The following words look similar in spelling, but have very different meanings. See if you can detect the differences in spelling.
कंटक = thorn, कटक = army
खाद = manure, खाघ = food
पक्का = strong, पका = ripe
बद = bad, बंद = closed
बोल = vine, बैल = ox
मंद = slow, मद = intoxication
यत्र = where, यंत्र = machine
मेला = a fair, मैला = dirty
विषद = poisonous, विशद = clear
शम = peace, सम = equal
शौक = fondness, शोक = sorrow
विकाश = display, विकास = development
नियत = appointed, नीयत = intension
Although cows are regularly consumed in many parts of the world, in certain parts of India, cows are revered. In some places, it’s forbidden to slaughter a cow for its meat. Not only is it prohibited, it can get to the extent where traffic is held up; just to let a cow cross the road.
The idea of a cow as a sacred animal has a relgious significance in Hindu society. The goddess of the earth, Prithvi is depicted as a cow. There’s also a story about how the first humans were nourished by her milk. As a result, killing a cow would be like killing the deity that fed India’s forefathers. It’s considered a sacrilegious idea.
There’s also a practical reason for protecting cows. Many villagers rely on the cow’s milk for drinking and to sell at the market. Additionally, cows are used to plough fields and raise crops to sell at the marketplace. Cows are also useful for transporting goods and people.
I can’t begin to tell you how useful cow dung is to the Indian people. The main usage is fertilizer for the fields. However, there are more uses to cow dung than just fertilizer. Cow dung can used to fill in the gaps between the holes formed in mud huts. It can be used to heat fires and stoves used for cooking food. When burned, it repels mosquitoes. I’ve even heard that the urine of cows can kill bacteria and clean wounds. With all these practical uses, it’s no wonder that cows are protected in India.
The official law in India states that all cows must be slaughtered in West Bengal and Kerala. There are some illegal slaughterhouses running underground. These slaughterhouses pose a danger to the Indian community. They do not undergo regular food and safety inspections, because they are operating underground and do not want to get caught by the authorities. As a caution, just be careful where you get your beef in India. Luckily, there are many delicious vegetarian alternatives!
The Taj Mahal (ताज महल) is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Tourists flock to India just to see the Taj Mahal (ताज महल).
When you look head on, the Taj Mahal (ताज महल) looks like a palace or a mansion. In reality, it’s actually a mausoleum or a place to bury dead people. The Taj Mahal (ताज महल) was builty by Emperor Shah Jahan and was a tribute to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Not to kill the romance, the Taj Mahal (ताज महल) was built for political reasons as well. The magnificence of the Taj Mahal (ताज महल) demonstrated the Emperor’s power and wealth; which cemented his authority over the kingdom.
In front of the Taj Mahal (ताज महल) is a pool that reflects the image of the Taj Mahal (ताज महल). It’s really beautiful under moon light. The Taj Mahal (ताज महल) is made of white marble and is decorated with gilded bronze and gold letters. The walls and ceilings are written in Persian script. The designs were created by calligraphy artists who wrote passages from poetry.
There are also flower and plant motifs carved into the walls. I’ve been to the Taj Mahal (ताज महल) several times. The work is so detailed that I always find new things to look at every time I am there. Not only is the Taj Mahal (ताज महल) magnificant on the outside, it’s magnificant on the inside. The Taj Mahal (ताज महल) is an amazing feat of engineering. It was built by thousands and thousands of workers, artists and craftsman. Over 1000 elephants were used to haul the marble to the site. The whole thing took more than 20 years to build.
I’ll give you a couple of tourist tips. Just so you know, be prepared to walk long distances. The Taj Mahal (ताज महल) is big, I mean really big. Not only that, no cars are allowed on the site, which means you either walk to the site or take an electric powered bus. Too much gasoline pollution will ruin the marble walls of the Taj Mahal (ताज महल), and prohibiting cars is a way to counteract the marble decay. Also, the security is tight. Try not to bring anything suspicious, like a Swiss army knife. Purses, cameras, and cell phones are allowed. They may search your bags, so just to be on the safe side, don’t bring anything “dangerous”.
A sari (साड़ी) is a long piece of cloth draped around the shoulders and waist. Sometimes the waist and stomach is exposed. It depends upon the region and the individual woman. The back may be bare as well.
The sari (साड़ी) is usually worn over a short sleeved shirt called a choli (चोली). The choli (चोली) was worn after the British came to India. Before the British, women were bare breasted. The British deemed this immoral, and so the choli (चोली) was worn out of modesty. Sometimes part of the sari (साड़ी) can be worn over the head as a covering called pallu (पल्लू).
The sari (साड़ी) can be bought or hand made. In fact, hand made saris (साड़ी) are much in demand. Hand made saris (साड़ी) take a lot of time to make, so they fetch a decent price at the marketplace. The poor make their own sari (साड़ी), but the cloth is made out of coarse cotton. The dye is made out of vegetable dye. The designs can be made out of wooden block prints.
The wealthy can afford fine silk for their saris (साड़ी). Golden silk threads are woven into the sari (साड़ी). This kind of embroidery is called zardozi (ज़रदोज़ी). For a really sparkling look, crystals and pearls are sewed unto the sari (साड़ी). Colored threads can also be woven into the sari (साड़ी). Most Indian women get at least one really good sari (साड़ी) in their lifetime, especially if it’s for their wedding.
Curry (सालन) is the most accessible Indian food outside of India. I may be biased, but it’s a food that even non-Indians enjoy. Curry (सालन) can be found all over the world including Japan, the U.S., England, and Southeast Asia. The ingredients and the taste may differ from country to country, but the common consensus seems to be that lots of people like curry (सालन).
For those of you who may not have tried curry (सालन), it’s a thick sauce, kind of like a gravy sauce with vegetables. It’s commonly consumed with white rice and sometimes chunks of chicken or beef is added.
Why is curry (सालन) loved everywhere around the world? That’s a hard question to answer. I personally like it because it tastes good. Of course, I’m referring to my mother’s curry (सालन). The instant ones aren’t too bad, but nothing beats my mother’s homemade curry (सालन).
My favorite curry (सालन) contains soft potatoes, chicken, tumeric, cumin, and red peppers. I like my curry (सालन) slightly spicy with chunks of chicken and rice.
Here’s where I’d like the readers of this blog to participate. What is your favorite type of curry (सालन)? What are the ingredients? Where in the world are you from? I’m sure there are all sorts of interesting and delicious types of curry dishes that I’ve never tasted. Come on, don’t be shy! Just leave a short comment in the comment section of this post.
