Indian Culture
‘Unity in Diversity’ is not just a few words, but it is something that completely applies to a country rich in culture and heritage like India. Some mottos or statement cannot express the status that India has achieved on the world map with its colorful and unique culture. India has always been famous for its tradition and hospitality, right up to the Maurya, Chola and Mughal periods and the British Empire. This country always stood out in the world because of the warmth in relationships and enthusiasm in festivals. The generosity and vibrancy of this country attracts a large number of tourists to this vibrant culture, which is a fusion of religions, festivals, food, arts, crafts, dance, music and much more. There is a lot special in this ‘Land of Gods’ from culture, customs and traditions.
Indian Values – Subtle, Perfect and Infinite
‘Indian lifestyle gives a vision of natural and real lifestyle. We cover ourselves with unnatural masks. The light marks present on the face of India are the marks of the hands of the Creator. .... George Bernard Shaw
The canvas of Indian culture is vast and has every kind of color and vibrancy on it. This country has been a living example of tolerance, cooperation and non-violence for many centuries and continues to be so today. It's different colors are found in its different ideologies:
Tolerance and non-violence: India is a country in the whole world whose specialty has been its tolerance, and it does not use arms and ammunition in the first place. Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement is proof of this. Swami Vivekananda had also shown this well in his speech given in Chicago on 11 September 1893. ‘The oldest order of monks in the world, the Vedic practice of ascetics and a religion that has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.’
Secularism: India is at the forefront of being a secular country. Freedom to worship and practice one's religion is an expression of the harmonious existence of diverse cultures in India. Neither religion is looked down upon, nor is anyone given a particularly high position. In fact, in times of trouble, all religions come together despite their cultural differences and show unity in diversity.
Cultural and Social Relations: The history of India is replete with examples of brotherhood and cooperation. Despite facing many attacks from foreign invaders at different times in history, its culture and unity were never lost and always remained intact.
Indian Culture – Traditional but Contemporary
Its culture contributes a lot to the development of any country. Represent the country's culture, its values, goals, practices and shared beliefs. Indian culture has never been rigid; hence it is alive with pride even in modern times. It adopts the characteristics of other cultures at the right time and thus emerges as a contemporary and acceptable tradition. Keeping pace with time is the most unique thing about Indian culture. There are some things about India which are famous all over the world, such as:
Ways of Greeting
India is a land which has very different ways of greeting. Here every religion has its own way of greeting. For example, in Hindu families, outsiders or elders are greeted by saying Namaste. By joining both the palms and placing them below the face, not only respect is shown to others, but the person greeting also feels affection in return. Similarly, Muslims greet by saying Aadab in which the straight hand is raised in front of the face in such a way that the palm is in front of the eyes and the fingers are almost touching the forehead. It can be said with certainty that no 'Hello' or 'Hi' can create such magic.
Garland of flowers
Indian people are famous for welcoming people with flower garlands. In Indian weddings, the exchange of flower garlands between the bride and groom is a ritual in itself. People also offer flower garlands to the Gods and Goddesses while praying.
Indian Weddings
Times have changed, but grandeur has always been an integral and essential part of Indian weddings. Marriage in India is still an institution in which not two people, but two families become one. Therefore, there is a huge celebration with lots of music and dancing. Every caste and community in India have its own way of marriage rituals. In Hindu weddings the Roka ritual is performed in Punjabi marriages and the Sindhis perform the Berana ritual. There is one ritual common in all of them and that is handshake, which is popularly called Panigrahan Sanskar.
Muslims also have their own way of celebrating the marriage ceremony which is called Nikah. On this auspicious occasion, the groom's family gives dowry to the bride. During wedding ceremonies, Parsis plant a small mango plant in a pot. The name of this ritual is ‘Madhavasaro’ ceremony. Every state has its own way of celebrating wedding ceremonies.
Indian Clothes
The beauty of an Indian woman lies in her clothes. Traditional and ethnic yet contemporary Indian sarees are famous all over the world. It is worn with a blouse that covers the upper part of the body. The outfit called Ghaghra Choli is very famous in rural areas. Choli is like a short blouse that covers the upper part of the body and ghagra is like a long skirt. For a complete and modest attire, women wear a dupatta, which is a soft and delicate cloth of appropriate length that is thrown over the shoulder.
Although with minor variations, salwar kameez is a famous dress in every part of India. This garment consists of two pieces – kameez which is a long top that covers the upper part of the body and salwar which is a kind of trousers. Like Ghaghra choli, dupatta is also worn with salwar kameez.
