Remember Arsenio Hall and the “things that make you go hmmmm”? Well if Arsenio were still on the air he would have a lot to “hmm” about over the following random nuggets of information. As a matter of fact, a couple of them I would not have even believed myself if I had not gleaned them from such a reputable source as National Geographic.
1. Every 50 years bamboo blooms in the Mizoram state in India…AND INDIANS DREAD IT! We here in America love our bamboo for flooring, blinds, decorations, etc. But it is not welcome in India. When the maturing, heavily saturating bamboo breed, infestations of rats move in. The rats devour the bamboo as their main course. When all the bamboo is gone, crops like rice take a hit and farmers lose money.
2. In parts of India they really do care about their workers. Folk called "dabbawallahs" are employed to carry food to office workers. As a matter of fact the literal translation is “one who carries a box”. I actually wouldn’t mind having one of those.
3. I must admit, there are some interesting ways of dealing with the bodies of those who have passed on in this country, like above ground graves or maybe crematories, but who ever heard of just leaving a corpse on the ground (no casket to speak of) to rot. Seems unsanitary, not to mention disrespectful of the person's remains, but with the people of Parsis in India, this is exactly what they do to the deceased. More specifically, they leave them on the ground for vultures to eat. Unfortunately, the vulture population has declined and bodies now just lie there until they decompose. Hope to miss that part of India!
4. Hyenas are not the prettiest or sweetest animals in the animal kingdom, but their reputation is really bad in India. In Tanzania, Africa and India it is believed that witches ride on the backs of these mischievous creatures. And to think, I always thought witches rode on brooms!
5. In America, every October 31, we dress up and go door to door saying “trick or treat” to get candy and other goodies. Though the origin of this practice maybe a little sketchy to some Christian believers, most of us partake in the tradition at least to some degree. India has its own colorful holiday. Literally. In the Indian festival Holi, which is celebrated in the spring, people run through the streets making mischief and fun by throwing colored powder on each other. This is called the festival of color. I wonder if that powder is by MAC or Fashion Fair?
Next time you want to strike up a conversation at the water cooler or you want to look well versed in the knowledge of the world, break out one of these interesting facts.
All information found in National Geographic’s: Guide to India
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