India is a country that makes travellers curious almost immediately, not because of its big monuments or guidebook highlights, but because of the everyday details that do not always make sense. Why is food often eaten by hand? Why do lemons and chillies hang outside homes and shops? Why does a simple cup of chai taste different every few kilometres?
These small moments begin to stand out as you move from place to place, inviting questions that do not always come with instant answers. It is in observing these curiosities, from greetings and rituals to customs that seem unusual at first, that you start to uncover the layers of India’s culture and character.
THE CURIOUS QUESTIONS
Why do South Indian women wear flowers in their hair?
You notice them before the smile.
Flowers cool the body, carry fragrance, and quietly mark mood, ritual, or celebration.
Flowers have had a timeless appeal for adornment as a mark of feminine beauty in India. In South India, it’s been a centuries-old tradition in their attire as a daily routine; the wonderful scent of jasmine (malli) clings to a woman’s hair and body all day long, magically keeping her fresh and soothed despite the southern heat and humidity. Ancient Ayurvedic traditions say that the fragrance of jasmine reduces sweating, uplifts the mood, contains nervousness, and keeps the brain calm.
Why do Indians shake their heads even when they mean yes?
It looks confusing at first, more so when it’s silent.
The ‘Indian head wobble’ or ‘Great Indian Nod’, as it is known, is a unique cultural gesture. This side-to-side tilt of the head is a non-verbal form that can cover anything from “good” to “I understand.” It derives from the Hindi word acha, used in both contexts. It also emanates from a culturally distinct, polite, and respectful way of communication with guests and elders. For non-English-speaking Indians, it’s a common enough mode of communication with a foreigner.
Sometimes it can be quite mysterious — indicating a “no”, a “yes”, or even “whatever” — or a carefully constructed, deliberately ambiguous gesture. It can be pretty infectious… even foreigners find themselves replicating the Indian head nod.
It’s astonishing how the head wobble culture has evolved over time to break language barriers, pan-India.
Why do we ring bells in temples?
You step in and ring the bell almost instinctively.
The sound helps the mind arrive where the body already is.
Ringing bells (ghanta) in a temple is a sign of invoking the Gods. It is also considered an auspicious act while entering the sacred space of a shrine. It calms the chaos in the mind, inspires concentration, and helps us stay connected with the divine.
Oftentimes, the bell will be in the sanctum area. In earlier times, bells were used by priests to indicate to devotees that it was time for the deity to rest. In the Skanda Purana, the ringing of bells was believed to assist in purifying a person of sins.
The sound from the bell is said to create a ripple-like effect of waves of Om, the sacred sound invoking the universal name of the Lord in Hinduism. It is believed to remove negative energy and invoke our inner consciousness, helping us disconnect from the physical realm and connect with our spiritual side.
The Agama Shastra says:
“I ring the bell indicating the invocation of divinity, so that virtuous and noble forces enter; and the demonic forces, within and without, depart.”
Why do Indians eat with their hands and serve food on banana leaves?
A leaf is laid. No cutlery. Just food.
Hands feel texture, the leaf adds aroma, and the meal becomes a full sensory experience.
A longstanding tradition in South India, serving food on a banana leaf is now a trend catching up fast in a world seeking sustainable lifestyle choices. Imbued with high levels of polyphenols that fight free radicals, banana leaves are rich in organic antioxidants. They are naturally eco-friendly, biodegradable, hygienic, and practical.
The wax coating on the leaf adds a subtle flavour to hot food, while chlorophyll absorbed by rice enhances taste. Eating with your hands allows you to feel texture, temperature, and rhythm, helping activate digestion.
Vedic traditions say that when food is served on natural material and eaten with hands, the experience becomes more flavourful and beneficial. The five fingers represent the five natural elements; touching food with them creates balance and harmony through the digestive system and senses.
Why do monks wear red robes in North India and orange in the South?
As the land changes, so do the colours.
Over time, climate, culture, and region shaped the attire.
The path remains the same. The expression adapts.
Originally, kasayas — the stitched robes of Buddhist Sangha monks — were created from leftover fabric found on trash piles. They were dyed with tree bark and red clay, resulting in dirty ochre or reddish-brown tones.
Robe dyes traditionally came from roots, tubers, plants, bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Saffron or orange robes symbolise the flame of Buddha’s teachings and the burning away of ignorance. These dyes were easily available in hot climates like Southeast Asia, where Theravada monks wore cotton robes.
Tibetan monks in South India also wear orange cotton robes due to heat and humidity, while those in colder Himalayan regions wear maroon woollen robes. Across regions, the robes symbolise simplicity and detachment from materialism.
