Every person who has a sibling should read this.

"Sibling", a word that a single child in the family is most scared and excited about. Everyone talks about the indescribable feeling of what it is to be a mother, a father or a grandparent, but no one talks about how it feels to be somebody's sibling.

In the special occasion of Rakshabandhan, The Roving Feet presents to you a blog post on the ultimate bond of affection, love, care, anger and jealousy.

I grew up in a family where my elder brother was blessed with two siblings at ones. My elder brother was very happy when he got to know, that he was blessed twin brother and sister, that is what my mother tells us. My twin brother was born a minute elder to me. My mother tells me that when she was giving birth to us, the doctor said that your son is kicking your daughter and after that moment he was the one who got a bashing for the next 5 years of his life. Being the second child out of the three of us must have been very difficult for him as the eldest one was dominating and stronger than us, and the younger one being the most pampered of the three.

After we were born, my eldest brother was very happy as all his friends were surprised and jealous to know that he is an elder brother of not just one sibling but two at the same time. He must have felt like a boss initially, and later he must have cried out for the lost attention of the family members. He must have felt jealous that he was asked to study and his younger siblings had the freedom to play, the whole day. He now got no quality time with his mother and father, as his twin siblings slept at different time of the day. He used to roam around with his plastic bat and a ball outside the house, asking everyone passing by to play with him as everyone in the family was busy taking care of us.

I was the only girl among the three of us and I enjoyed the attention that I used to get from the family members. I was protected and pampered by all. We grew up fighting with each other. My elder brother made his friends as family and the younger one hated to share the his food, school, classroom, friends and the same bench with me. The only thing my twin brother loved me for, was because my roll number that came before his roll number, which helped him a lot in the exams.

When we grew up we realized the jealousy of diverting attention of family members and the feeling of anger, for sacrificing our favorite toys, was just a phase of growing up. These feeling created a lot of difference between the three of us.

One fine day after my high school my twin brother got the opportunity to move to another city as he was all ready to follow his dream of being a chef, I realized how incomplete I was without him when this happened. While saying goodbye, we did not even hug each other because that was not something that we were used to.

I felt helpless as I could not stop my tears, rolling down my cheeks. It was then I realized ,he was an important part of me. After two years my elder brother also got the opportunity to move away from the city. It was then home was not home anymore. I had never experienced this feeling ever before. I missed laughing, giggling and fighting with them. The festival of Rakhi was no more the same for me.

No matter how much we fight with our siblings, they are an important part of our life. It is a blessing to have such an unconventional bond with someone. Sharing your innocence without hesitation and growing up with these memories is something that is worth living with.

You may not value this bond when you are young. I understand that sharing something that you love with your brother or sister is not something that is liked by us, but sharing these memories with them, when you grow up is one of the most amazing part of life. Wishing you all a very happy Rakhi.

The Roving Feet

Did you know, the traditional Indian practices were made to benefit our bodies? Know how.

India is known for its rich culture and practices. We Indians are very particular about certain traditional practices like greeting elders by joining hands, fasting on particular days. Similarly a married woman is supposed to wear sindur, bindiand accessories. These practices and observed and followed widely in the Indian society.

You will be surprised to know that all these traditional practices are scientifically proven to have certain benefits. In this blog post we will be sharing some traditional practices followed by us in day to day life along with the benefits they hold.

• Joining hands and greeting the elders

You will be shocked to know that the gesture holds not only a moral conduct, but it also affects your senses. The act of joining hands presses the pressure points of eyes, ears and mind which makes you remember the person for a longer period of time.

• Earlobe piercing

Earlobe piercing is a common practice in India. Girls generally get their ears pierced at a very young age in our country. You will be amazed to know that the practice has a medical benefit too. It is believed that it helps in regulating the menstrual cycle in girls.

Among boys, the practice is not so common anymore, but is followed in some parts of India. In boys the practice of ears piercing prevents them from hernia.

• Use of silver cutlery while having food

The silver cutlery that we use while having food, has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties which keep the food fresh, thereby saving us from a stomach infection.

• Eating with hands

Eating with hands is a practice followed in many states of India. Eating is supposed to be a sensory experience and it is said to evoke emotion and passion. According to the Vedas hands are the most precious organs for any action. Through the thumb comes space, with the forefinger comes air, the middle finger is fire, the ring finger is water and the little finger represents earth. Eating with one’s fingers stimulates these five elements and helps in bringing forth digestive juices in the stomach.

• Fasting on particular days

According to Indian tradition, one is suggested to keep fast on particular days like in navratra, this has a direct impact on the health of an individual. This is suggested because during this period, there is a change in the season and a human's digestive system is said to be weaker in the changing season, so there are more chances of having stomach related problems, hence it is advised that during this time one should have more and more fruits and avoid heavy meals.

• Wearing jewelry

Wearing jewelries like necklace, bracelets, bangles etc. are considered to be a part of Indian practices especially for the married women. You may be shocked to know that these jewelries play an important role in keeping you healthy. Silver jewelry helps in balancing the elements of the body and that is why Silver is widely used in the jewelry making.

Similarly, wearing bangles regulate blood pressure. It increases the circulation of blood. The toe ring that a woman wear after her wedding, creates pressure on the nerve that is connected to the uterus. This affects the fertility of the woman in a positive way.

