Indian Culture

"Unity in diversity" - these are not just words, but something that are highly applicable to a country
like India that is incredibly rich in culture and heritage. A few quotations or statements cannot
describe the pedestal that India holds on to the world map because of its colourful and unique
culture. From the times of Mauryas, Cholas and Mughals to the period of British Empire, India has
always been famous for its traditions and hospitality. The warmth in the relations and euphoria in
celebrations make the country stand out distinctively in the global fraternity. The country's liveliness
and generosity attract a number of tourists to its vibrant culture which is an amalgamation of
religions, festivals, food, art, crafts, dance, music and many other subtle things. Everything, from the
culture and values to customs, rituals and traditions, is 'special' in this 'Land of Gods'.

Indian Values-Subtle, Apt and Eternal

"The Indian way of life provides the vision of the natural, real way of life. We veil ourselves with
unnatural masks. On the face of India are the tender expressions which carry the mark of the
Creator's hand". .....George Bernard Shaw

The canvas of India's culture is vast and has hues and vibrancy of all sorts. The country itself has
been a living example of tolerance, cooperation and non-violence over so many centuries and
continues to do so even today. Some of its various hues can be found in its different ideologies:

Tolerance and Non-Violence: India is one country in the world that has the distinction of being
tolerant and not resorting to arms and ammunition in the first place. Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha
movement is a testimony to this. Swami Vivekananda also aptly enunciated this fact in his speech
delivered at Chicago on September 11, 1893, "the most ancient order of monks in the world, the
Vedic order of sannyasins, a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal
acceptance..."

Secularism: India has also been at the forefront of being a secular country. Freedom of worship and
practice of religion is the manifestation of harmonious existence of diverse cultures in India. No
religion is looked down upon or uplifted either. In fact, all religions, despite their cultural differences,
come together in the times of calamity to show their 'unity in diversity'.

Cultural and Social Bond: India's history is replete with instances of cooperation and brotherhood.
In spite of having suffered oppression from different foreign conquerors at different periods of
history, its culture and oneness has not taken a beating and continued to remain intact.

Indian Culture - Traditional yet Contemporary

Culture plays a pivotal role in the development of any country. A culture of a nation represents its
values, goals, practices and shared beliefs. The Indian culture has never been rigid and that's why it
is surviving with pride in the modern era. It timely imbibes the qualities of various other cultures and
comes out as a contemporary and acceptable tradition. That is what is unique about the Indian
culture, it moves on with the time. There are certain things about India that are famous worldwide,
like:

Ways of Greeting
India is a land with varied greeting customs. Different religions here have different ways to express
their greetings to others. For instance, in major Hindu families "Namaste" is the most common way
of greeting the outsiders and elders. Both palms placed together and raised below the face not only
show the respect for others but also makes the greeter feel the affection in return. Similarly, Muslims
greet by saying "Adab", which involves raising of right hand towards the face in such a manner that
the palm is inwards and is in front of the eyes with the finger tips almost touching the forehead. It is
for sure that no 'hello' or 'hi' can create that magic.

Flower Garlands
Indian people are also famous for welcoming with flower garlands. In Indian marriages, the
exchange of garlands between the bride and the groom is a ritual in itself. People also offer flower
garlands to Gods and Goddesses during their prayers.

Indian Marriages
Time has changed but the lavishness has always been an integral and indispensable part of Indian
marriages. In India, marriage is still taken as an institution where not two people but two families get
united. So, it always calls for boisterous celebrations full of music and dance. Within India, every
caste and community has its own way of performing the rituals of marriage. In Hindu marriages,
while Punjabis perform the 'Roka' ceremony in weddings, Sindhis perform the 'Berana'. But most
common of all is the ritual of Hast Milap ceremony popularly called Paanigrahan Sanskaar.

Muslims also have their own special way of celebrating the marriage ceremony, popularly called
Nikaah. During the auspicious occasion, the groom's family gives mehar (nuptial gift) to the bride.
Parsis plant a young mango tree in a pot during the marriage ceremony. This ceremony is famous
as 'Madhavsaro' ceremony. Every state has its own special way of celebrating the marriage
ceremony.

