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What the...? Strange questions for India experts


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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 14:18   #1
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What the...? Strange questions for India experts

As I have at least one question about weird things I saw in India I thought I'd have a go at starting a thread where we can ask for answers to those particularly Indian mysteries... if there already is one feel free to merge this mods.

At Chowpatty beach there was a white robed, white bearded, white haired guru-ish fellow selling round packets of something white from a tray. Oscar went down to ask what he was selling - and came back with the answer 'hair'...

Was he having his leg pulled, or was the man indeed selling packets of hair? His own? Someone elses? and WHY?

Last edited by Sama : Feb 13th, 2008 at 19:23.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 15:24   #2
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The guy was selling a sweetmeat which looks like white hair. It is popularly known as 'Old woman' hair' and hence that answer
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 16:43   #3
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in west you call it 'candy' or what..I am not getting the right term for it...
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 16:57   #4
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Yep Shashank. - You Are right. This is the Indianised version of 'Candy Floss'
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 17:01   #5
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And sometimes it's pink!!!
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 17:09   #6
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oh, you mean fairy floss! yummy.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 17:41   #7
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Something I've never really known......

All those wonderful coloured powders we see in a market.....

What are they?
Where do they come from?
How are they made?
What's used to colour them?
What are they used for?

and would they make a good sherbet dip?

(none have been as wonderful as those I saw was in an indoor market in Mysore, there must have been 30-40 different ones, all different colours.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 17:59   #8
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'Hair'

Yeah the guy on Chowpati Beach is a feature there selling 'Budda ka baal' old man's hair, a sweet.
A few weks ago he was there selling in the evening calling 'panch rupiah panch rupiah' (five rupees) and saw me nearing him and without batting an eyelid continued 'ten rupees ten rupees'. We exchanged smiles.
Aiexile.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:03   #9
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Its cotton candy.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:04   #10
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And another question.....

Why do many women (mostly in Southern India) cover themselves with tumeric powder (making their skin look pale yellow)?

(I was told why, but I'm hoping the explanation is wrong)
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:07   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steven_ber View Post
Something I've never really known......

All those wonderful coloured powders we see in a market.....

What are they?
Where do they come from?
How are they made?
What's used to colour them?
What are they used for?

and would they make a good sherbet dip?

(none have been as wonderful as those I saw was in an indoor market in Mysore, there must have been 30-40 different ones, all different colours.
If you saw those during Diwali time then those were Rangoli powders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangoli
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:09   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steven_ber View Post
Something I've never really known......

All those wonderful coloured powders we see in a market.....

What are they?
Where do they come from?
How are they made?
What's used to colour them?
What are they used for?

and would they make a good sherbet dip?

(none have been as wonderful as those I saw was in an indoor market in Mysore, there must have been 30-40 different ones, all different colours.
Shhh! You're making me think going all the way up to Mysore is a good idea after all!
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:28   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steven_ber View Post
And another question.....

Why do many women (mostly in Southern India) cover themselves with tumeric powder (making their skin look pale yellow)?

(I was told why, but I'm hoping the explanation is wrong)
As turmeric is an antiseptic it can help with acne and spots.

besides it also cleanes the skin.

If on the forehead it could be a religious sign...perhaps just visisted the temple
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:39   #14
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Originally Posted by matt67 View Post
As turmeric is an antiseptic it can help with acne and spots.

besides it also cleanes the skin.

If on the forehead it could be a religious sign...perhaps just visisted the temple
All visible skin, and maybe 2 - 3% of women (of all ages) in south India.
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Old Feb 13th, 2008, 18:51   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rushie82 View Post
If you saw those during Diwali time then those were Rangoli powders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangoli
Thanks Rushie.

The following photo says Rangoli.

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...php?photo=8468

Yet this one says it is to dye.

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...hp?photo=10170
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