There is no dearth of types of clothing for men too. From dhoti kurta to shirt pants, Indian men love everything that fits well and looks good. But traditionally you can see that North Indian men wear kurta pajama, dhoti kurta or sherwani in formal functions and South Indian men prefer to wear lungi with shirt.
Indian Jewelry
Wearing jewelry has a long tradition in India. There is no doubt that in India, jewelry is bought not only for personal use but also to give as gifts on auspicious occasions. In Indian society, they are passed from generation to generation, this also shows their importance and uniqueness in Indian culture.
The unique designs, artistic look and creativity of Indian jewelry represent Indian culture and tradition. In rural India, a resinous coating called lac is used in personal jewelry. Specialty of Gujarat and Rajasthan, lac bangles and bracelets are loved and worn by women of all states. Jewelry is an important accessory for every Indian woman. From earrings, nose rings, armlets, necklaces to anklets and bracelets, Indian jewelry gives women everything they need to enhance their beauty. Certain types of jewelry such as Mangal sutra, nose and toe rings, are generally associated with married women who are given jewelry as Stridhan on their marriage.
Mehndi
In Indian weddings, especially in the North, a special night is celebrated a day before the wedding in which mehndi or henna, a type of paste, is applied on the groom's palm followed by colorful dancing and singing. It is also applied on the palms of women on special occasions like marriage and engagement. This paste is kept for a few hours or overnight and is washed off after it dries completely. This gives a red-brown color to the palm. Mehndi is also a special type of ancient folk art in some parts of India.
People of all types of religions can be found in India, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi. India is a secular country, and every citizen has equal right to choose and follow any religion. More than three-fourth of India's population is Hindu, and you will find Hindu pilgrimage sites in different parts of the country.
In North India you can visit many religious places, such as Vaishno Devi, Amarnath, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Haridwar and Varanasi. In the southern part of the country where you can get the blessings of the Gods are Sabarimala, Sringeri, Dakshineswar Belur Math and Rameswaram. If you are in the North-East, you can visit the Kamarupa Temple situated on the Neelanchal Mountain on the outskirts of Guwahati. If you are roaming around Gujarat and want to know about Lord Krishna, then you must visit Dwarkanath Temple which is built at the place where Mirabai gave up her life. You can also visit Somnath Temple which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
Dargah Sharif in Ajmer in Rajasthan and Dargah of Ajan Pir in Assam are pilgrimage sites for Muslims. There is poa corn in the northeast. It is believed that a faithful Muslim can find here one-fourth of the spiritual knowledge he can attain in Mecca.
Punjab has several pilgrimage sites for Sikhs, such as Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Tarn Taran west of Amritsar, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and Dera Baba Nanak west of Gurdaspur. Hemkund Gurudwara situated at an altitude of 4329 meters is the highest Gurudwara in the world. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh meditated here in the mountains for years and finally left his body here to meet God.
Another famous pilgrimage of Sikhs is Manikaran Gurudwara located in Himachal Pradesh which is famous for its hot springs. It is believed that these springs contain uranium and many radioactive materials. Another holy place of Sikhs is Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Achalnagar Sahib in Maharashtra. In India you will find a large number of churches in every state. If you are in the south, visit Medak Church and Gundala Church in Andhra Pradesh and St. Cruz Church in Kochi, Kerala. North India also has many famous churches, such as St. Joseph's in Uttar Pradesh and Sacred Heart Church in New Delhi. If you are enjoying the valleys of Himachal, you can be blessed by Christ Church and St. Michael's Cathedral in Shimla.
Despite so much diversity in the practice of religion, there is still unity among the people here. These are Indian values, which bind people together.
Worship of Nature
Generally, in India the day starts with Surya Namaskar. In this, people offer water to the Sun and pray by reciting mantras. Indian people worship nature, and this is the unique thing about this culture. In Hindu religion, trees and animals are worshiped like gods. People have faith in God and observe fast on many festivals. They give fresh food in the morning to the cow and the last food at night to the dog. Such generosity is not seen anywhere in the world.
Here in all religions the day starts with bhajans, and these precious values are inculcated in children right from childhood. Morning prayer and moral education are an important part of the education system in India. Here people are not judged on the basis of their caste, color or creed and this is what makes India a unique place to live.
Everything is Artistic here!
One thing that is not found anywhere else in the world except India is the diversity in the performing and visual arts. From roadside shows to highly illuminated plays in the theatre, you will find anything and everything here.
Indian art can be classified into two main forms – performing arts and visual arts.
