WHY NOT INDIA?

If you are like millions of people born west and east of the Atlantic, India is for you a mysterious and fascinating country often spoken about but never experienced first-hand. But India can be much more than that if you let it. If you grant yourself the gift of the amazing discovery of the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, India can very well become your own life changing journey.

To enjoy your holiday fully, it would be wise to the basics of the language. You will be glad to know that French is an official language in a big part of the territory and is widely spoken. If you want to take the opportunity to take a French course France is the obvious destination although not necessarily the best one (and certainly not the cheapest one.) For those in Europe and attending summer school Switzerland offers a variety of language courses, including Hindi (the first official language of India) and if you'd actually like to attend a French course Switzerland will certainly provide an excellent educational environment.

Think Customs

Of all the interesting and attractive things you can look forward to in your holiday trip to India, perhaps the most intriguing are the several customs and traditional rituals that the country has kept safe throughout the time. Of all those customs, here we highlight some popular ones:

Namaskar

Namaskar or Namaste is the most popular form of greeting in India used either to welcome someone or to bid them farewell. To do Namaskar, both palms are placed together facing each other and then raised just below the face. This gesture is a symbol for the union of the mind, the self meeting the self. The right hand represents a higher nature while the left represents the worldly (or lower) nature. There are, of course, other common forms of greetings used by various communities and regions in India. Some of those are: the Sat-sri-akal by the Sikhs, the Adaab by the Muslims, the Vannakkam by the Tamilians, the Juley by the Laddhakis and the Tashi Delag by the Sikkimese.

Tilak

Tilak is the name of a ritual mark usually placed on the forehead. It is often used as a sign of blessing , greeting or foreboding. The tilak is then applied on the spot between the brows which is considered the seat of latent wisdom and concentration. The tilak would also indicate the point where the spiritual eye would open, and all thoughts and actions are governed by this mystical spot. This is specially important since the placement of the Tilak indicates a quest or journey for the "opening" of this third (spiritual) eye. Also, all Hindu rites and ceremonies include the Tilak and it is also used when welcoming or bidding farewell to both guests or family.