Another common practice followed in our country is getting the nose pierced. In states like Uttarakhand, the big gold nose ring is seen as a sign of higher status in the society. Practices of nose piercing is common in other states like Himachal, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra etc. Nose piercing is said to regulate the menstrual cycle in women and it is also believed that it reduces the pain that happens during childbirth.

• Wearing a bindi

Another common practice that especially married women follow, is wearing a bindi. A red bindi is generally worn by the married women in India. The bindi is worn between the eyebrows where the pineal gland lies. It is an important nerve center that helps to keep one calm. When you apply the sandalwood paste bindi, it is more effective for your health. Wearing a bindi is associated mystical 3rd eye. This helps in increasing the focus and concentration power.

So if you are one of them who follow these practices, then don't just follow them blindly, but pass on the scientific knowledge associated with them, in the society.

- The Roving Feet

Lesser known versions of Ramayana

Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic poem which narrates Lord Ram's journey of life, is not just followed in India but also in countries like Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, China, Laos, Russia, Mangolia, and Europe. Ramayana has been interpreted in different ways in these countries. These adaptations take the basic plot of Valmiki’s Ramayana but modify it according to the culture of their own communities. Ramayana is represented in different ways in their literature, dance, theatre and also temple architecture. However, there are different versions of Ramayana which are not very well known. I did my research and found out shocking statements given by these different versions which differs from Valmiki's version.

• There are around 300 versions of Ramayan

In India we follow Valmiki's version of Ramayana, however you will be shocked to know that there are around 300 versions of Ramayana with different stories.

• Sita, the daughter of Raavan

Although the Indian version of Ramayana suggests that Sita was Jank's daughter as he found her in earth, but as per Ramakien (Ramayana followed in Thailand) Sita was the daughter of Raavan and he was warned by the Sages that his own daughter will become the reason for his death so after Sita was born Raavan put sita into the sea and then king Janak found her on the river bank while doing his tapasya.

• Raavan was pregnant with Sita

A Kannada folk telling says that Raavan was pregnant with Sita as he consumes a mango given by lord Shiva and he gave birth to her by sneezing. The word Sita itself means he sneezed in Kannada.

• Lakshman killed Ravaan

According to Jain's version of Ramayana, it was Lakshman who killed Raavan and not Ram. They believe that Ram used to follow non violence so Lakshman kills Ravaan and both Ravaan and Lakshman goes to hell. Ram, in the end, renounces his kingdom and becomes a Jain monk and eventually attains moksha. He also predicts that both Lakshman and Raavan will be re-born as upright persons and attain salvation.

• Hanuman as Ladies' man and Raavan as an intellectual and romantic lover.

In Ramakirti and Ramakien, Hanuman's character takes a quite central role. He is shown as a Casanova who has no qualms in peeping into people's bedroom. Whereas Ravaan is shown as a very knowledgeable person and a powerful king. He is shown as a true and romantic lover of Sita.

• Ravaan's Ramayan

We have been shown Ram as the hero in most of the versions of Ramayana but here is the twist. After 5000 years Ravaan narrates his side of the story where he is known to be a complete man, which is why he came to be known as Dasamukha. On his side of the story, his kingdom was known as the most advanced kingdom of his times. He freed a race from the oppression of the Devas also, death is the most celebrated death of the mankind.

• Ram Sita and Lakshman as siblings

In Buddhist version, Ram, Sita and Lakshaman are shown as siblings. Dasarath was not shown as the king of Ayodhya but Varanasi. It is shown that Ram, Sita and Lakshaman were born from the first wife of Dasarath and in order to protect them from his second wife Dasarath sends them to the Himalayas. When they return after 12 years Ram and Sita rules the kingdom.

For more such blog posts stay tuned. 

-The Roving Feet

The untold story of the headhunters of Nagaland

Nagaland is one of the most raw and beautiful states of India. This state has many hidden stories to tell and one of them is the story of the head hunters. Nagaland is famous for the practices of head hunting and getting inked (tattoo) which was linked to their tradition and culture. The two practices were closely related to each other. The practice of headhunting was banned in the 1940s . These tattoos were the marks of recognition in their society. Today's generation has given away the tradition of getting inked and most of these head hunting Naga tribes have adopted Christianity.

You will be surprised to know that India is the country having the most diverse tattoo tradition in the world. However, in this blog post I will only be talking about the head hunting practice of the Nagas and the significance of the tattoos on their body.

The head hunting tribes such as the Konyak and the Wancho tribes used to attack their enemies by hunting down their heads by a sharp weapon. These heads were brought home and collected by the people of the tribes. They believed that the soul of a person resides in the head and bringing the head of the enemy, to the village, brings extra energy to the people. These warriors were worshipped like a god in the society and these head hunters had the privilege of getting not only their face but also their chest, neck and back tattooed. The warrior having the most number tattoos was recognized as the ultimate warrior and gained enormous respect from the people.

The practice of decorating the house with the heads of animals and humans became popular among the head hunters. Once the head was taken down, it was brought to the village and kept in the boiling water for some time and then kept for drying. These heads were seen as trophies by the people.

Different marks symbolized different achievements of the warrior example, for a man who has hunted a tiger will have a different tattoo and for hunting a human head one used to get a different mark inked.

Women had different rules of getting tattooed. The tattoos were made once they hit puberty and another after they got married.

Although this practiced was banned by the British government long ago, but it is believed that the practice is still continued by these head hunting tribes.

Stay tuned to know more such stories. Don't forget to like, share and comment.

- The Roving Feet