Flat nose in the views of the South Asian peoples. Perception, customs, vocabulary, folklore
The article deals with such a beauty “anti-standard” among a number of peoples of South Asia as a flat nose. Attention is paid to the contemporary functioning of the phenomenon in culture, as well as to its possible origin. The vocabulary used to describe such a physical trait, as well as the mention of a flat nose in folklore and the connotations associated with it, are analyzed. It is suggested that a flat nose as an “anti-standard” of beauty has been entrenched in the culture of South Asia since a very long time, and two main factors influenced its formation. These are physical characteristics of the non-Aryan peoples defeated in ancient times, some of whom later became low castes, and the practice of cutting off the nose as punishment for crimes related to the honour of the family and society.