INDIA

MAIN FOOD HABITS

Most Indian cuisine is related by the similar usage of spices and the use of a greater
variety of vegetables than many other cuisines. Flavors and aromas unlike any other
cuisine characterize Indian cooking, and religion, geography and climate influence the
cuisine as well.

Indian cuisine is considered to be spicy by many. Most Indian dishes

contain a delicate blend of spices. The basic spices are ginger, garlic, chili
power, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander powder, and
cumin powder. Other items are mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek
seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves.

Sweets are very popular all over India and are usually made with
ingredients rich in fat like sugary ghee (melted butter). ‘Jalebis’, luscious pretzel shaped
loops fried to a golden crisp and soaked in saffron syrup can be had from any street vendor
in Northern India. ‘Kheer’ or ‘payasam’ are equivalents of the rice pudding and ‘Kulfi’ is an
Indian ice cream made in conical molds and frozen. Tea is drunk as a beverage in India. Tea
from the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong are boiled in milk and water and served with a
liberal dose of sugar. Filtered coffee is a favorite among South Indians and is a very sweet,
milky version of coffee.

Paan is served as a digestive

after some meals. The dark-green of the betel-pepper plant is smeared
with little bit of lime and wrapped around a combination of spices like
crushed betel nuts, cardamom, aniseed, sugar and grated coconut. It is
an astringent and believed to help cleaning the system.

One of the main influences on Indian cuisine is the Hindu religion.

In this religion there is much emphasis on vegetables because many Hindus are vegetarians
for ethical reasons. Over the years, Indians have used a vast range of different vegetables
like spinach, tomatoes, cauliflower, potatoes, and green beans to make different vegetarian
dishes. Some other popular Indian vegetables include eggplant, okra, cluster beans,
beetroot, cucumber and white radish. For example, Brahmins (one of the highest caste), in
the Hindu religion, are strict vegetarians. They do not eat either fish or eggs.

In addition, most of the Hindu people, as far as I know, don’t eat beef. Cows are
considered sacred in India and are worshiped by Hindus. Pork is also not eaten much
because pigs in India are not raised in good environments, so eating pork can lead to
different diseases. Most of the people in my village do not eat pork.
 Indian cuisine changes across the geography of India. Most of the coastal
areas use fish and coconuts in cooking. The desert states, Rajasthan and
Gujarat areas use an immense variety of dals and achars (preserves) to
substitute for the relative lack of fresh vegetables. Another state
Andhrapradesh, located in the south part of India, is accused sometimes unfairly of using
excessive amounts of chilies. In the coastal states of West Bengal and Kerala, the people
consume a lot of fish.

All along the northern plain, from Punjab through Uttarpradesh, to the
eastern side of India, the main crop cultivated is wheat. People from these
areas use wheat flour to make chapattis (Indian bread) and other closely
related breads.

Rice is served with almost every meal in India, so Indians

have created a variety of ways of cooking it. The aim is to
produce dry, separate grains. The basmati rice and sonamasoori are
different kinds of rice, which cooks really well and gives a nutty result.

In conclusion, Indian cuisine is influenced by religion,

geography and climate variations. Indian food is also very unique compared to other
cuisines in regard to spices, aroma, and way of cooking.

INDIAN CLOTHING
Women Clothing in India varies widely and is closely related to local culture, religion and
climate.

Traditional Indian clothing for women are the saris or the salwar kameez and also Ghaghra
Cholis (Lehengas). For men, traditional clothes are the Dhoti, Lungi or Kurta.Saris are graceful
elegant clothing ones made out of silk are the most elegant and lots of people love them and have
cupboards full of highly pretty silk saris. Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is one of India's
fashion capitals. In some village parts of India, traditional clothing mostly will be worn. In
southern India the men wear long, white sheets of cloth called dhoti in north Indian languages
like Hindi, Marathi and Oriya and veshti in Tamil. Over the dhoti, men wear shirts, t-shirts, or
anything else. Women wear a sari, a long sheet of colourful cloth with patterns. This is draped
over a simple or fancy blouse. This is worn by young ladies and woman. Little girls wear a
pavada. A pavada is a long skirt worn under a blouse. Both are often daily patterned. Bindi is
part of the women's make-up. Indo-western clothing is the fusion of Western and Subcontinental
fashion. Churidar, Dupatta, Gamchha, Kurta, Mundum Neriyathum, Sherwani are among other
clothes.