Christmas in India – how does that work? For many people (including me), it was difficult to imagine at first: Christmas trees, snow and presents - accompanied by warm climate, cows and monkeys? I asked friends, colleagues, shopkeepers and people on the street about it. How do they celebrate this festival? Is it as grand and pompous as in Christian countries? I got various answers, but one can be said for certain – Christmas is enjoyed by everyone!

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There are few Christians in India – slightly more than 2%. Nevertheless, India and particularly Delhi are great places to celebrate the Christmas festival. There is plenty to do in the capital – Christmas is probably the most international festival, cutting across all religions, nationalities and age groups. In December, everyone is excited about wrapping gifts, baking cakes and taking part in the celebrations. The city turns white, green and red, overflowing with Christmas goodies, souvenirs, Santa hats, decorations, and of course the Christmas spirit. Hotels, restaurants and shops try to outdo each other with the brightest possible decorations and most attractive festive offers. Here and there, Santa can be spotted roaming around, distributing sweets and gifts among children. Carol choirs can be heard around churches. Many hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and banquet halls organise parties over Christmas. Christmas holidays in Delhi are a time for shopping, enjoying and partying. Different events take place simultaneously, allowing you to celebrate the festive season exactly as you like it.

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When thinking about food in my native country India, so many thoughts and memories cross my mind. A major chunk of our budget is invested on food which makes it the one of the largest sources for our GDP. The rich cultural diversity of India plays the vital role in the huge variety of food we can boast of. “Mumy bhook lagi hai” (Mom, I’m hungry) - Maggi’s advertisement which made a remarkable impact on the advertising world. I also can recall the Sunflower oil advertisement which showcased an Indian mom cooking Indian delicacies.

When we think about Indian food as Indians “ghar ka khana” (home-food) is the best for us. The reason being not only the quality spices used but also that it is hand cooked by our beloved mom and simply is the best!

The adjectives which come to my mind for Indian cuisine are yummy, delicious, delectable and scrumptious. There is Paneer Kadhai, Chicken Biryani, Pulao and Butter Chicken, Gajar ka Halwa, Imarti, or Gulab Jamun, puri and sabzi, dosas, uttapams and so many more. The list is endless and everybody will find so many options to choose from. The popularity of Indian dishes is growing with each passing day. It is because of the flavour and aroma of the spices used primarily.

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Hinduism, India's banyan tree of diverse religious traditions, reflects much of Indian people's behaviour, values and world views. With a growing interest in yoga and meditation in Western countries, Hinduism and its rituals have gained many followers outside India as well. Knowledge Must had the chance to interview a young German Hindu woman in her mid-twenties to find out about her experience, how she found her spiritual mentor and her understanding of Hinduism and India.

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On a recent day when going to work to our office in South Delhi’s Shahpur Jat neighbourhood, I noticed, amidst sweets and street food vendors and recent fashion shops that have been mushrooming in the area, this cute little shop called “Dubdengreen”. Inside, unsurprisingly for this densely populated neighbourhood, the space is small enough, the decorations are minimal and the absence of shining and blinking advertisement on the shelves catches the eye. This looks more like a farm house shop, so you wouldn’t be surprised to find mooing cows and chattering chicken in the backyard. A quick look around is enough to confirm the impression: grains and millets are there, fresh vegetables next to fresh fruit and dairy products. This is indeed another shop for farm goods – so how is it different? Well, this one is all about organic.

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[This article is not for those who drink solely tea, or the ones who are certain that a cup of coffee can kill a horse.] When you live in Delhi, you bargain successfully every day with rickshaws on the way to your office and can barely breathe through your scarf in the compulsory traffic jams. Everything is fine until one day you realise, that the supply of “as if it was always there” coffee in your kitchen, that used to be the best moment of your morning, is over. And at this very moment you understand that your day cannot start right, that the sun set and this city had finally got a chance to catch you. If the caffeine-deficiency in your body is not that high and you can still think, you go to the nearest market and try to find something like your favourite Lavazza.

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Around Mid-Autumn Festival there is an interesting custom occurring in China, especially among the younger generations: text greetings! The 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (12th of September in 2011) is one of the most important festivals in China, 中秋节, the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is a harvest festival dating back over 3,000 years, and it is celebrated by worshipping the moon. The particular date falls around the time of the autumn equinox, which is usually in September or early October. Traditionally, on this day Chinese families and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon and eat moon cakes, round or rectangular pastries with a thick filling. Even though many people are still upholding tradition, others are spending time doing other activities such as travelling or partying.

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There is loads of fun to be had during your time in Chengdu, whether you come for business, education, or leisure. To help you make the most of this "heavenly city" we have gathered together over 100 ideas into one handy guide. See how many you mangage to tick off before you leave - that is, if you manage to leave at all…

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Fasting is an integral part of Indian tradition. Fasting means holding oneself back voluntarily from eating something certain or even any kind of food for a definite period of time. In Hindi language it is called “vrat”. A fast can be partial or prolonged, e.g. for a duration of 24 hours. There are also some fasts in India which are observed for a week or more, examples being Navratri fasts, or Muslim fasts during Ramadan and Jain fasts. In Hinduism each day of the week is related to planetary constellations and devoted to a certain deity. These fasts are generally observed according to one’s individual needs. The day fasts can be understood in the following manner according to the different days of the week:

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“Not the eye that is focused on the work piece, but the eye that scans the horizon at leisure will discover all new interconnections.” (Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker)

This quote aptly describes my basic motivation, which is why I am in India. I find myself in an orientation phase, and felt the desire to leave my daily life to look beyond the box. I want to give myself some time before I begin the next phase of life. A time to think about how I want to shape my future. A time when I want to find role models who inspire me. A time when I left my habits behind to learn new ones. Simply a time to broaden my horizon. For this purpose, it is fruitful to leave the familiar and immerse yourself in another culture. Exactly that was a secret dream of mine that had been growing within me for quite some years.

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If you are on a special such-and-such-free diet like me, you know the kind of questions going through your mind before leaving for your next foreign destination. What will I be able to eat? How will I find the dishes that I can eat? How will I explain to people in a polite way that I can’t eat their national dish due to some never-heard-of-before condition? Of course, one answer is to stock up on all kinds of dried foods, muesli bars, packed cookies and nutritional drinks that will, under extreme circumstances, help you survive for a minimum of two weeks. But this is not what my vision of traveling and cultural discovery looks like. I’m not an astronaut. Nor I am travelling to lands that are as plain and arid as the moon. Taking precautions is good. But retreat is not the answer. So every new land is like a barely mapped territory to me, and I’m like the explorer.

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