Short Essay on Diversity in Indian Culture

7/24/2019 Short Essay on Diversity in Indian Culture

1/36

Short essay on diversity in Indian CultureSROUTI MODHA

Advertisements:

India is a land of diversity in race, region, caste, language, mate, landform, flora and fauna and so on. From ancient time till day India has repaintained thisdiversity from very ancient time. Mature has shaped the country so. Rightly this land has been termed as "the epitome of the world." The fundamentaldiversity in India is gleaned from the following.

Geographical Diversity:

India is a vast country with great diversity of physical features. Certain parts in India are so fertile that they are counted amongst the most fertile regions ofthe world while other are so unproductive and barren that hardly anything car be grown there.

The regions of Indo !angetic alley belong to the first category, while certain area of Ra#asthan falls under the later category. From the point of view ofclimate, there is sharp contrast. $s Minoo Massami has said that, "India has every variety of climates from the bla%ing heat of the plains, as hot in places ashottest $frica&acobabad in 'indh to free%ing point (the $rctic cold of the )imalayas*.

The )imalayan ranges which are always covered with snow are very cold while the deserts of Ra#asthan are well +nown for their heat. The country also doesnot get uniform rainfall. There are certain areas li+e Cherapun#i in $ssam which get almost -" of rain fall per year which is considered to be world/shighest record on the other hand, 'indh and Ra#asthan get hardly 0 inches of rainfall per-year. This variety in climate has also contributed to a variety of floraand fauna. In fact, India possesses richest variety of plants and animals +nown in the world.

Racial Diversity:

India possesses a rich variety of races. In view of this variety 1rof. .$. 'mith says, "From the human point of view India has been often described as anethnological 2r racial museum in which numberless races of man+ind may be steadied."

"The vast population of India consists of the #ungles tribe ()ence 3hils, 4ols, 'anthals*, the !ree+s, the 'a+as, the 4ushanas, the )unas, the Mongolians, the$rabs, the Tur+s, the $fghans etc. The physical features and color of the Indian people also differ from region to region 5hile the people of 4ashmir arehandsome and fair in comple6ion, these 7ualities are missing among the habitants of $ssam.

Linguistic Diversity:

India not only possesses racial diversity but also linguistic diversity It is said that almost languages are spo+en in India. 'ome of the prominentlanguage recogni%ed by the constitution includes, $ssamese 3engali, !u#r+ti, )indi, 4annad, 4ashmiri, and Malayalam. Marathi, 8r 1un#abi, 'ans+rit,'indhi, Terrill, Telgu and 9rdu. In fact it is commonly believed that in India the language changes after every four +oo+s. There is not only variety oflanguages but also variety of scripts in India some of the popular scripts in ancient times were 1ali, 4harosthi 2evnagri, etc. 5hat is really stri+ing is thatalmost all these language possess their own literature which differ a great deal from each other

Religious and social Diversity:

In the religious sphere also India possesses great diversity. $lmost all the principal religions of the world li+e 3rahmanism, 3uddhism, &ainism, Islam andChristianity are found here. Most of these religions are further subdivided into various sects and divisions.

For e6ample, 3uddhism is divided into )inayana and Mahayana: the &ainism is divided into 2igambaras and 'eptembers and the 3rahmanism is divided

into the aishnavas, 'hivas, 'ha+tis, 3rahmo 'ama#, $rya 'ama# etc. In addition the primitive men have their own peculiar cults which are 7uite distinctfrom these ma#or religions. Thus we can say India possess completely diversity on religious sphere.

In the social sphere also the general customs and manners of the people greatly di fferent. 1eople of different regions use different types of dresses. Theireating habits and customs are also 7uite different. Certain people are 7uite civili%ed while other are yet bac+ward in their customs. Thus we find asRadha+umud Mu+her#ee has put it, "India is a museum of cults and customs, creeds and cultures, faiths and tongues, racial types and social systems.

