Bizarre traditions around the world

The world has as many unusual customs as there are cultures in it. Almost every sect has at least one tradition which would leave some of us a little wide-eyed. Some of them may be slightly amusing, some surprising and some just plain outrageous. Read on to find out more about some of the most bizarre traditions across the world.

The Bathroom Ban of Indonesia

The Tidong community which belongs to the Borneo island of Indonesia follow many unique wedding traditions. The grooms of this community practise a very romantic ritual, where they woo their brides with songs. The groom gets to see his bride only after he has impressed her with his singing. Though this practise is guaranteed to bring smiles on the faces of onlookers, everything is not so adorable in this community. The bride cannot step out of her house during the engagement period, and the groom has to pay a fine if he is late for the wedding. The Tidong community takes it a bit far by not allowing the bride and groom to use bathroom for three days. Apparently, breaking this practice can spell disaster in their relationship.

Walking over burning coal in China

Some cultures, including the Chinese, follow a custom where the husband carries his wife and walks over burning coal. They believe that if this practice is carried out before the couple start their life together, the wife will be blessed with a painless labour. Whether this really ensures that the wife has an easy labour or not, it surely tests the husband’s love for his wife. We know that walking over a bed of smouldering coal is no piece of cake. So if you find a man willing to do that just to protect you from the pain of labour, then he is definitely a keeper.

Monkey buffet of Thailand

Contrary to the norm, lavish buffets are not a privilege enjoyed just by humans. Thailand, for instance, hosts an annual buffet for (hold your breath!) monkeys. Yes, you read it right. The monkeys of the Lopburi province of Thailand get to attend a monkey buffet every year on Nov 25th. Initially conceived on the belief that monkeys bring good fortune, this annual festival is now a great channel to boost tourism. The temples of Lopburi, which are located at a 2-hour drive from Bangkok, see people dressing up in monkey costumes and decorating the streets with monkey art. An elaborate spread of fruits, vegetables and sweets are also laid out for the monkeys to feast on.

Dancing with the dead in Madagascar

Called as Famadhihana, dancing with the dead is a very popular custom among the Malagasy community in Madagascar. During the festival, the family crypts are dug up and the remaining bones are wrapped up in cloth. As a symbol of love and devotion to the dead relatives, the Malagasy dance with the dead corpses in pure rapture, amidst loud music and a lavish feast. Traditional Malagasy culture has deep reverence for their ancestors, and they believe that only after the bodies are decomposed, the dead leave their earthly abode.

These destinations are not known only for their bizarre traditions. There is a lot more to them that would fascinate a tourist. So if any of these destinations are on your mind, we can book your air tickets and arrange your accommodation.

By Neetu George