While the rest of society is looking for smarter and tougher security to protect their homes, a village in Ahmadnagar district of the Maharashtra state, India, named Shani Shingnapur has houses and shops with no locks or doors—be it day or night. Shani Shingnapur is home to nearly 4,000 people and all the houses in this village do not have doors or locks. You’ll just find the door frame. This is because of the villager’s immense and undying faith in the Hindu deity, Shani Dev (Lord of the planet Saturn). According to villagers, Lord Shani watches over the village and protects them from the evil eye.

It is said that whoever attempts to steal here will immediately be punished with mental imbalance, blindness or long sickness, and whoever does anything wrong or dishonest will suffer from Sade-Sati, a period of seven-and-a-half years of bad luck—either through an accident, death, or bankruptcy. According to the local folklore, once, a villager tried to put wooden panes at the entrance of his house, and the very next day, he died in a car accident. According to the legends, about 400 years ago, due to incessant rains, a slab of black stone washed up on the banks of the Panasnala River and a local shepard dreamed that the god Shiva came to him and said that the slab of black stone was his own idol. 

The shepherd was instructed to install the idol in the village center since then, the whole village got rid of all the locks and doors, leaving their money and jewelry unsecured, with a belief that Lord Shani is watching them and will keep them protected. In fact, the post office and shops in this village also do not have doors. In 2011, the UCO bank opened a lockless branch in Shani Shingnapur, the first of its kind in India. However, the bank has a glass entrance and a remote-controlled electromagnetic lock that is hardly visible, thus maintaining the traditional belief. In 2015, a police station opened in the area, again with no doors. The crime rate in this village is near zero.

People in all parts of India dress colorfully and indulge in fun filled activities such as singing, playing games, dancing, and attending parties. Night clubs, movie theatres, resorts, restaurants and amusement parks are filled with people of all ages. People in all parts of India dress colorfully and indulge in fun filled activities such as singing, playing games, dancing, and attending parties. Night clubs, movie theatres, resorts, restaurants and amusement parks are filled with people of all ages. Some big restaurants and hotels may have a live band and a DJ or arrange some party gags and contests for their patrons.

In some cities they will try to have concerts conducted and in some metro cities they might get an international artist to come and perform for the crowd. Larger cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai organize live concerts which are attended by Bollywood stars and other well-known personalities. Large crowds gather to attend such shows, while some individuals prefer to celebrate with their close friends and family members. The fun filled occasion is considered a great opportunity to get closer to the loved ones in your life and to revive contact with lost friends. The media covers many New Year events which are showcased on prime channels for most of the day. Several people prefer to just go to a bar and drink a few and ring in the new year that way.

People who decide to stay indoors resort to these New Year shows for entertainment and fun. The age-old tradition of planning new resolutions for the coming year is a common sight. A few of the most popular resolutions include losing weight, developing good habits, and working hard. Still others, usually families and those with older people and small kids, will prefer to gather in a house or apartment, order some good food or cook some and have a few drinks and enjoy each other’s company and ring in the new year in the safety & comfort of being indoors in a familial environment.

1. Couple marries after dating for two years. Gets divorced in under 12 hours.

In a very weird twist of things, a couple hailing from UP’s Hamirpur district got married to each other after going through a lot of ups and downs. However, even though they had been together for the last two years, their ‘happily forever’ ended in under 12 hours and they filed for divorce.

2. Man gets challenged to eat 50 eggs for Rs 2,000. Dies after the 42nd egg.

This one is sad yet extremely bizarre! A man from UP’s Jaunpur district got involved in an argument with a friend over how many eggs he can eat and they settled the number at 50 eggs. They bet Rs 2,000 on the same, but the man collapsed after consuming the 42nd egg. The hospital stated ‘overeating’ as the cause of his death.

3. Man gets challaned for not wearing a helmet… INSIDE A CAR!

Nothing can be more bizarre than the UP police fining a man for driving a car without wearing a helmet. A CAR! Hailing from Hamirput district, the man received an e-challan on his mobile for the same. The e-challan said that he had been fined by the authorities for not wearing a helmet while driving his four-wheeler vehicle.

4. Villagers mistake a saffron-painted toilet for a temple. Start praying.

If it gets out of hand, religion can make people do extremely unusual things. Just like when the people of Maudaha in Hamirpur district started praying to a public toilet, just because it was painted saffron. Not just this, this misinformed act went on for a whole year.

5. Drunk groom does the naagin dance. Bride refuses to marry him.

Everyone wants to have a presentable life partner and this bride from Mailani area of Lakhimpur Kheri, Bairely, didn’t want to settle. After witnessing her groom doing the naagin dance in a completely inebriated state, she flat out refused to get married to him.

6. Grandfather teaches grandkids “A for alcohol, B for beedi.” Makes them drink and smoke.

Children learn what their elders teach them but this grandfather from UP’s Bahadarpur area is teaching his grandchildren all the wrong things – things kids are supposed to be kept away from. In a video that surfaced online last year, the old man was seen giving out beedis and alcohol to minors, and telling them it was “nothing but juice.”

7. Men break into a beer shop. Party first before running away with more bottles.

A bunch of men broke into a liquor store in Kotwali to steal, but ended up partying inside the shop by drinking from the bottles and cans for hours. They ended their party by stealing 26 crates of beer. Even then, they weren’t done with their shenanigans and went on to rob the chambers of five lawyers.

1.The Independence struggle first started in 1857

The first struggle for independence was in 1857, very famously called the Sepoy Mutiny or the Indian Rebellion of 1857 was led by Mangal Pandey. Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tatya Tope, and Nana Sahib were the others who led the resistance against British soldiers in 1857.