Political Diversity:

The diversity in culture, races, language, religion etc. greatly stood in the way of political unity in India. $s a result from the earliest times, India has beendivided into several independent principalities. The rulers of these principalities were always engaged in wars with each other for supremacy. This disunityand friction was fully e6ploited by the foreign invaders to bring India under their sub#ugation.

;o doubt certain rulers li+e Chandra !upta Maurya, $sho+a, 'amudra !upta, $la ud din 4hili#i and $+bar had sub#ugated these principalities andestablished strong empire but they were only handful of the rulers who could accomplish it. For most of the time India presented the spectacle of a dividedcountry.


2/36

Culture of India

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation,search

The culture of Indiais the way of living of the people of India. India's languages, religions,dance, music, architecture,food,and customs differ from place to place within the country.The Indian culture, often laelled as an amalgamation of several cultures, spans across theIndian sucontinentand has een influenced y a history that is several millennia old.!"#!$#%any elements of India's diverse cultures, such as Indian religions,Indian philosophyandIndian cuisine, have had a profound impact across the world.

Contents

!hide#

" &ulture

$ eligions

o $." (hilosophy

) Family structure and marriage

o )." *rranged marriage

o ).$ Wedding rituals

+ reetings

- Festivals

*nimals

/ &uisine

0 &lothing

1 2anguages and literature

o 1." 3istory

o 1.$ 4pics

"5 (erforming arts

o "5." 6ance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#mw-headhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#mw-headhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#p-searchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religions_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-John_Keay_2011-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Mohammada.2C_Malika_2007-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Religionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Family_structure_and_marriagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Arranged_marriagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Wedding_ritualshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Greetingshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Festivalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Animalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Clothinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Languages_and_literaturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Epicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Performing_artshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#p-searchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religions_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-John_Keay_2011-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Mohammada.2C_Malika_2007-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Religionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Family_structure_and_marriagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Arranged_marriagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Wedding_ritualshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Greetingshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Festivalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Animalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Clothinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Languages_and_literaturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Epicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Performing_artshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#Dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#mw-head


3/36

o "5.$ 6rama and theatre

o "5.) %usic

"" 7isual arts

o ""." (ainting

o "".$ 8culpture

o "".) *rchitecture

"$ 8ports and martial arts

o "$." 8ports

o "$.$ Indian martial arts

") (opular media

o ")." Television

o ").$ &inema

"+ (erceptions of Indian culture

"- 8ee also

" eferences

"/ Further reading

"0 49ternal links

Culture[edit]

India is one of the world's oldest civilisations.!)#The Indian culture, often laeled as anamalgamation of several various cultures, spans across theIndian sucontinentand has eeninfluenced and shaped y a history that is several thousand years old.!"#!$#Throughout thehistory of India, Indian culture has een heavily influenced y6harmicreligions.!+#They have

een credited with shaping much of Indianphilosophy,literature, architecture,artandmusic.!-#reater Indiawas the historical e9tent of Indian culture eyond the Indian sucontinent.This particularly concerns the spread of 3induism,uddhism, architecture,administrationand writing systemfrom India to other parts of *siathrough the 8ilk oady the travellersand maritime traders during the early centuries of the &ommon 4ra.!#!/#To the west, reaterIndiaoverlaps with reater (ersiain the 3indu ;ushand (amir %ountains.!0#6uring themedieval period, Islamplayed a significant role in shaping Indian cultural heritage!1#


4/36

centuries, there has een significant integration of3indus,Jains,and8ikhswith%uslimsacross India!"5#!""#

Religions[edit]

*artiritual in 3indu worship

&lose=up of a statue depicting %aitreyaat the Thikse %onastery in 2adakh, India. Indianreligions, such as 3induismand uddhism, are indigenous to India.!"$#

Main articles:Religion in India,Hinduism,ramana,Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhsim,Islam,ChristianityandIrreligion in India

India is the irthplace of 3induism, uddhism, Jainismand 8ikhism, collectively known as

Indian religions.!")#

Indian religions are a ma>or form of world religions along with *rahamicones. Today, 3induism and uddhism are the world's third and fourth=largest religionsrespectively, with over $ illion followers altogether,!"+#!"-#!"#and possily as many as $.- or $.

illion followers.!"+#!"/#

Indiais one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeplyreligious societies and cultures. eligion plays a central and definitive role in the life of manyof its people.

