Indian Traditions and COVID-19: What Can The World Learn?

India has often been known for its rich culture and varied traditions. Indian traditions and culture vary like its vast geography. Indian culture is incredibly complex and resembles a chaos of mind-boggling proportions but, under this seeming chaos is a scientific foundation that is thousands of years old.

Many traditions in Indian culture that we label today as blind superstitions; have scientific explanations behind them. What makes Indian traditions different is its scientific approach towards physical and mental well-being.  The Westerners never really looked at the Indian traditions favourably and always tagged them as superstitions.

 But, it’s time that the world learns from the Indian culture and traditions in order to fight the battle against COVID- 19.
There is a reason why India inspite of its huge population has got relatively less cases of COVID-19, the reason lies in its deeply rooted traditions.
So I decided to dive deeper into the Indian traditions and culture.

Source: Isha Sadhguru

In Indian culture, people greet each other by joining their palms termed as “Namaskar/Namaste.” The reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms connotes respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no exchange of germs since we don’t make any physical contact.

Source: Home Grown

In Hinduism, you are required to wash your hands and feet as soon as you enter your house

Hindu religion has bestowed ‘Tulsi’, with the status of mother. Also known as ‘Sacred or Holy Basil’, Tulsi, has been recognized as a religious and spiritual devout.

Tulsi has got some amazing medicinal properties. It is used as an antibiotic. Eating Tulsi leaves, or adding Tulsi in tea or hot water or otherwise increases immunity and help the drinker prevent diseases, balance his or her body system and most important of all, prolong his or her life.

Source: Organic Facts

Hindus do not eat meat on particular days; the reason is that as a human being we need only a little amount of meat to fulfil the requirements of our body such as iron, vitamin B12 and other vital nutrients. But we often get addicted to eating meat which is not good for health. It can cause diseases like piles, kidney stones, colon cancer and now even CORONA.

There is a close link between Indians and Vegetarianism. Since, most Indians do not consume meat as a part of their tradition. Vegetarianism is still present in several societies in India, where a large number of people aspire to live without consuming meat. So there is no possibility of eating a bat even by mistake

   

Source: Food Spark

India known for its highest number of rural areas, so let’s see what the rural India has to offer in terms of its fight against the pandemic.

In smaller towns and rural areas of the state, the social- distancing seems to have been better accepted. Kudos to the age-old social distancing rituals.

Some rural areas still follow a tradition called “Ali-Ternam” this restricts the movement of people into and from the villages two days after it starts.

A ritual called “haruspicy" is also followed. This is a traditional lockdown which involves barricading villages with bamboo gates and sacrificing certain animals.

And lastly, India being an agrarian economy, most Indians are better equipped, considering that most families grow their own plants and vegetables, so they do not need to step out to buy groceries.

Clearly, it’s time that the world learns from the Indian Traditions.

- Shivanie Ranade