Ever since ancient times, a lot of men chose to wear beards. Today beards are popular once again across the Western world, but at the same time, there are many countries in the East where most men have been traditionally wearing beards for decades. One of those places where the beard is considered a manly fashion statement is India.

So, if you have a beard and you plan on traveling to this country, you can expect the locals to respond to you very well. But what are the reasons for this and why do Indians have such a culture in which beards are a sign of manliness and attractiveness?

Today we are going to talk about the reasons for this and explore the subject a bit further.

It’s in the Indian culture

Both Maharaja and Raja wore beards to showcase their manliness, power, and authority. However, at a certain period, the beard was frowned upon within the Indian culture and today there are still a lot of voices crying out against the so-called “toxic masculinity” which is instantly tied to one’s beard.

However, this doesn’t prevent men in India from sporting beards and trying out different looks. At the same time, there are a lot of women in India who seem to be liking the return of the beards and, naturally, men always want to look appealing to women.

What’s even more important is that more men in India are becoming open to men’s beard shampoo and other beard products. This is because the hygiene products industry has realized that this trend is growing and they are offering products to men to help them adjust their beards and maintain them properly.

Bollywood celebrities are wearing beards

A lot of Bollywood stars have worn beards because their roles demanded this from them, but still, there are a lot of movie stars who decided to keep their beards after and many who are sporting beards just because they like the look.

Both of these are signs that beards are popular – leading actors wouldn’t have beards if the audience didn’t want to see them. Some of the rising stars such as Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor are sporting their bearded looks on a regular basis and seem to be inspiring other men to grow one.

At the same time, there are many other actors who are sporting beards and a mustache as well. With this being said, if you have a beard and you visit India, you can expect a lot of women to approach you because of your beard. However, a lot of guys without beard will also talk to you as they are probably considering growing a beard but have their doubts.

Beards are accepted throughout the country

Beards are a cultural part of North India, as the bearded warrior look is embedded in their traditions and religion. However, at the moment, the men in South India actually wear more beards than in the North. There are obviously numerous other cultural differences between the north and south. Still, it pales in comparison to the cultural difference between India itself and the west. It is wise to try to diminish the impact of these differences on your travel experience. A smart thing would be to be plan ahead, to organize as much as you can before you even get there. Indian bureaucracy is notorious and foreigners find it challenging to handle it. Even simple things like getting a prepaid Indian sim card for foreigners takes ton of paperwork. But if you order a sim card online in advance, have the company take care of all the paperwork for and then simply pick it up at the airport when you land – you saved yourself a lot of hassle. Do as much as you can to leave the travel experience itself ‘clean’ from operative tasks.

You will need to communicate with many people to learn about all the interesting places and get guidance throughout different regions. If you are going to Rajasthan, make sure to ask your guide or the locals about the moustache competition event which takes place annually and visit it if possible.

There are also many smaller events of a similar type and you will have to ask the locals if they can help you find them. Only a few countries have these kinds of events that take place traditionally and if you are a great beard fan, you will love them.

Beards are everywhere in India, on the streets, in the marketplace, in religion, and on television. It is a big part of the culture in the country and many gods are also represented with large beards because nobody has seen them and everyone has the right to imagine them how they want. For many, it was with a beard. If you visit this country and you have a beard, it will be a big plus and you will enjoy your visit even more.