*ccording to the $5"" census, 05? of thepopulation of Indiapractice 3induism. Islam@"+.$?A, &hristianity@$.)?A, 8ikhism@"./?A, uddhism@5./?A and Jainism@5.+?A are the

other ma>or religions followed y the people of India.!"0#%any trial religions, such as8arnaism, are found in India, though these have een affected y ma>or religions such as
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Dunn-10https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Tharoor-11https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aartihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_worshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-12https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhsimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-googleil-14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-15https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-16https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-googleil-14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-17https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-indiareligion2011-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-indiareligion2011-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_religions_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnaismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Dunn-10https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Tharoor-11https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aartihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_worshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-12https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhsimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-googleil-14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-15https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-16https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-googleil-14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-17https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-indiareligion2011-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_religions_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnaism


5/36

3induism, uddhism, Islam and &hristianity.!"1#Jainism, Boroastrianism, Judaism, and theahC'D Faithare also influential ut their numers are smaller.!"1#*theismand agnosticsalsohave visile influence in India, along with a self=ascried tolerance to other faiths.!"1#

*theismand agnosticismhave a long history in India and flourished withinEramana

movement. The Crkaschool originated in India around the th century &4.!$5#!$"#It is oneof the earliest form of materialisticand atheisticmovement in ancient India.!$$#!$)#8ramana,uddhism,Jainism, G>Hvikaand some schools of 3induismconsider atheism to e valid andre>ect the concept ofcreator deity, ritualismand superstitions.!$+#!$-#!$#India has produced somenotale atheist politiciansand social reformers.!$/#*ccording to the $5"$ WI=allup loalInde9 of eligion and *theism report, 0"? of Indians were religious, ")? were not religious,)? were convinced atheists, and )? were unsure or did not respond.!$0#!$1#

Philosophy[edit]

Indian philosophy comprises the philosophical traditions of the Indian sucontinent. Thereare si9 schools of orthodo9 3indu philosophyyaya, 7aisheshika, 8amkhya,Koga,%HmLmsLand 7edantaand four heterodo9schoolsJain, uddhist, G>Hvikaand&LrvLkaMlast two are also schools of 3induism.!)5#!)"#3owever, there are other methods of classificationN7idyaranyafor instance identifies si9teen schools of Indian philosophy y including thosethat elong to the Eaivaand aseOvaratraditions.!)$#8incemedieval India@ca."555M"-55A,schools of Indian philosophical thought have een classified y the rahmanical tradition!))#!)+#

as either orthodo9 or non=orthodo9 M Lstika or nLstikaM depending on whether they regardthe 7edasas an infallile source of knowledge.!$1#

The main schools of Indian philosophy were formalised chiefly etween "555 &4 to the

early centuries of the &ommon 4ra.*ccording to philosopher 8arvepalli adhakrishnan, theearliest of these, which date ack to the composition of the Ppanishadsin the later 7edicperiod @"555M-55 &4A, constitute Qthe earliest philosophical compositions of the world.Q!)-#&ompetition and integration etween the various schools was intense during their formativeyears, especially etween 055 &4 and $55 &4. 8ome schools like Jainism, uddhism, Eaivaand *dvaita 7edantasurvived, ut others, like 8amkhyaand G>Hvika, did notN they wereeither assimilated or went e9tinct. 8useRuent centuries produced commentaries andreformulations continuing up to as late as the $5th century who gave contemporary meaningto traditional philosophy. 8ome of them were 8wami 7ivekananda,am %ohan oy,8wami6ayananda 8araswatiand among others.!)#

Family structure and marriage[edit]

