By News18

Copyright news18

A Russian entrepreneur living in rural India has revealed 11 habits she initially found “strange” but has now fully adopted as part of her daily routine. Anastasia Sharova Singh, founder of Happy Bellyfish, shared the habits on Instagram, highlighting one in particular that surprises people the most.
Born and raised in Russia, Sharova graduated from a Moscow-based university in 2008 and worked in Russia, South Africa, and Germany before moving to India, according to her LinkedIn profile. In a recent Instagram post, she shared a video of lighting a diya, but the real highlight was her caption detailing 11 unusual habits she has embraced.
The 11 Strange Habits
1. Beeping: According to her, the first strange habit that tops the list is “beeping shortly before a blind turn.”
2. Removing Shoes Before Entering a House: In India, removing shoes before entering a home or shop is a long-standing tradition. Some do it for hygiene, others as a gesture of humility or respect. Sharova noted how this habit often surprises foreigners who are baffled by people leaving footwear behind without worry.
3. Oil Massage: Letting family members apply oil to her hair and doing the same for them is another tradition she adopted. Passed down through generations, this ritual is common in Indian households.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anastasia Sharova (@anasharovasingh)

Other Strange Habits: Sharova also listed:
4. “Smoking the house at 5 PM” to repel mosquitoes naturally.
5. Keeping a jar of pickles on the table.
6. Slightly moving the head when saying “accha!”
7. Technique of Drinking Water: She learned to drink water without touching the bottle with her lips, a hygiene practice common in India. “Now, I always carry a steel water bottle with me,” she said.
8. Eating Cardamom Pods After a Meal: Eating fennel seeds or cardamom pods post-meal aids digestion. Sharova revealed that this habit surprises foreigners the most.
9. The Gesture of Namaskar: Folding hands and slightly bowing instead of shaking hands is a traditional Indian greeting, which Sharova initially found unusual.
10. Checking for Frogs or Snakes: In rural India, it’s common to check shoes or bathrooms for small animals. “Once there was a snake. City dwellers won’t relate,” she shared.
11. Giving and Receiving Money with the Right Hand: A gesture of respect and tradition, this is widely practiced in India.
Sharova concluded, “You may ask why I called them strange? Because when people from outside see them out of context, they ask: ‘Why did you do that?!’ For me now, they are the most logical things to do.”
Are These Habits Really Strange?
While these routines may seem unusual to outsiders, they are deeply rooted in Indian culture. Many habits are shaped by respect for others, health concerns, hygiene, and traditional beliefs. What might appear odd at first glance is actually a reflection of values and practices that have been passed down through generations, making them completely normal for Indians.