The Hindi Keyboard Posted by kunthra on Jun 12, 2009
Some of you may be wondering how to get those Hindi characters using an English keyboard. I’ll show you the English keys that will give you the appropriate Hindi character. shift + a = ओ shift + s = ए shift + d = अ shift + f = इ shift + g = उ shift…
Hindu Wedding Part 3 Posted by kunthra on Jun 9, 2009
The third installment of traditional Hindu weddings involve the post wedding preparations. After celebrations come to a close, there is an emotional part of the wedding that involves the bride leaving to go to the groom’s house. This is a painful ceremony for the bride and her family. There is a special term called babul…
Hindu Weddings Part 2 Posted by kunthra on Jun 6, 2009
Now the festivities during the actual wedding ceremony will be described. The groom wears a special turban called sehra (सेहरा). Fixed within the center of the turban is a gem studded oranament called a kalgi (कलगी). Sometimes a turra (तुर्रा) is also fitted to the turban. Flowers are also placed on the turban as well. The…
Hindu Weddings Posted by kunthra on Jun 3, 2009
Hindu weddings are elaborate and can last for days. The wedding ceremony can be broken in roughly three periods. The first part is the engagement period or the pre-wedding period. The engagement is made official when the parents of the bride and groom make an official statement in front of the community elders. The pre-weddings arrangements…
Similar Looking Hindi Words Posted by kunthra on May 31, 2009
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…
The Sacred Cow Posted by kunthra on May 28, 2009
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…
Taj Mahal Posted by kunthra on May 24, 2009
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…