Number 10. Weddings. Specific details vary from region to region, but overall Indian weddings are elaborate affairs that last several days. While American weddings can be fancy, festivities often occur over a span of 5 hours. Sometimes less.
Number 9. Street food. Despite the popularity of food trucks, for the most part, hot dogs and soft pretzels still dominate the American street eats landscape. India doesn’t have such problems as vendors there cook up just about everything from savory to sweet.
Number 8. Life hacks. The talent of making do with what you’ve got is well expressed in India. Extreme DIY endeavors are regionally called ‘Jugaad’ and can include throwing together a tractor with stuff that’s just lying around.
Number 7. Ornate religious buildings. Sure, the US has some impressive churches, but nothing that really dazzles quite like the temples of India.
Number 6. Alternative medicine. Among the established wellness approaches in India is the ancient practice of Ayurveda. Rather than solely addressing the science of how the body works, it incorporates the ideas of connectedness with the universe and one’s life force.
Number 5. Maximizing available transportation. Do you find it upsetting when there’s no room on the train? Well, in parts of India rail passengers take full advantage of all possible places to sit or stand. Same goes for other transportation modes.
Number 4. Dances. No doubt, Hollywood has created some truly fabulous dance sequences. But given India's history, the country is home to literally thousands of dance forms. There are classical dances which are rich in symbolism and traditions. Then there are fast-paced folk dances. And finally, you simply can't ignore Bollywood dances which seem to be amalgamation of many forms.
Number 3. Spirituality. India has long been regarded as a great place to tap into one’s incorporeal existence. Due to the popularity of the book and film Eat, Pray, Love, spending time in an ashram has, for many, become synonymous with self-fulfillment and spiritual awakening.
Number 2. Epics. When a place has been around as long as India has, there are many stories to be told. Among the most beloved are Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The latter is said to have taken hundreds of years to write. Both have been popularized and dramatized by several TV series.
Number 1. Yoga. The main objective of American yoga is typically fitness. In India, it’s a much more complex practice, complete with a centuries-old treatise and objectives that include mental discipline and communing with a higher power.
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