Heritage of India
Heritage of India is equally rich. It is home to nearly 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which range
from historical and architectural masterpieces to some breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. Here is a
list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:

1. Agra Fort
2. Ajanta Caves
3. Ellora Caves
4. Taj Mahal
5. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
6. Sun Temple, Konark
7. Kaziranga National Park
8. Keoladeo National Park
9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Churches and Convents of Goa
11. Fatehpur Sikri
12. Group of Monuments at Hampi
13. Khajuraho Group of Monuments
14. Elephanta Caves
15. Great Living Chola Temples
16. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
17. Sunderbans National Park
18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park
 19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
20. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
21. Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
22. Mountain Railways of India
23. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
25. Champaner - Pavagadh Archeological Park
26. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
27. Red Fort Complex
28. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
29. Western Ghats
30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
31. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
32. Rani-ki-Vav, Patan, Gujarat
33. Archeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
34. Khangchendonga National Park
35. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
36. Historic City of Ahmedabad
37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
38. Jaipur City, Rajasthan

Indian Attire
Just like culture, even clothing varies from the ethnicity and region in India. Very traditional and
ethnic yet contemporary Indian saris are famous worldwide. It is worn with a blouse (which is
originally brought by the British in India) that covers the upper part of the body. In rural parts, an
outfit called ghagara-choli is very much popular. Choli is like a short blouse that covers the upper
part of the body and ghagara is like a long skirt. In order to have a graceful and complete look,
women folk carry a duppatta that is a soft and delicate fabric of reasonable length thrown over the
shoulder.

Though with slight variations, salwar kameez is a dress that is famous in every part of India. This
attire contains two pieces - kameez, which is like a long top covering upper part of the body, and
salwar is like trousers. Like ghagara choli, salwar kameez is also complemented by a dupatta.

For men, there is no dearth of variety. From dhoti kurta to shirt pants, an Indian man prefers
everything that fits well and looks good. But, traditionally you can see north Indians wearing kurta
pajama, dhoti kurta or sherwani on formal celebrations whereas south Indian men prefer lungi with
shirt.

Indian Jewellery
Wearing jewellery has a long tradition in India. No doubt it reflects in the fact that jewellery is
purchased in India not only for personal use but also for gifting purposes on many auspicious
occasions. Besides that, it is also passed from generation to generation in the Indian society, thus
exemplifying the importance and uniqueness of Indian jewellery in Indian culture.

The unique designs, artistic looks and creativeness of Indian jewellery make it represent the culture
and tradition of India. In rural India, a resinous incrustation called lac is used for the personal
ornamentation. Specialty of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the lac bangles and bracelets are worn and liked
by the women of all states.
Jewellery is an important accessory for every Indian women. From earrings, nose-rings, armlets,
necklaces to anklets and bracelets, Indian jewellery give a woman everything that she needs to
enhance her beauty. Some form of jewellery such as mangalsutra, nose and toe rings is also
associated typically with married women in India, who also get jewellery as 'stridhan' on their
marriage.

Mehndi
In Indian marriages, especially in the north, a special night is celebrated before the day of marriage
in which mehndi or henna-a kind of paste-is designed on the palms of bridegroom and is followed by
some colourful dance and music. It is also designed on the palms of women on some special
occasions like their engagement and marriage. The paste is applied for a few hours or overnight and
washed when it gets dried completely. This gives reddish-brown colour to the palms. In certain parts
of India, mehndi is a special kind of ancient folk art as well.

India-Religiously Yours!
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Zoroastrian; one can find people of all religions
here in India. India is a secular state and every citizen enjoys an equal right of choosing and
following a particular religion. More than three fourth of Indian population belongs to Hindu religion
and you can find Hindu pilgrimages in every part of the country.

