weasels, as we call them, who are trying with all their might to drag you into a store or sell something right on the spot. Getting rid of them sometimes takes a few minutes and a lot of energy.
Also, rickshaw pullers are nicknamed swindlers because, in addition to their direct duties, they want to take you to the hotel where it is profitable for them, to the store from which they receive commissions, to sell drugs, and in Mysore they offered girls.

You should not forget about the beggars, of whom there are many in some places, and who can follow you endlessly. The method of struggle has not yet been developed. If there are many of them, then giving to one means not getting rid of the crowd of similar beggars. We serve some, but it is impossible for everyone. Over time, we understand more - who really needs to be helped, and who should not be given, so as not to encourage begging.
This is generally the main contingent that is encountered on the street every day. But this is not all of India.

People who talk on the street don’t always want to sell you something or deceive you. Many people just want to talk. Many people know English better than us, some know it poorly, but this does not interfere with communication. Many girls came up to me to talk, more often when I am alone; they are usually shy about boys.

If you sit down at the same table with Indians, you can't avoid conversation, but it can often be exciting.

Recently, a grandmother came to us in Mysore who knows 14 languages, has 5 educations and 9 children. We drank tea, talked, but still didn’t understand what she really wanted from us. And such people exist.

Sometimes a worthy citizen, educated and decent, can strike up a conversation with you, and after an hour of conversation it turns out that his goal is to sell you a cigarette.

It may be different, in especially tourist places they offer it immediately and continuously, when I am alone - less often, but in the company of two Rastafarians... Moreover, Paul is trying to explain to everyone that he does not smoke.
Indians are curious people, they can already stare at us for hours, surrounding us in a tight circle (in childhood, no one told them that it was indecent to look like that), but if they notice something more curious, they do not hesitate to come up and ask. For example, Paul at one time smoked tobacco and had a machine for rolling cigarettes, was the object of everyone's attention and often rolled for an encore. Adults and children and even policemen approached him.

Hindus are not averse to taking photos, no one will refuse, children come running from all over the yard, and adults too.

Many people ask to be photographed, some are irresistible, and some want to have their photo taken with us. can get in line. the record was in Goa, where about 30 people took a photo with Zuma in turn.
This aunt froze in this position, seeing that she was being photographed, we felt sorry for her, she stood there for about 5 minutes and we stopped. We all waited until she started working so that we could take pictures of her at work.

In general, Indians are hospitable and cheerful people.
They can easily help you find accommodation and tell you about the city (absolutely disinterestedly),

Don’t take money for tea if they like you, give flowers, fruits and other nice little things, invite you into the house and feed you lunch,

Go to all the temples in the city,

You can go for a massage

and go out with friends

And you may have many, many pleasant surprises when meeting Indians

as an Indian told us the other day - I don’t like anything in India, but I love India.

This is where I end this post, Indians are different, they are not like we are used to, they sometimes make you happy, and sometimes they infuriate you, and also - there are a lot of them!!!

