About Indian Culture

Indian Culture is the ancient and one of the most popular

cultures in the world. India is very well known for its rich
cultural heritage which is a combination of customs,
traditions, lifestyle, religion, languages, rituals, cuisine, etc.
depending upon area. Here you can see unity in diversity like
people belonging to different religions live happily.
Guests are considered God here, people welcomed them with
joined hands and a smile on their face. Not only the guests but
here people worship animals, statues, rivers, stones, trees,
kids, etc.
Indian Culture is now divided into two categories which are
traditional and the modern one. In traditional culture, people
give more importance to their society. Community comes first
according to them, but this scenario is changing slowly with
the impact of westernization.
About 3-4 decades ago, only arranged marriages are common,
where the parents of the bride and groom choose the spouse
for their child and then decides about the marriage but now
love marriages are also equally respected.
There are so many festivals celebrated in the country like
Holi, Diwali, Dusshera, Eid-UL-Fitr, Christmas, Baisakhi,
Navratri, Muharram, etc. Here you can see the variety of
clothing depending on the region. The Indian woman prefers
Saree or Salwar Kameez with dupatta whereas Dhoti Kurta,
and Kurta Payjama is the traditional outfit of men in India.
Here, transparent, revealing and tight fit dresses are not
likened. Hindi is the most popular language of the country, but
there are 122 major languages which are spoken in India. In
India, there are is a wide variety of cuisines like northern,
southern, eastern, western, etc. which differ in spices and
ways of making them. Indian sculpture, architecture is also
world famous.
About Western Culture
Western Culture is referred as the modern and advanced
culture in the world. The main pillars of the western culture
are capitalism, individualism, rights, ethical values, etc. You
can see western culture in America, Germany, Spain, Europe,
etc. Here most people belong to Christianity and Judaism.
People give more importance to their wants, needs, desires
and happiness. Nobody here has time to think what other
people thinks about them because they are busy in doing their
own business.
f we talk about marriages, love marriages and consented
marriages are very popular in western countries. People do not
have a strong bond with their family; they leave home after
reaching certain age to become self-dependent. Youngsters
learn and earn at the same time.
Western architecture, paintings, and music are highly admired
across the world. Ballet dance and ballroom dance are the
popular dance forms here. In western countries, people are
more concerned about their health, and that is why they prefer
heavy lunch and a light dinner. Their food contains less oil
and spices.
When its about clothing, people like to wear what the desire,
there is no restriction on wearing anything. English, French,
American, Spanish, etc. are the most common languages
spoken in the Western countries.
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The History
The term culture refers to the norms, rituals,
beliefs, and practices followed by a set of people
belonging to a particular region or community.
Each nation and continent has its own culture. It is
this knowledge of their indigenous culture that
distinguishes a particular nation or community
from others. The culture of land has a considerable
role in influencing the lifestyle of its natives.

Indian History is quite ancient in comparison to

the Western history. In fact, Indian history is said
to have been begun with the advent of the Indus
Valley civilization in 2600 BC. Through the ages,
the country had undergone a number of changes,
which are aptly reflected in the art, culture,
literature and architecture of India.

Western civilization is also quite ancient and is

said to have had its roots in the ancient civilization
of Greece. Through the ages, the western culture
and civilizations have provided a number of
significant contributions to world literature and
architecture. A glimpse through the western
history would undoubtedly reveal several literary
and artistic legends such as Michelangelo and
William Shakespeare, who have been stalwarts in
shaping the culture of the Western world today.
Religion
India is the land of many religion, though majority
of the Indian population follow Hinduism, Islam,
Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism are also
practiced by a significant number of people. In
most Western countries, Christianity is the most
followed religion, with Islam and Judaism also
being practiced by a considerable number of
people.

Festivals
Indian culture is one of the most ancient cultures,
which is prevalent in the world today. India is
home to many festivals that take place all year
round. Each state has its own distinct festivals,
which mark certain pivotal events. The festivals are
all celebrated with much pomp and
splendour. Indian
festivals include Holi, Onam, Pongal among
others.

In Western culture too, people celebrate festivals

with much joy. Popular Western festivals include
Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, and
many more. However, certain festivals are global.
Many people across the world celebrate festivals
like Christmas ad Eid regardless of their
nationality.
Music
Music has always been an inherent part of every
culture around the world; each country has its
distinct musical style, which suits the land and its
people. Western music is entirely different
from Indian music in several ways. Indian music is
composed mainly of Hindustani Classical
Music, Carnatic Music, among others. Traditional
musical instruments, such as the Tabla, Veena, and
Shehnai, are still used to produce soothing and
melodious music in India.