In Northern part of India, you can visit various sacred religious places like Vaishno Devi, Amarnath,
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Haridwar and Varanasi and in the Southern part of the country you can take
the blessings of God at the Sabrimala, Sringeri, Dakshineshwar-belur math, and Rameshwaram. If
you are in the Northeast, you can go to the Kamrup temple that is located on the outskirts of
Guwahati on the Nilachal hills. If you are roaming somewhere around Gujarat and interested in
knowing about Lord Krishna, then you must visit Dwarkanath temple that is built at the site where
Meera Bai gave up the world. You can also visit Somnath temple that comprises one of the twelve
jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

The Muslims have their pilgrimages like Dargah Sharif of Ajmer at Rajasthan and Dargah of Ajan Pir
in Assam. In Northeast, there is Poa Mecca. It is believed that here a faithful Muslim can gain one
fourth of the spiritual enlightenment that could be gained at Mecca.

In Punjab, there are a number of pilgrimages for Sikhs like Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Tarn Taran
in west of Amritsar, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and Dera
Baba Nanak in west of Gurdaspur. Hemkund Sahib, which is situated at an altitude of 4329 meters,
is the highest Gurudwara in the world. The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, mediated here for years
in the mountains and ultimately left his body here to get united with the Almighty.

Another pilgrimage of Sikhs is Manikaran Gurudwara that is situated in Himachal Pradesh and is
famous for its hot springs. It is believed that these springs carry uranium and other radioactive
materials. Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib in Maharashtra is another sacred
religious place of Sikhs. In India, you can also find a number of churches in every state. If you are in
south, you can visit Medak Church and Gundala Church in Andhra Pradesh, Santa Cruz Basilica in
Kochi, Kerala. Northern India also has famous churches like St. Joseph's Church in Uttar Pradesh
and Church of the Sacred Heart in New Delhi. If you are enjoying the valleys of Himachal Pradesh,
then you can get Jesus' blessings in Christ Church and St. Michael's Cathedral at Shimla.

In spite of presence of so much diversity in practice of religion, people still stay united here. It is just
the Indian values that bind people together.
Worshipping Nature
Normally, a day in India starts with Surya Namaskar. In this people offer water to the sun and chant
mantras and prayers. Indians worship nature and this is unique about its culture. In Hindu religion,
trees and animals are worshipped like Gods. People believe in God and keep fast ('vrata') on many
festivals. They offer morning's first fresh meal to cow and night's last meal to dog. Nowhere in the
world can one come across such generosity.

All the religions here start the day with morning hymns, and these rich values are inculcated into the
kids since childhood. Morning prayers and moral education is also a very important part of the
education system in India. Here people are not judged by caste, colour or creed but by their values
and this is what makes India a unique place to live.

Everything is Artistic here!

The great variety in performing and visual arts could not be found anywhere else in the world except
for India. From a roadside show to a highly sophisticated drama in the theatre, you can find anything
and everything here.

Indian art can be categorised into two main forms- performing arts and visual arts.

Performing Arts
Dance, drama, theatre or music, every art is unique in itself. In India, religions, mythology and
classical literature form the basis of most of the performing arts:

Dance

Indian classical dances like Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi and Kuchipudi mainly
follow the codes of natya shastra, mythology and classical literature and epics like Ramayana and
Mahabharta.

Theatre

Another kind of performing art is theatre. Though the folk theatre prevails in each and every
language and region, the professional theatre is popular only in big urban areas or metropolitan
cities. Puppet shows were a unique form of Indian theatre. For centuries, puppet shows have been
popular in creating awareness about social issues in masses and inculcating the moral values of
truth and honesty in the kids.

Music

For Indians, music is to soul what food is to body. Since Vedic period, it has been capturing the heart
and mind of every Indian. In the classical Indian music, there are basically two types of schools- the
Hindustani Music (North) and the Carnatic Music (South). 'Raga' arrangement of musical notes is the
key in the classical music. The Indian villages also have their special kind of music that carries
colours of folk tradition. Music of Indian movies is also liked by the masses.

Films

Films are another kind of performing arts for which India is quite popular in the world. The country
produces more than 1000 movies every year, which not only are popular in the domestic market but
also have a wide viewership especially in the Asian and European countries. Hindi, Punjabi,
Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali or Marathi, India produces movies in every language.
Worldwide, Indian film stars are loved and liked in similar ways as Hollywood actors.