What is a Langar, and why does everyone eat together?
You sit beside strangers on the floor.
Same food. Same space. No hierarchy.
Community here is practiced, not explained.
Langar is a unique spiritual tradition intrinsic to Sikh culture. Every gurdwara runs a free community kitchen serving hot vegetarian meals daily to thousands — with no bar on religion, gender, or social rank.
Founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji during times of immense social upheaval, langar promotes equality, community, and seva (selfless service). Everyone served is the Guru’s guest. Preparing and serving meals earns merit for the sevadars who volunteer daily.
All sit on the floor — rich or poor, beggar or king — sharing food cooked in the same pots. Unity, humility, and inclusion define the langar. At the Golden Temple alone, over 50,000 people are served daily.
Why do many Indian idols have such large, expressive eyes?
They are designed to meet your gaze.
The eyes symbolise awareness, reminding you to stay present.
Across India, Hindu deities are depicted with large, expressive eyes. Mother Goddess Shakti’s eyes signify her ability to look into the devotee’s mind and understand desires. Through these eyes, artisans enable communication between deity and worshipper.
The eyes convey attentiveness, energy, protection, and unconditional love — as seen in Lord Jagannath. In the Puranas, the all-seeing eyes represent Supreme Truth and moral accountability.
Why are lemons and chillies hung outside homes and shops?
They catch your eye immediately.
These charms absorb negativity and invite balance.
A combination of seven chillies and one lemon is believed to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck. Ancient numerology considered seven protective, while sour and spicy elements dispel negative energy.
Practically, they also repelled insects before chemical solutions existed. Legend says Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is appeased by sour and spicy offerings — and moves on.
Why does Indian chai taste different every 50 kilometres?
Because in India, chai is not a beverage.
It is a personality trait.
Everyone believes their version is correct.
Everyone else is wrong.
Tea tastes different due to location, local preferences, methods, and ingredients. Milk, water, sugar, and tea remain constant, but spices, boiling time, and technique vary wildly.
From Mumbai’s cutting chai to Hyderabad’s Irani chai and Punjab’s masala chai, each brew competes for loyalty. Every cup carries local pride — and its own magic.
Who are the sadhus, the wandering monks of India?
You see them carrying little and moving constantly.
They choose detachment, discipline, and the open road.
Sadhus renounce material life in pursuit of moksha. Some wander alone, others travel in groups, chanting and visiting pilgrimage sites. Many depend on alms; others retreat into deep austerity.
The Kumbh Mela is one of the best places to encounter them — especially the ash-smeared Naga Sadhus, who practice extreme asceticism and remain largely unseen otherwise.
Why do Indians remove footwear before entering homes and temples?
The act feels natural after a while.
Shoes stay outside, so respect, cleanliness, and humility can step in.
Leather is considered impure in Hinduism. Removing footwear shows respect, preserves cleanliness, and allows absorption of positive energy. Many homes follow the same practice.
Being barefoot connects the devotee physically and spiritually to the sacred space.
Why does Karnataka have so many unique dosa varieties?
From crisp Benne dosas to soft Set dosas and the iconic Mysore masala.
Each reflects local tastes and breakfast devotion.
Water, temperature, fermentation, rice quality, oil, lentils — every change alters the dosa. Karnataka’s chefs continue innovating while classics like CTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan, and MTR remain icons.
Every 100 km, the dosa changes — and so does the argument about which is best.
Why do men in Rajasthan wear such colourful turbans?
Each colour carries meaning.
Region, weather, celebration, and identity are folded into the fabric.
Introduced by Rajputs in the 7th century, turbans represent honour, caste, climate, and occasion. Colour, size, and style shift every few kilometres — from wedding reds to mourning blues, desert whites to monsoon leheriya prints.
Each turban tells you exactly where you are.
What do the colours on Kathakali dancers’ faces really mean?
Nothing is decorative.
Every colour reveals character and moral nature.
Green symbolises virtue, red and black mark demonic traits, and soft yellows represent calm spiritual figures. Every detail — from makeup to movement — supports storytelling drawn from ancient texts.
Why does India celebrate everything?
Harvests, seasons, gods, rivers, life itself.
Celebration becomes a way to pause, release, and begin again.
India’s festivals reflect its pluralism — Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Jewish, Parsi — all contributing to a vibrant calendar of celebration. Culture here is lived, shared, and celebrated year-round.
Most journeys start with places.
The memorable ones start with questions.
Each of these curiosities opens a door into everyday India.
Step in, follow the story, and see what begins to make sense next.