In contrast to this, the Western musical scenario is

quite different; it includes mainly jazz, rock, heavy
metal, and Hip Hop. The opera is another popular
attraction. It is a theatrical art form and is
prominent for its musical component.

Dance
India has a number of the art forms spread across
the nation. From the
mesmerizing Bharatanatyam and the
splendid Mohiniyattam to the lively Garba and
graceful Manipuri, the country has beautiful and
majestic dance forms that are unique to each state.

In Western countries, one can find many different

forms of dance as well! Ballet, Waltz, Salsa, Tango,
etc. are some of the most popular dance,
performed in various settings.

Art
The themes of Indian art are different and varied
in contrast to that of the Western art. Indian art
mostly comprised elements of religious
significance. The paintings also portrayed scenes
inspired from the daily life of the artist. The
legends of Indian art include, Abindranath
Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma, M. F. Hussain, Jamini
Roy, among others.

Western paintings are quite popular for its unique

representation of the human figure and the
mesmerizing landscapes. Apart from this, many
paintings also portray scenes from the Bible. The
legends of western art include, Vincent Van Gogh,
Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Picasso and
more.

Literature
Western literature is an apt reflection of the
society. Apart from the realistic portrayal of their
life, Western literature is quite unique due to its
liberal use of a variety of techniques to narrate the
story. Chivalry, romance, loyalty, fantasy, and
Individualism are some of the key elements of
Western literature. The western literary legends
include, William Shakespeare, Christopher
Marlowe, and George Bernard Shaw.

Indian literature differs from that of the Western

literature in both- themes and style of narration.
Indian literature mostly focusses on the realistic
portrayal of the issues that are prevalent in the
society. Obedience, morality, bravery, and human
values are some of the most recurring themes in
Indian literature. Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini
Naidu, and Premchand are some of the most
popular literary legends of India.

Traditional Attire
Every state in India has a distinct culture and
hence, the dressing styles differ from one region to
another. For instance, the attire worn
in Rajasthan is widely different from the one worn
in the southern state of Kerala. Most of the people
in many states prefer the traditional attire that is
saree for women and kurta, dothi for men.

People in the Western countries wear clothes

which are perceived to be more modern than
Indian clothes. But many indigenous communities
in the West still take pride in their traditional
clothing, which embodies their rich culture and
history. But with the advent of globalization,
people all over the world are adapting to a
universal style of dressing which include jeans,
skirts, t-shirts, etc. The younger generation of
India is more attracted to the western style of
clothing as opposed to traditional wear.

Family Values
Though most of the modern families in India are
mostly nuclear in contemporary times, this was
not the case some years ago. Earlier, Indian
families were mostly joint families, with every
member of the family living under the same roof.
The concept of arranged marriages, which is very
popular in India, would undoubtedly be unheard
of in the western countries.

Food Culture
The Indian staple mostly comprises of rice, and the
cuisine includes a wide variety of side dishes. In
India, the North Indian Cuisine varies significantly
from that of the South Indian Cuisine. The popular
dishes of North Indian cuisine include, Parathas,
Pani Puri, Chole Bature, among others. While
South Indian cuisine includes dishes such as,
Dosa, Sambhar, Payasam, and Sadhya.

In western countries, food habits are quite distinct.

The western cuisine is a mixture of various food
cultures such as the European cuisine, North
American cuisine, Mexican Cuisine, and more,
Each of these cuisines are quite different from the
other. The most popular dishes of the European
cuisine include, the Arancini, Pierogi, and
Palatschinken, while the Mexican cuisine is
popular for its Tacos and Burritos. The people of
the Western countries mostly prefer wheat over
rice. Hence it forms a major part of their diet.

The Verdict
In almost every aspect of life, these cultures have
their specific perspectives and practices, which suit
their land and lifestyle. From the music they listen
to, their dressing style, and the food they consume,
everything highlights the differences which are
prevalent between both the cultures.

Each culture is unique and beautiful in its own

way. The Indian Culture vs Western Culture debate
may never see its end. But it is up to the individual
to choose the right elements from each culture,
and incorporate that in their life.