* ride during a traditional 3indu wedding ceremonyin (un>a.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD_Faithhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C4%81rv%C4%81kahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-21https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-21https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-22https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-22https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-vvraman-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sramanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator_deity#Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator_deity#Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstitionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-wayoflife-24https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-wayoflife-24https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Joshi-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-moor-26https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-secularism-27https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-secularism-27https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheisthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-gallup2012-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-World_Religions_p._259-29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyayahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisheshikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_(philosophy)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_(philosophy)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%ABm%C4%81%E1%B9%83s%C4%81https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%ABm%C4%81%E1%B9%83s%C4%81https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%ABm%C4%81%E1%B9%83s%C4%81https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedantahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C4%81rv%C4%81kahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C4%81rv%C4%81kahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-31https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-31https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidyaranyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidyaranyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rase%C5%9Bvarahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rase%C5%9Bvarahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-cowell-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-FOOTNOTENicholson2010-33https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Chatterjee_and_Datta.2C_p._5-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80stika_and_n%C4%81stikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-World_Religions_p._259-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Erahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Erahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarvepalli_Radhakrishnanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishadshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishadshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_period#Later_Vedic_period_.281000.E2.80.93500_BCE.29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_period#Later_Vedic_period_.281000.E2.80.93500_BCE.29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-35https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-35https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedantahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekanandahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Mohan_Royhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Mohan_Royhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Mohan_Royhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Dayananda_Saraswatihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Dayananda_Saraswatihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-FOOTNOTEClarke2006209-36https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD_Faithhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-fcrel-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C4%81rv%C4%81kahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-21https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-22https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-vvraman-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sramanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator_deity#Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstitionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-wayoflife-24https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Joshi-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-moor-26https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-secularism-27https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheisthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-gallup2012-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-World_Religions_p._259-29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyayahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisheshikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_(philosophy)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%ABm%C4%81%E1%B9%83s%C4%81https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedantahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C4%81rv%C4%81kahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-31https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidyaranyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rase%C5%9Bvarahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-cowell-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-FOOTNOTENicholson2010-33https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Chatterjee_and_Datta.2C_p._5-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80stika_and_n%C4%81stikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-World_Religions_p._259-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Erahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarvepalli_Radhakrishnanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishadshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_period#Later_Vedic_period_.281000.E2.80.93500_BCE.29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_period#Later_Vedic_period_.281000.E2.80.93500_BCE.29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-35https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedantahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvikahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekanandahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Mohan_Royhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Dayananda_Saraswatihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Dayananda_Saraswatihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-FOOTNOTEClarke2006209-36https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_India


6/36

For generations, India has a prevailing tradition of the >oint family system. It is a systemunder which e9tended memers of a family M parents, children, the children's spouses andtheir offspring, etc. M live together. Psually, the oldest male memer is the head in the >ointIndian family system. 3e mostly makes all important decisions and rules, and other familymemers are likely aide y them. !)/#

In a "1 study, ewelery and household goods that a ride could control throughout her life.!++#3istorically, inmost families the inheritance of family estates passed down the male line. 8ince "1-, Indianlaws treat males and females as eRual in matters of inheritance without a legal will. !+-#Indiansare increasingly using a legal will for inheritance and property succession, with aout $5

percent using a legal will y $55+.!+#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-rs1-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-rs1-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-rs1-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-rs1-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46


7/36

In India, the divorce rate is low "? compared with aout +5? in the Pnited 8tates.!+/#!+0#These statistics do not reflect a complete picture, though. There is a dearth of scientificsurveys or studies on Indian marriages where the perspectives of oth husands and wiveswere solicited in=depth. 8ample surveys suggest the issues with marriages in India are similarto trends oserved elsewhere in the world. The divorce rates are rising in India. Pran

divorce rates are much higher. Women initiate aout 05 percent of divorces in India.!+1#

Qeeet al. surveyed +",--+ households across ))states and union territoriesin Indiain $55-. They find that the marriage trends in India are similar to trends oservedover last +5 years in &hina, Japan and other nations.!-"#The study found that fewer marriagesare purely arranged without consent and that the ma>ority of surveyed Indian marriages are

arranged with consent. The percentage of self=arranged marriages @called love marriages inIndiaA were also increasing, particularly in the uran parts of India.!-$#

Wedding rituals[edit]

* 3indu wedding ritual in progress. The ride and the groom are seated together, receivinginstructions from the priest. The sacred sRuare fire container @ya#nakundA is ehind the priest.