The eyes are often compared to the sun and moon. Other symbolic meaning- fire. Two eyes are capable of seeing only the past and present. The third eye is empowered to see the future. 2). SINDUR is a red mark in the parting. It is applied with blood-red powder. This decoration is used exclusively by married women. Sindoor is an important component in Hindu deity worship (pujas). Red color is a symbol of fertility and restoration of power, feminine energy of Sati and Parvati. Sati is the ideal wife in Hinduism because of the sacrifices she performs to protect her husband's honor. 3). TIKA - the pendant should fall exactly in the center of the forehead. This place is considered the home of the Ajna Chakra. In this way, the woman repeats her status as married. 4). KOLYA - a wide black line around the eyes, where the arrows connect, giving a special sharpness to the look: “My eyes are not eyes, beloved, but arrows of light. My eyebrows are not eyebrows, but swords of destruction.” Every feeling of the heart is transmitted through the eyes. They can express reverence, sympathy, love, lust. Indian poets usually want to drown "in the depths of the eyes of their beloved." Most poetic similes about eyes are taken from nature. Eyes like a daffodil, an almond, a lily, like a “fish sparkling as it slides,” like seas and oceans, abysses, fire, etc. 5). NAT - a ring or other decoration on the nose. NAT is considered the most seductive jewelry. Nose earrings accept the most various shapes, ranging from precious stilettos to large, full-cheek gold hoops. 6). HAARA - necklace, beads, necklace. The neck is one of the important mystical centers. Therefore, it is believed that the necklace attracts and preserves love, brings good luck, and protects against the evil eye. Among other types of jewelry, necklaces have always had maximum magical charms. Probably, a bright and rich necklace distracted the ill-wisher from the face of the owner and thus protected him from the danger of the evil eye and hypnotic influence. Most likely, the predecessor of the beads was an ordinary flower garland. But the aroma of many flowers, for example, jasmine, roses, has a clear erotic connotation... 7). KARN PHUL - literally, a flower in the ear. Since ancient times, the earlobe has been considered as a sign spiritual development and high social status. According to legend, earrings are a consolation in pain and suffering. The more decorative and expensive the earrings, the more people receives consolation. From ancient times to the present day, earrings in the shape of flowers and fruits have been the most popular. They reflect tenderness, youth, spiritual perfection, simplicity, innocence - the main attributes feminine character. 8). MENDI - henna design. Unlike a tattoo, it is a temporary decoration of the body and lasts about three weeks. Most common in Arab countries, India, North Africa and Indonesia. Mehndi originated about 5000 years ago. Also in Ancient Egypt noble ladies decorated their bodies and nails with designs. In the 12th century, it gained a foothold in India, becoming more than just a decoration. For example, many arab women they believe that mehndi brings happiness and protects from failure. So, the day before the wedding (on the bachelorette party), the bride is painted with a design, and the remaining henna is buried in the ground to protect the marriage and avoid the husband’s infidelity. Mehndi means the power of love in marriage. The darker the mehndi, the stronger love, red color is the color of fertility, power. Only used in the drawing floral ornaments, they symbolically connect a woman with nature, the concepts of birth, nutrition, growth, regeneration. Mehendi protects from evil spirits, misfortunes, illnesses and even death. 9). Wrist BRACELETS. Poets call them shiny tokens of radiant life, circles of light for a happy daughter and happy wife. The bracelets symbolize the powerful energy of the sun. They are made from any material that can be processed: terracotta, stone, shells, copper, bronze, gold, silver, etc. Bracelets are a sign of a married woman. They have many romantic and love allusions. The ringing sound of the bracelet indicates the presence of a woman, that she needs attention, that she is angry or wants to exchange glances. A married woman will never allow herself to appear in society without bracelets. Typically, 8, 12 or 24 bracelets are worn on each wrist. 10). BAADJUBAND - a bandage, bracelet or thread with an amulet on the forearm. Depending on the traditions accepted in the community and the status of the woman in marriage, the baadjuband can cover the entire upper part of the arm from the elbow to the shoulder. The baajjuband should sit firmly on the hand. Executed from various materials, richly decorated with ornaments. Serves as kavach - protection from bad looks and is considered a symbol of impeccable beauty. eleven). ARSI is a ring with a mirror, worn on the thumb. According to legend, the first thing a woman should see when waking up is her face. To do this, you always need a mirror on hand... Gold rings are put on the other fingers, or jewelry consisting of a central medallion to which 8 chains are attached - three of them are attached to the bracelet, five are attached to the rings worn on the fingers. 12). KESHAPACHARACHANA - hair decoration. Hair is attributed to the earth element as something solid and material; to the element of water, since they are free, fluid; to the element of fire, because they come from the furnace of the brain to the element of air, since they are light and can be carried away by the wind. Hair has its own own life. They grow faster than all other parts of the body. They represent the connection between this world and the future. Hair is a source of vitality and magical power. They form a crown around the head, the holiest part of a person. Hair braided in a braid is considered the most auspicious symbol. According to mythology. Three braids of hair in a braid represent the three most revered Indian rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, as well as the trinity of gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. 13). KAMARBAND - a waist belt that holds and decorates a sari. Protects the manipura chakra. Holds a bunch of keys, which means a symbolic transfer of control from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, new powers and responsibilities.