6 Things That Help Make India One of the Most Fascinating Countries in the World

One of the most unique countries in the world, India is not only known for its incredible food and fascinating culture, but the country is also full of amazing events and places that make you stop and think. Here are just a few of the many reasons India is so extraordinary.

The Most Sacred River in The World - Ganges

The river Ganges is considered sacred in the Hindu religion, with the holy river being considered a physical representation of the Gaṅgā or ‘Gangaji’ Goddess. The Goddess is depicted as a white woman which rides a crocodile. People from across the globe come here to bathe, drink, and pray in the sacred waters of Ganga, a ritual which they believe washes their sins and purifies their souls. Over 30,000 bodies are cremated every year on the banks of the Ganges river, as they believe this will free their soul from the cycle of death and reincarnation. For this reason, Cremation Ghats on the riverbanks burn non-stop.

Kumbh Mela Is So Huge It's Visible from Space

Kumbh Mela is the biggest pilgrimage event in the world, with the mass gathering taking place once very 3 years in one of the four sacred places. The festival brings together over 120 million people which come to bathe in the sacred river, and more than 30 million people participate when the ceremony is held. The sheer number of people that congregate in such a small location make the site visible from space.

Largest Vegetarian Population in The World

Between 30-40% of the Indian population eats a vegetarian-diet, making India the country with the lowest meat consumption rate. To put things into perspective, most other countries have a vegetarian population of less than 5%.

The reason why Indians are not meat lovers is due to their religious customs, as in Hinduism it is recommended not to harm any other living beings, including animals. This is probably why the country is the world’s number one producer of vegetarian cheese. Also, as the cow is a sacred animal in the Hindu religion, India is the largest producer of milk in the world, surpassing the European Union in production.

Even if you're normally a huge meat lover, it's worth trying a vegetarian meal while in the country, the vegetarian food is out of this world and so different to anything you'll find outside of India. You probably won't even miss eating meat while eating vegetarian fare in India.

Shampooing Was Invented by Indians

India is the birthplace of shampoo or its concept to be more exact, as it was not the version we are used to in modern times. The proto-shampoo was made out of a blend based on Ayurvedic principles with herbs and oils such as amla or coconut oil. The word 'shampoo' is a derivation from the Sanskrit word champu, which in translation means to massage.

India Has a Huge Variety of Languages

The two official languages of India are Hindi and English. But there are 17 other languages that have received government recognition: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. There are also more than 1,650 dialects, including English ones, that are spoken throughout the country.

Home to the World's Highest Cricket Ground

Cricket is the most adored sport in India, and it is played almost everywhere, so it's not surprising the country has a number of stadiums, however India is also home to the world’s highest cricket ground. The Chail Cricket Ground is set at an altitude of 2444 meters, and it was built in the 19th century in Himachal Pradesh as a part of the Chail Military School.

Conclusion

There's so much more that makes the country so unique. Travel the length of this fascinating nation and you'll begin to see just how interesting and varied Indian culture and food can be.