What to bring from India?

Dreams must come true - and now attractive and mysterious India is closer every day. A visa has been issued, simple tourist luggage has been collected. There is one more important thing to do. Make a shopping list in advance - who and what to bring from India as a souvenir. So that later, when the whirlwind of Indian colors, sounds, smells and impressions swirls, not to get confused.

What everyone will like

Tea is undoubtedly in the lead. A dizzying variety of varieties allows you to choose this healthy drink for every taste and budget. However, the wallet will hardly "lose weight", since tea is cheap in India. A kilogram of an excellent product, one of those highly prized by the Indians themselves, will cost no more than $ 17. There is always a brand shop near any tea plantation, where they will not only advise the variety, but also tell you how to brew it. It is worth visiting the teahouse to make sure that our "Indian tea" and the one that the Indians drink are two different drinks.

Darjeeling is the birthplace of the eponymous variety. Darjeeling tea is called "tea champagne" by the French. Everyone likes it and does not shock the price. An alternative is Tata Tea black tea (sold in green packs, guaranteed fresh, because it is quickly sold out by the local population). Tulsi, a tea made from oriental herbs, is not only an aromatic drink, but also an Ayurvedic remedy. Packaging - from simple packs to brocade bags and inlaid boxes.

The masala tea with spices deserves special attention. In Hindi, "masala" means "spices", and it is good (similar to the Russian "relish"). Masala chai is drunk with milk and it is difficult to find a better remedy for colds.

Smoothly moving on to spices. This gift will be appreciated by gourmets and those who love to cook. “Real Indian curry is addictive,” cooks joke. Not only curry, but also saffron, turmeric, cumin, asafoetida, cardamom and others. Indians rarely use one spice in its pure form; there is a special mixture for each of the traditional dishes. Bombay mixes are most suitable for the European stomach, for example Bombay Biryani - for pilaf and other rice dishes.

It is better to buy spices in ordinary shops at the grocery market. There you can bargain a lot or watch how the locals are bargaining (and this is a master class, moreover, it is free), and be sure that you have purchased a true masala. An original addition to spices will be a book written by a real Indian chef, such as the famous Sanjeev Kapoor. Books in English are cheap in India, sold almost everywhere.

For those who feel uncomfortable in a foreign language environment, the most suitable market is Yashwant Market (aka “yashka”) in the south of Delhi. The sellers there speak Russian confidently, and the experienced shuttle traders are happy to give their compatriots a couple of practical advice.

Paints of the Indian market

Aromas accompany the Hindu from birth to death, the art of their compilation is several thousand years old. Incense weighs lighter than fluff, costs a penny, but at the same time can create a real Indian atmosphere. There are a myriad of varieties. The Tulasi Gift Set is a rainbow of floral scents, and the Himalayan blends have an invigorating, slightly bitter taste of mountain herbs. Some incense can only be bought in India - for example, the exquisite Nag Champa.

DVD with yoga course (the most popular are Anulom Vilom and Kapalabhati from guru Baba Ramdev), Indian dance lessons or recordings of the latest Bollywood hits plus a few incense sticks - and a stylish and inexpensive gift is ready.

National Indian footwear - jutti. Made of leather, embroidered by hand, each pair is unique. Camel skin jutti from Jaisalmer (North India) is famous for its special durability. It is customary when selling shoes to lubricate them with mustard oil for softness. You can ask to do without this, as the smell of oil is very persistent. Next to shoes are usually sold bags and backpacks, leather and textile, embroidered and embossed, of all colors and styles.

For the fair sex

India is like a chest of childhood dreams - you open it, and there...

Jewelry

Jewelry - whatever your heart desires. But do not lose your head - the price of genuine masterpieces is high here, and you can buy plastic instead of turquoise and glass instead of emerald on trays. Gold, silver, stones purchased in specialized stores will be of genuine quality. Everything else is at your own peril and risk. Credible reviews - about the Gem Palace chain of stores (Jaipur) and about the Carol Bagh market in Delhi. Jaipur is considered the capital of jewelers. The soft 24-carat gold from Assam is in no way inferior to Jaipur. The visiting card of Rajasthan is silver and everything that is made of it.

Rajasthani "gossips"

Indian ethnic jewelry cannot be confused with any other. The local artisans are distinguished by their innate taste, their products are never clumsy. Glass, melodiously ringing bracelets are good as a souvenir. To master the rhythm of Indian dance, bracelets for legs with bells will help.

Astrological jewelry navratna - authentic, fashionable and meaningful. Made in the form of necklaces, bracelets, rings, pendants - from simple beads to 24-carat gold headsets.

Nine stones are good

Advice: if one of your favorite earrings is lost, the second can be given to Indian jewelers, in a few days they will make an exact copy. It will cost five times less than in Russia.

Clothing and fabrics

The name Kashmir speaks for itself. The finest wool and the world's strongest silk, as well as dyes, the composition of which is kept secret. Scarves made of tussa (silk thread is boiled in lye, which makes it even stronger), silk and cashmere will enrich the wardrobe.

Weightless pashmina shawls are made from the down of Himalayan goats. They distinguish real from fake pashmina just like our Orenburg shawls - they are threaded through a ring. Their price in Kashmir is from 450 rupees, in Delhi it is already twice as expensive.

