Aurangabad Local Customs

When the film Slumdog Millionaire was awarded the Best Picture award in February 2009, I happened to be at the Aurangabad airport waiting for my flight to New Delhi. That morning, I had been packing my bag at the hotel and every TV channel was showing the Academy Awards Ceremony and celebrating every Oscar win by the team that made the legendary film. Slumdog Millionaire was the pride of every Indian. It was simply fantastic to be in India during this time and to see the Oscar fever leading up to the main event and afterwards. Attached is a photo of the flat-screen TV at the modest airport showing the historical win. All eyes were on it!

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When we had finished our tour to the Ellora Caves, we got taken to this silk and cotton clothing factory in the city and shown how they made the clothing using traditional hand-operated looms, one of which came from Keighley in Yorkshire, England. Aurangabad is famous for Mashru and Himroo fabrics made of cotton and silk with the luster of satin. Himroo weaving is very characteristic and distinctive. Fabrics and shawls from Aurangabad are much in demand for their unique style and design.

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When visiting any part of India, women should be aware of the fact that modesty is the key.
This means.........cover your legs especially, and do not show bare stomach. Short sleeved T-shirts are acceptable, though. Women can carry a shawl for covering up when needed.
This applies even more when visiting places of worship, such as temples & mosques, where the head should also be covered. Removal of shoes is necessary, and in Jain temples, no articles of leather, including shoes,wallets & bags are allowed. Menstruating women are requested not to enter a Jain temple,as this is considered to be unclean. This rule/request applies also to Hindu temples, wherever possible.There are usually places outside the temples where shoes can safely be left..