Weddings are festive occasions in India with e9tensive decorations, colors, music, dance,costumes and rituals that depend on the religion of the ride and the groom, as well as their

preferences.!-)#The nation celerates aout "5 million weddings per year,!-+#of which over05? are 3indu weddings.

While there are many festival=related rituals in 3induism, iaha@weddingA is the moste9tensive personal ritual an adult 3indu undertakes in his or her life.!--#!-#Typical 3indufamilies spend significant effort and financial resources to prepare and celerate weddings.The rituals and process of a 3indu wedding vary depending on region of India, localadaptations, resources of the family and preferences of the ride and the groom. evertheless,there are a few key ritualscommon in3indu weddings=$anyadaan,%anigrahana, andSa&ta&adiN these are respectively, gifting away of daughter y the father, voluntarily holdinghand near the fire to signify impending union, and taking seven steps efore fire with eachstep including a set of mutual vows. *fter the seventh step and vows of Sa&ta&adi, the coupleis legally husand and wife.!-#!-/#!-0#8ikhs get married through a ceremony called *nand ;ara>.

The couple walk around the holy ook, the uru ranth 8ahi four times. Indian %uslimscelerate a traditional Islamic weddingfollowing customs similar to those practiced in the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-48https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-48https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banerjeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-51https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-52https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajnahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ft2008-53https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-54https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-rjb1969-55https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-jgl2001-56https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Main_ritualshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Main_ritualshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Saptapadi_-_Short_Formhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-jgl2001-56https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-57https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-prabhu2011-58https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_marital_practices#Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-48https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banerjeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-51https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-52https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajnahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ft2008-53https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-54https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-rjb1969-55https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-jgl2001-56https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Main_ritualshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_weddinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding#Saptapadi_-_Short_Formhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-jgl2001-56https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-57https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-prabhu2011-58https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_marital_practices#India


8/36

%iddle 4ast. The rituals include'ikah, payment of financial dower calledMahry thegroom to the ride, signing of marriage contract, and a reception.!-1#Indian &hristianweddingsfollow customs similar to those practiced in the &hristian countries in the West instates like oa ut have more Indian customs in other states.

Greetings[edit]

Main article:'amaste

(ressing hands together with a smile to greet amaste = a common cultural practice in India.

'amaste(Sanskrit),'amaskar(Hindi), Juharamaskar in


9/36

With India's cultural diversity, the country has more festivals than there are days in a year.With little lamps and lot of care, ;arthigaifestival celerates the ond etween sisters and

rothers in south India. In other parts of India, haiya=6hu>and aakhiis celerated. 8isterswish their rothers happiness and feed them sweets, while rothers give gifts and promise to

protect their sisters.

*ove children en>oying 3oli, the Qfestival of coloursQ. It is a ma>or Indian festivalcelerated every spring. In autumn, one of the ma>or festivals is 6iwali, the festival of lights.

*tug of war, at (ushkar Fair in a>asthan.Main article:-estials in India

India, eing a multi=cultural and multi=religious society, celerates holidays and festivals ofvarious religions. The three national holidays in India, the Independence 6ay,the epulic

6ayand the andhi Jayanti,are celerated with Seal and enthusiasm across India. Inaddition, many Indian statesand regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religiousand linguistic demographics. (opular religious festivals include the 3indu festivals of

'aratri,.i*ali,Maha Shiratri, /anesh Chaturthi,.urga %u#a,Holi,Ratha01atra, 2gadi,Raksha3andhan, and.ussehra. 8everal harvest festivalssuch as Sankranthi,%ongalandRa#a sankaranti s*inging 4estialQuakhaiQ are also fairly popular.

Indian ew year festival are celerated in different part of India with uniRue style in differenttimes. Pgadi,ihu, udhi (adwa, (uthandu, 7ishuand 7ishuva 8ankrantiare the ew yearsfestival of different part of India.