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Weavers from other cities may well compete with those of Kashmir. Silks of Aurangabad shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, they are not inferior to the products of the masters from Varanasi and the gold-woven sarees from Mysore. Chaniya Cholis (choli) - feminine and beautiful outfit, top and long skirt. Those who sew themselves will be delighted to simply cut a beautiful fabric. Salwar kameez is an invention of Indian Muslims. Wide trousers and a tunic, smart, comfortable and, unlike a sari, look organic even on Moscow streets.

A budgetary but high-quality solution - factory-made products made of cotton and natural fibers mixed with viscose or acrylic. There are dozens of cotton blouses decorated with national embroidery - they are so cheap. An analogue of towels, gamcha - thin embroidered towels, are used in villages. An elderly woman will be warmed by a "Tibetan shawl", large and fluffy. These shawls are not made in Tibet, they are just very popular there in winter.

Everything for beauty and health

Indians recognize only natural cosmetics. The leading manufacturer in this industry is Himalaya. All Himalaya cosmetics are not simple, but Ayurvedic, that is, beneficial to health. You can trust the brands Biotique, Jovees and Shahnaz Herbals.

Shatavari is a herbal preparation specially designed for women. Available in powder, capsule or tablet form. Indispensable after 35 years. For those who dream of becoming slimmer, triphala will help. It gently cleanses the entire body, which leads to weight loss. Attar (attar, ittar) is both a perfume and a joint balm based on natural oils.

Ayurvedic shopping requires some knowledge. Chavanprash and ashwagandha can be recommended as general tonic, Trishun - immune, Kailas Jeewan - for the treatment of wounds, burns, old scars. But if you have serious intentions, it is wiser to see a doctor (a good Ayurveda specialist will be advised by your guide) and get advice.

The stronger sex

The Indian damask steel was the first to be experienced by the troops of Alexander the Great, since then his glory has been thundering all over the world. Cold steel will not leave indifferent any man. It can be either a dagger or a saber, or exotic species - urumi, katar, atille and others.

It is rather difficult to recognize a weapon in a certain object called a vajra...
... and the formidable appearance of the Haladi speaks for itself
Marath is the weapon of wandering fakirs, from the outside it looks like ordinary rings

There are many tribes and nationalities in India, over the centuries they have created their own means of defense and attack... Gift weapons are sold in jewelry stores, but in small shops on the outskirts of the markets, you can find real museum pieces.

A noble wood casket (optionally filled with Bidi cigars) or a paperweight in the form of a Ganesha figurine will be just right in the office of a respectable boss. A leather steering wheel cover will delight a car enthusiast, and a hunter or fisherman - a handmade leather sheath. From the same material - bags, cases for glasses, cases for mobile phones and more. In memory of the state of Karnataka, sandalwood figurines, walking sticks and cigarette cases are taken. Kerala is famous for a rare craft for India - horn carving.

The far province of India - Nagaland - is famous for its harsh morals. The blanket, which serves the men of the Naga tribes as an analogue of a tent cloak, will not fade either in the water or under the scorching sun. Each tribe and clan has its own, once and for all established pattern. The customs of this land can be shocking: just recently, lamps and caskets made of skulls were transported from here. Now such "souvenirs" are illegal.

Naga warriors

What else is being brought from India

Note to lovers of antiquity: Indians do not perceive antiques as a value. At the market ruins, you can buy real treasures for a penny: antique lamps, watches, furniture, books, ancient coins. Unlike China, counterfeits are extremely rare here.

Carpets (Kashmir and Agra) are a solid investment. It is easy to distinguish a hand-woven carpet from a machine-made one: for a hand-woven rug, the fringe is a single whole with the base, and at the factory it is sewn on. Slightly noticeable zoning of the main field ("abrash" effect) is a good sign: in artisan workshops, the yarn is not dyed all, but in parts. They say about the authenticity of small discrepancies in the symmetry of the pattern, because it is natural for a person to make mistakes, unlike a machine. The density of knots per square centimeter is not less than forty. The presence of even one "creeping" thread suggests that we are faced with a marriage. But the use of wool and silk in one carpet is allowed, this is done to give texture. The pile should be trimmed straight.

Voice of India - musical instruments - are rarely taken to Russia. But the matryoshka elephant, popular since the time of Indira Gandhi, comes with almost every tourist. Children will be delighted with a dancing doll (made in the city of Thanjavur) and, of course, Indian sweets. Everyone who returns from Goa is sure to bring rum. A few drops of real Old Monk in coffee or tea - and the next flu epidemic will pass.

Fashion trend - terracotta horse from West Bengal. This vigorous horse was previously used at rural holidays, and now it has become a leader and adorns the living rooms of world celebrities.

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The main factors limiting the desire to take all of India with you are the budget and the weight of the luggage. When boarding the plane, the baggage must weigh 15 kg (in some companies - 20), for overweight - additional payment. Alas, no one has canceled the ban on the transport of flammable substances (aromatic oils can fall into the category of such) and the quarantine for plants and seeds. If you follow these simple rules, you will be able to deliver everything without incident.

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