Visual Arts

Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. But, if you look at the sculptures and paintings in India, you
cannot live without saying that the beauty lies in the hands of Indian artists.

Paintings

India's history in the paintings is prominently visible in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Buddhists
palm leaf manuscripts and Jain texts. Either it is free form of Ajanta paintings, leaf paintings or glass
paintings; India has always been famous for this kind of visual art. The creativity and use of colours
has always been graceful and unique in the Indian paintings. Keeping their culture and tradition in
mind, Indian artists also imbibe the qualities of other European artists and this gives a contemporary
look to the Indian paintings with a traditional touch. Well-known Indian painting schools are Rajput,
Deccan, Kangra and Moghul.

Sculptures

From the Cholas dynasty to the present era, India has been ranked on top in the sculpture, another
form of visual art. The Deccan temple in Kanchipuram, Madurai & Rameswaram, the Sun temple of
Odisha and the Khajurao temple in the Madhya Pradesh, all of these sacred places are the
resultants of sophisticated craftsmanship of Indian artisans. The sculptures at Sanchi Stupa throw a
light on the life of Buddha and various folk deities. Sculptures of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda with
architectural touch show the social life of Buddha and counterparts. Temples of Ellora and Elephanta
caves are the important evident of mastery of Indian sculptures. Flora and Fauna, Deities and
various mythological characters; all these form the basis of designs in this beautiful form of visual
art.

Pottery

A very ancient and aesthetic kind of visual art in India is pottery. In this form of art, lumps of clay are
hand-molded to form toys and deities of worship. Terracotta and blue gaze are the two main
varieties of pottery that are famous in India. Pottery also has a great religious significance. On Durga
Puja and Ganesh Chathurthi the beautiful idols of Maa Durga and Lord Ganesha show the
confluence of pottery, sculpture and painting.

It Calls for Celebrations!

The 'Land of Gods' never needs a particular reason to celebrate. Celebration is a fundamental part
of every Indian's life.

Fairs and Festivals

From January to December, every month comes with a particular fair or festival. Makar Sakranti,
Basanti Panchami, Holi, Ram Navami, Janamashtami, Diwali, Eid, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha
Purnima, Guru Purab and Christmas; the festival of every religion has a significance and it is
celebrated in a boisterous way.
Here people don't need a floor to dance. Celebrations on streets during Durga Puja, Ganesh
Chathurthi, Janamashtmi and Holi show the real dancing talents of Indians.

Not only this, the country is famous everywhere for the handicrafts melas and fairs that it organises
during particular intervals. Surajkund Craft Mela that is held every year in February in Haryana
attracts a large chunk of masses and foreign tourists. In such fairs and festivals, you can find the real
India. Such theme melas and festivals unite the whole nation. People come to know about each
others' cultures and traditions and their active participation shows how much they love to know about
each other.

It Doesn't Have Just One-Cuisine!

A number of religions, a number of states and hence, number of cuisines. If North India has chole
bhature, tandoori chicken, rajma chawal, kadhi chawal, dhokla, daal baati churma and biryani to
relish, South India is not behind in the race. From masala dosa, rava uttpam, rasam, sambar-lemon
rice to toran, appam, meen; the South Indian cuisine has a great variety to offer.

The concept of Thali is very famous in India. A thali is served in a very traditional form and in this
you can enjoy the complete variety available in a particular cuisine. In small restaurants, thali is the
cheapest way of getting your mouth full. If you have stepped into a hotel, then you can enjoy the
variety in the form of combo meals.

The variety in Indian spices like black pepper, coriander seeds, cardamom, saffron and cumin seeds
not only enhance the flavour of the food but also add nutritive value to it. The Indian food is
incomplete if you don't get something sweet in the end. Having a bowl full of kheer or a little mitha
paan, etc. can add sweetness and freshness to your mouth.

Despite so many diversities, people in India are united and feel proud of their culture and tradition.
On the world stage, either through international film festivals or through beauty pageants, India
regularly displays its talent and culture. Many rulers came but none could cause any harm to its
culture, rather Indians preserved the good values of their cultures. The flexibility and movement with
time make Indian culture fashionable and acceptable too.