Quick and simple idiomatic Hindi question.

[callunav]

What would be an idiomatic expression of absolute relief? If I might say "Oh, thank God," in English, what might someone from Utter Pradesh be likely to say?

Comments

[inspirethoughts]

If I am not wrong, in Hindi one would say, "Shukr Hai Bhagwan Ka" Where Shukr = Thanks, Bhagwan = Lord

sorry, one more time

[wiped]

uttar pradesh is religiously and linguistically diverse. i think inspirethoughts's comment is probably fine for a hindi-speaking hindu, but there are also 38 million non-hindus in UP (who would be more likely to say "khuda ka shukr hai" or "alhamdulillah" if muslim, "waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh" if sikh, and something else if buddhist, jain, or christian), so you need to decide what religion your character belongs to and what their mother tongue is.

Re: sorry, one more time

[callunav]

Thank you, those are great clarifying questions.

The character was raised very actively Hindu. However, although she grew up in Utter Pradesh - where, as I understand it, as with most of the northern India, is mostly Ram- and Krishna-oriented - her family's religious practice revolves largely around Durga. (So, for instance, one site I checked suggested 'Ram-Ram,' but that probably wouldn't suit.)

She is very much Hindi-speaking. Although the regional language where she is is Bhojpuri, she was pushed into Hindi (and English) early on and rigorously, so that Hindi is, at this point, essentially her mother-tongue.

Does that help clear it up?

Re: sorry, one more time

[wiped]

sure. for those purposes, i defer to others; my knowledge of hinduism is slim, and i'm more familiar with urdu/islam and punjabi/sikhism. from what little i know, "shukr hai bhagwan ka" sounds accurate enough to me.