Fine Arts
Dance, drama, theater and music, each art is unique in itself. Religion, mythology and classical literature form the basis of most performing arts in India:
Dance
Indian classical dances such as Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi and Kuchipudi largely follow cues from Naatya Shastra, Puranas and classical literature and epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Stage
Another type of performing art is theatre. Although folk theater is popular in every language and every region, commercial theater is popular only in large urban areas and metros. Puppet shows were an important part of Indian theatre. For centuries, puppet shows have been used to create public awareness about social issues and inculcate the moral values of truth and honesty in children.
Music
For Indians, music is for the soul and food is for the body. It has dominated the heart and mind of every Indian since the Vedic period. There are basically two types of schools in Indian classical music – Hindustani music and Carnatic music. In classical music, the arrangement of musical notes in ragas is important. Indian villages have their own special type of music which has a flavor of folk culture. People also like the music of Indian films very much.
Movies
Films are another type of performing art for which India is popular across the world. More than 1000 films are made in the country every year, which are not only popular in the domestic market but also have a good viewership in Asian and European countries. Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali or Marathi, films are made in every language in India. Like Hollywood stars, Indian stars are also liked all over the world.
Visual Arts
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. If you look at sculptures and paintings in India, you cannot help but say that beauty is in the hands of Indian artists.
Picture
The history of India in painting figures prominently in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Buddhist manuscripts on palm leaves and Jain texts. Be it the free form paintings of Ajanta or leaf paintings or glass paintings, India has always been famous for such visual arts. The creativity and use of colors in Indian painting has always been unique and beautiful. Indian artists, keeping their culture and tradition in mind, assimilate the qualities of other European artists and give Indian painting a contemporary look with a traditional touch. Famous painting schools of India include Rajput, Deccan, Kangra and Mughal.
Sculptures
From the Chola dynasty to the present day, India has been on top in sculpture, among other mediums of visual arts. Kanchipuram, Deccan Temple of Madurai and Rameswaram, Sun Temple of Odisha and Khajuraho of Madhya Pradesh, all these holy places are magnificent examples of craftsmanship of Indian artists. The sculptures of the Sanchi Stupa throw light on the life of Buddha and various folk deities. The sculptures at Amaravati and Nagarjanghonda show the social life of Buddha and his counterparts with architectural touches. The temples of Ellora and Elephanta caves are special examples of the mastery of Indian sculptures. Flora and fauna, gods and various mythological characters, all these together form the basis of the design of all these beautiful visual arts.
Potter
A very ancient and beautiful visual art in India is that of pottery. In this art form, lumps of clay are shaped with hands to make toys and deities for worship. Terracotta and Blue Gauge are the famous pottery in India. Pottery also has a lot of religious importance. The beautiful idols of Maa Durga and Lord Ganesha on Durga Puja and Ganesh Chaturthi showcase the confluence of pottery, sculpture and painting.
Ready to celebrate!
The ‘Land of Gods’ does not need any special reason to celebrate. Festivals are a fundamental part of every Indian's life.
Fairs and Festivals
There is a special festival or fair every month from January to December. Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchami, Holi, Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Diwali, Eid, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Guru Parab and Christmas, the festivals of every religion have their own significance and are celebrated with great pomp.
Here people do not need a floor to dance. The real talent of dance of Indians is seen during Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtami and Holi.
Not only this, but this country also organizes handicraft fairs at special intervals. Every year in February, Suraj Kund fair is organized in Haryana in which a large number of general public and foreign tourists participate. You can see the real India in such fairs and festivals. These theme fairs and festivals unite the country. These give people a chance to know about each other's culture and traditions and their active participation also shows how much they like to know about each other.
There is not just one type of food here.
Due to there being many states and many religions, the number of dishes here is also very large. If North India has Chole Bhature, Tandoori Chicken, Rajma Rice, Kadhi Rice, Dhokla, Dal Bati Churma and Biryani, then South India is also not behind in this race. From masala dosa to rava uttapam, rasam, sambar-lemon rice and toran, appam and meen, South Indian cuisine has a wide variety.
The concept of thali is also very famous in India. Thali is served traditionally and allows you to enjoy variety in one meal. Thali is the cheapest way to have a full meal in a small restaurant. If you go to a hotel, you can also enjoy many types of combo meals.
There are many types of Indian spices, such as black pepper, coriander seeds, cardamom, saffron and cumin, which not only enhance the taste of food but also add nutrition to it. Indian food is incomplete if there is no sweet at the end of the meal. Be it a bowl of kheer or small sweet paan etc., it fills the mouth with both sweetness and freshness.
Despite so much diversity, people in India are united and feel proud of their culture and tradition. Be it international film festivals or beauty pageants, India has showcased talent and culture on the world stage. Many rulers came here but could not harm its culture and Indians have preserved their cultural values. Indian culture is modern and acceptable due to its flexibility and keeping up with the times.
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