When in India…

June 2nd, 2009

… you don’t have to do everything the Indians do.

(submitted by April)

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69 Responses to “When in India…”

  1. Supriya says:

    Even Indians don’t dress like that!!

  2. easytarget says:

    Red dot on forehead family. When in AFP… you don´t have to turn everything into a compound bow joke, but I do.

    • goblue says:

      Well this is a perfect opportunity to pose a question that has been on my mind… why is everybody obsessed with compound bows on this website?! Although, admittedly it does make me laugh every time.
      And in case you need an extra laugh: I’m a city girl … I actually had to google “compound bow” when I first started reading comments on the site.

      BTW, I think it is supposed to be a red dot … not a red smear? Mom got it right at least.

      • Nimit Kathuria says:

        It doesn’t matter if it’s a dot or a smear.
        And BTW, you will never catch us normal Indians sporting these turbans unless of course they are a special case outta AFP.

  3. dr says:

    haha. I have a photo similar to this, but I’m in a sari with a GINORMOUS tikka made of red rice stuck to my forehead. I look ridiculous, but it made my host family happy.

  4. Red_Neck21 says:

    I wonder if they have compound bows in india?

  5. Mill says:

    woowwwww…it’s all so awkwardly brilliant. the dad’s awkwardly tilted turban, the son’s Om t-shirt…. great.

  6. Glenn S says:

    The one in the middle is cute!

  7. slowboy81 says:

    I like turtles

  8. amber dawn says:

    This website is freakin’ hilarious! I’m so glad that I came across it! :)

  9. Mac says:

    Does anyone know what the symbol on his shirt says?

  10. Mr. Obvious says:

    It is funny he is in India with that shirt….the symbol means, “I eat cows for every meal”.

  11. Silk says:

    What? No Saris?

  12. Deepak says:

    OMG! Im Indian that grew up here in Colorado and this is sooo funny, we dont dress like this anymore, but i think is Awwkwaaarrrd!

  13. Kathy says:

    I’ve been there. Don’t worry, at that place you totally fit in. It’s a great tourist spot for seeing “real” Indian culture. It’s cheesy, but fun, and it supports villages in that state.

    • Allison says:

      Yea I’ve been to this place as well. It’s a huge fantastic tourist spot. They put the dot and the turban on you. It’s pretty awesome though. I have a VERY similar photo actually

  14. MST says:

    Casting call for a new movie: “Midnight Express 2009″

  15. sunil says:

    These people are trying to hard. Orange turban on the left is a clip on… just saying.

  16. Cheese Doodle says:

    Is anyone else seeing a huge cheese popping out of the wall above the head of the second guy?

  17. PeckerButt says:

    Fake.

  18. El Kev says:

    It’s really looking more and more like it’s taken at an Indian restaurant, possibly a birthday and they have the people dress like that. You know, kind of like when a Mexican restaurant will put a sombrero on the head of the birthday boy/girl. I also work with some Indians, and I’ve found and heard that it’s more the Sikh faith that wears the turbans these days.

  19. Maya B. says:

    Dad liked to wear his headdress at a jaunty angle.

  20. MMB says:

    Is that Ted Turner?

  21. noctem says:

    The two guys in this picture look oddly familiar to me.

  22. case says:

    why are comments not posted?? annoying!

  23. Tim says:

    What the Wilkersons misunstood was that they were in IndiaNA…

  24. Xtina says:

    I think Dad’s pocket protector is the ultimate cultural faux pas.

  25. Matt says:

    I think Dad looks edgy, with his turban cocked at a rakish angle…

  26. Kurt Steinberg says:

    Why did you even post this photo? It is clearly a photoshopped image. I thought that the point of this website was to post real, but awkward, photos.

    • Ben says:

      And maybe they should change the site´s name to Real Awkward Family Photos. Really Awkward Family Photos. Awkward Family Real Photos. I give up.

  27. Indy Dave says:

    Here we have visitors seemlessly bending into the cultural landscape.

  28. Mandy says:

    I guess they like to PHOTOSHOP pictures in India?????

  29. Albert says:

    I find this kind of offensive

  30. Kimberly says:

    Dr. Thaddeus Venture and son Hank on holiday.

  31. tom says:

    typical american tourists:)

  32. Katie says:

    I know them! Hi April!

  33. April says:

    Ahem, there was no Photoshop used in the making of this photo. That is pure, 100% family awkwardness. The photo was taken (by me) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, at a sort of tourist park with camels and musicians and such. And I had a turban, too, but the waiters kept taking it away.

  34. Josef says:

    At least they aren’t wearing shorts and carrying fanny packs!

  35. Blucat says:

    This is rea, true blue american family awkwardness! classic

  36. Jeff says:

    Om my god.

  37. Mariko says:

    ouch. tourism gone wrong.

  38. Coda says:

    PHOTO SHOP

  39. Nick says:

    when in India…

  40. but says:

    I thought the red dot on the forehead was for women to indicate they were married.

    • Elizabeth says:

      No it’s not, the dot or mark on the forehead symbolises the third eye. What indicates that a woman is married is if she has sindoor-red powder in the parting of her hair.

  41. Manu Mittal says:

    That picture is from Chowki Dhani a tourist spot in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Its an ethnic village developed for tourists and 99% of the population does not dress like that anymore.

    For international tourists they do the traditional ‘tikka’ or the red dot on the forehead and the local ushers would place their turban on the tourists head for them to enjoy and as a sign of respect.

    peace
    -Manu

  42. S13558 says:

    You’ll blend right in….but will you want to?…

  43. Bonnie says:

    I haven’t seen this picture for almost a year. It made me laugh, again. Thanks April for posting our awkward family picture. mom

  44. menon says:

    Hi all.
    The turban is from Jaipur, Marwar, Rajasthan. Its traditional in the area.
    The “cheese” above is an alcove in the wall, for keeping lamps, etc in.
    The symbol on the t-shirt says “om” and has spiritual and religious significance for hindus.
    The red mark on the forehead is a teeka, different from a bindi (or dot) and is made of vermillion. Its usually applied on the forehead of guests as a mark of greeting.
    The photo is classic tourist fare for anyone going to a Rajasthani/ Marwari restaurant in India. The turbans are rolled beforehand, and then placed on the person’s head and the photo taken.
    This picture is about as funny or awkward as, say, an Indian family walking into a mcdonalds, and wearing baseball caps and posing for a photo.
    Which is an incredibly funny and awkward picture of course.
    Stop it, people, the hilarity is killing me.

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