‘I found values in India we are losing in Europe’: Lithuanian woman’s post goes viral

Conversations around modern lifestyles, loneliness, and changing social habits are becoming more common across social media today. In the middle of these discussions, a Lithuanian woman’s post about her experience living in India has now gone viral online. What caught people’s attention was not a travel story or a cultural comparison meant to create controversy. Instead, it was her honest observations about everyday life in India and the values she feels many Western societies are slowly losing.The woman, who has spent years in India, shared that life in Indian towns and villages gave her a different perspective on relationships, community, food habits, and even happiness. Her post quickly received massive engagement, with many social media users agreeing with her views and sharing similar thoughts in the comments section.In her Instagram post, she wrote, “I know this may be controversial, but after living in India for years, I noticed there are actually quite a few things Western countries could learn from Indian culture.”She also spoke about how rural India is often misunderstood by outsiders.“Many people from Europe visit villages or smaller towns in India and think people are 'simple'. But honestly, some of the values I found here are something we are slowly losing in the West.”According to her, five things in Indian culture stood out the most during her stay. The first thing she highlighted was the way guests are treated in Indian homes. She said hospitality in India feels warm, natural, and deeply rooted in daily life.Referring to the idea of “Atithi Devo Bhava”, she explained that offering tea, food, and comfort to guests is seen as basic courtesy.“If somebody comes to your home, you offer food, tea, and make them comfortable. It's considered basic manners. In Lithuania, we also have something similar, but in India, it's really on another level,” she wrote.The woman also spoke about the strong sense of community she experienced in India. According to her, loneliness has become a major issue in many Western countries, while in India, people still remain closely connected to neighbours, friends, and families.She observed that helping each other and staying involved in community life continues to be common in many places.“Nowadays so many people struggle with loneliness and I think losing this sense of community is one of the reasons,” she noted.Another thing she appreciated was the importance given to food and family meals in Indian households.She said fresh home-cooked meals are still a regular part of life and families often sit together to eat. In comparison, she felt fast food culture has become more common in Western societies, where meals are often rushed.For her, food in India felt connected to care, routine, and togetherness.The Lithuanian woman also addressed cleanliness and personal hygiene. She said that contrary to some stereotypes seen abroad, many people in India take hygiene seriously in their daily routine.She mentioned regular bathing and wearing clean clothes as habits she noticed often.“In India, I see people taking personal hygiene seriously, and honestly, I think it's a very good habit. It makes you feel better and shows respect to people around you, too,” she wrote.Talking about joy and celebrations, she shared that one thing she admired in India was the ability to enjoy life without waiting for a special occasion.She said festivals, music, dance, and social gatherings create a different kind of energy and positivity.“People don't need a special reason to enjoy life. There is a lightness to it. Sometimes I feel in Europe we have become so serious that we forgot how to simply enjoy things,” she noted.“Most important things... sharing is caring,” one user wrote.“We are not losing these values slowly; we are losing them fast,” another person commented.“You are beautiful... Thanks for highlighting what is second nature to us, but we often fail to notice,” a third user noted.Ending her post on a balanced note, the woman wrote, “Of course, every country has good and bad sides. These are just some things I personally learned from India.”Disclaimer: This report is based on publicly available social media content. The Times of India has not independently verified the personal experiences or opinions shared in the viral post. Comments quoted reflect views expressed by users online. Thumb image: Instagram