2. Indian Flag was first hoisted in 1906

The Indian national flag with 3 horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and green was hoisted on August 7, 1906, at Parsee Bagan Square, Kolkata. The first variant of our current national flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921. The current flag with saffron, white and green stripes with the 24-spoke Ashok Chakra was officially adopted on July 22, 1947, and hoisted on August 15, 1947. 

3. Rabindranath Tagore penned National Anthem of Bangladesh

Rabindranath Tagore not just penned the National Anthem of India but also our neighbouring country Bangladesh. ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. The first 10 lines of this song were adopted as the national anthem of Bangladesh in 1971, during its liberation war. 

4. Goa Was the Last State to Join the Indian Territory in 1961

Even after India attained independence on 15th August 1947, Goa was still a Portuguese colony. It was annexed to India by the Indian troops only in 1961. Thus, Goa was the last state to join the Indian territory.

5. Lord Mountbatten chose August 15 as India’s Independence Day :

Although the Indian Independence Act was approved on July 18, 1947, Lord Mountbatten chose August 15 as the date of India’s independence as it coincided with the date of Japan’s surrendering to the Allied Forces after World War II on August 15, 1945.  

If you hold an Indian passport, you can now travel to 60 countries in the world without a prior visa. We may not have a powerful passport – in fact it’s only the 83rd in the list of most powerful passports to have in the world, but you can still go to these 60 countries. If a country has a “visa-free” status, you can just travel there with an Indian passport and be allowed to pass through. Even if you do not require a visa, you should still research the entry criteria of the nation you are going.

Ok, so in Europe you can only go to Serbia and in the Americas you have Bolivia & El Slavador. In the Middle East you have Jordan, Iran, Qatar & Oman. You can go to Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and the British Virgin Islands. In Africa you can choose among Kenya, Ethiopia, Gabon, Madagascar, Cape Verde Islands, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zimbabwe & Tunisia among others. And in Asia you have Armenia, Thailand, Bhutan, Maldives, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka among them.

In most cases, it is Visa on arrival. Make sure you don’t stay longer than your visa-free period allows; if you’re only allowed to stay for three months, go before your time is up. If you overstay your welcome, you may have difficulty returning there in the future. You are not permitted to work or attend school in the nation you are visiting during your visa-free stay.

1. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan

Located in the Alwar region, the uninhabited town of Bhangarh is one of the eeriest places imaginable and is unanimously considered as one of India’s most haunted places. It is considered to be so dangerous that even the Archaeological Survey of India has legally prohibited anyone from entering the Bhangarh Fort after dark. The legend goes that during the 16^th century, a tantric named Singhia fell in love with Ratnavati, the beautiful princess of Bhangarh. And knowing it was a hopeless match, decided to use his magic to seduce her. However, the princess uncovered his plans and sentenced him to death. Before his death, enraged by the turn of events, he cursed the palace to doom and the town to be roofless and miserable forever. Nearby locals believe that anyone who goes into the fort after dark won’t make it back, so visit at your own peril.

2. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan

Rajasthan sure does have the choicest selection of deserted ghostly villages and towns! The Kuldhara village is located near Jaisalmer and was originally inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. The lore speaks of the sudden disappearance of all the villagers of Kuldhara as well as 83 other nearby villages in 1825 into thin air, leaving no trace of their whereabouts. It is said that the minister of state had fallen in love with a girl from the village and had threatened to impose huge taxes upon the entire village unless they married her to him. To protect the honour of the girl, the chief of Kulhara and surrounding areas abandoned their villages and cursed the land to remain unoccupied for eternity.

3. Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal

The Victoria Boy’s High School and Dowhill Girl’s Boarding School in Kurseong, Darjeeling, are believed to be the residence of many spirits whose footsteps can be heard echoing through the hallways. There have been countless murdered bodies found in the wood surrounding the schools and several locals and tourists report being followed by a headless boy who then disappears into the woods.

4. Dumas Beach, Gujarat

On the Arabian sea coast, the black sands of Dumas Beach in Gujarat are associated with several mysteries over several years. The beach used to be a Hindu burial ground and many believe that the restless spirits call out to visitors taking midnight strolls and walking towards the sea to return back to the shore. There have been reports that those who don’t heed the voices of the dead disappear into the waters forever. This beach is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

5. Jatinga, Assam

This tiny village with a population of 2500 has one of the most puzzling phenomena in the world, namely recurring mass bird suicides. For centuries now, local and migratory birds plummet to the ground in large numbers on moonless nights of September and October only on a specific area. This has baffled scientists who can’t find any reasonable justification for birds dropping dead from the sky in such a pattern and it is extremely disturbing to say the least.

Why are most Indians not interested in simple wedding ceremonies?

The simple answer is that it is traditional and when you get married, it’s actually is a ceremony not for you or your spouse! It’s actually for your parents and extended family. That is why it’s a large event. It’s a multiple day event, you want the biggest hall for all those relatives & friends and their families. Gals want to go saree, jewelry, watches and other clothes shopping. This can take several days. Guys want that perfect suit to go for the event. Etc etc. All pomp & show to outdo the weddings you have seen.

This trend is changing and has been changing for a while. A couple of my second cousins got married with just their parents and siblings next to them, a non-religious wedding without any pujari/priest and then gave donations to an orphanage and home for the elderly and then they went to have a nice lunch. What money they saved, they took an extended holiday/honeymoon abroad. That;s the way it should be and that’s what my cousins wanted. Their parents may have wanted the big wedding but that’s not the wedding the actual groom & bride wanted.

I’m not married myself and it looks unlikely that I ever will. But if I ever did, it will be a small affair. Immediate family, non-religious ceremony and a quite lunch. Simple and tasteful.