&ertain festivals in India are celerated y multiple religions. otale e9amples include6iwali, which is celerated y 3indus, 8ikhs and Jains, andBuddh %urnima, celerated y
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karthikai_Deepamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhau-beejhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raksha_Band_cv_ghan&action=edit&redlink=1https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raksha_Band_cv_ghan&action=edit&redlink=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tug_of_warhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tug_of_warhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivals_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_holidays_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratrihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivratrihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_Pujahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratha-Yatrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshabandhanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_Pujahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_festivalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankranthihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Pongalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Parbahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuakhaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudhi_Padwahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puthanduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishuva_Sankrantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesakhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karthikai_Deepamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhau-beejhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raksha_Band_cv_ghan&action=edit&redlink=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tug_of_warhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivals_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_holidays_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratrihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivratrihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_Pujahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratha-Yatrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshabandhanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_Pujahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_festivalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankranthihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Pongalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Parbahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuakhaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudhi_Padwahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puthanduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishuva_Sankrantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak


10/36

uddhists. 8ikh Festivals, such as /uru 'anak Jayanti,Baisakhiare celerated with fullfanfare y 8ikhs and 3indu. *dding colours to the culture of India, the 6ree Festivalis one ofthe trial festivals of India celerated y the *patanis of the Biro valley of *runachal(radesh, which is the easternmost state of India.

Islam in Indiais the second largest religion with over "/$ million %uslims, according toIndia's $5"" census.!"0#The Islamic festivals which are oserved and are declared pulicholiday in India areN 4id ul Fitr,4id ul *dha=@akr 4idA, %ilad un ai, %uharramand8ha=e=arat.!+#8ome of the Indian states have declared regional holiday's for the particularregional popular festivalsN such as *ra'een, Jumu'ah=tul=Widaand 8ha=e=Uadar.

&hristianity is India's third largest religion. With over $) million &hristians, of which "/million are oman &atholics, India is home to many &hristian festivals. The countrycelerates &hristmasand ood Fridayas pulic holidays.!+#

egional and community fairs are also common and festive in India. For e9ample, (ushkar

fair is one of the world's largest markets and 8onepur mela is the largest livestock fair in *sia.!-#

Animals[edit]

&ows depicted in the decoratedgopuramof the ;apaleeshwarar templein &hennai.See also: "ildli4e o4 India,!nimal hus3andry in Indiaand Cattle in religion

The varied and richwildlife of Indiahas had a profound impact on the region's popularculture. &ommon name for wilderness in India is Junglewhich was adopted y the ritish

colonialiststo the 4nglish language. The word has een also made famous in 5he JungleBooky udyard ;ipling. India's wildlife has een the su>ect of numerous other tales andfales such as the%anchatantraand theJataka tales.!#

In 3induism, the cow is regarded as a symol ofahimsa@non=violenceA, mother goddessandringer of good fortune and wealth.!/#For this reason, cows are revered in 3indu culture andfeeding a cow is seen as an act of worship.!0#

*s of January $5"$, cow remains a divisive topic in India. 8everal states of India have passedlaws to protect cows, while many states have no restrictions on the production andconsumption of eef. 8ome groups oppose the utchering of cows, while other Indian groups

are vehement that what kind of meat one eats ought to e a matter of personal choice in ademocracy. %adhya (radeshenacted a law in January $5"$, namely the au=7ansh 7adh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dree_Festivalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-indiareligion2011-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-indiareligion2011-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Fitrhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Fitrhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Adhahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milad_un_Nabihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_of_Muharramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_of_Muharramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Barathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Barathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-64https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arba'eenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumu'ah-tul-Widahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Qadarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fridayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-64https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-64https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-65https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopuramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopuramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopuramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapaleeshwarar_templehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandry_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_in_religionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junglehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialistshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle_Bookhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle_Bookhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kiplinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchatantrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchatantrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jataka_taleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_goddesshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-67https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-68https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-68https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhya_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhya_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayantihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dree_Festivalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-indiareligion2011-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Fitrhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Adhahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milad_un_Nabihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_of_Muharramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Barathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-64https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arba'eenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumu'ah-tul-Widahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Qadarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fridayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-64https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-65https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopuramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapaleeshwarar_templehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandry_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_in_religionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junglehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialistshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle_Bookhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle_Bookhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kiplinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchatantrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jataka_taleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_goddesshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-67https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-68https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh


11/36

(ratishedh @8anshodhanA *ct, which makes cow slaughter a serious offence. u>arat, awestern state of India, has the *nimal (reservation *ct, enacted in


12/36

diversity. Food in India is sometimes served in thali= a plate with rice, read and a selectionof sides. *ove are thali samples.

immatnama=i asiruddin=8hahi @ook of ecipesA, written aout "-55 &.4, documents thefine art of making$heer, a milk ased dessert of India: 8elect the cows carefullyN to getRuality milk, pay attention to what the cows eatN feed them sugar canesN use this milk to makethe est$heer.

;heeris a traditional Indian sweet dish.

Food is an integral part of every human culture. &hang notes that the importance of food inunderstanding human culture lies in its infinite variaility = a variaility that is not essential

for species survival. For survival needs, people everywhere could eat the same and somesimple food.!/$#ut human cultures, over the ages, e9periment, innovate and developsophisticated cuisines. &uisines ecome more than a source of nutrients, they reflect humanknowledge, culture, art and e9pression of love.

Indian food is as diverse as India. Indian cuisines use numerous ingredients, deploy a widerange of food preparation styles, cooking techniRues and culinary presentation. From saladsto sauces, from vegetarian to meat, from spices to sensuous, from reads to desserts, Indiancuisine is invarialy comple9. 3arold %cee, a favourite of many %ichelin=starred chefs,writes Qfor sheer inventiveness with milk itself as the primary ingredient, no country on earthcan match India.Q!/)#

QI travel to India at least three to four times a year. It's always inspirational. There is so muchto learn from India ecause each and every state is a country y itself and each has its owncuisine. There are lots of things to learn aout the different cuisines = it >ust amaSes me. Ikeep my mind open and like to e9plore different places and pick up different influences as Igo along. I don't actually think that there is a single state in India that I haven't visited. ...Indian food is a cosmopolitan cuisine that has so many ingredients. I don't think any cuisinein the world has got so many influences the way that Indian food has. It is a very rich cuisineand is very varied. 4very region in the world has their own sense of how Indian food should

e perceived. Q

6!tul $ochhar, the 4irst Indian to receie t*oMichelin stars!/+#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-72https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-73https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atul_Kochharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atul_Kochharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_starhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_starhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ak1-74https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-72https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-73https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atul_Kochharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_starhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ak1-74


13/36

Q... it takes me ack to the first &hristmas I can rememer, when the grandmother I hadn't yetmet, who was Indian and lived in 4ngland, sent me a o9. For me it still carries the taste ofstrangeness and confusion and wonder.Q

6Harold Mc/ee, author o4 7n -ood and Cooking !/-#

8ome Indian confectionery dessertsfrom hundreds of varieties. In certain parts of India, theseare called mithaior sweets. 8ugar and desserts have a long history in India: y aout -55

&4, people in India had developed the technology to produce sugar crystals. In the locallanguage, these crystals were called khanda@A, which is the source of the word candy.!/#

*ccording to 8an>eev ;apoor, a memer of 8ingapore *irlines' International &ulinary (anel,Indian food has long een an e9pression of world cuisine. ;apoor claims, Qif you looked ackin India's history and study the food that our ancestors ate, you will notice how muchattention was paid to the planning and cooking of a meal. reat thought was given to thete9ture and taste of each dish.Q!//#


14/36

*ra traders to such an e9tent that 4uropean e9plorers, such as 7asco da amaand&hristopher &olumus, set out to find new trade routes with India leading to the!ge o4

.iscoery.!0"#The popularity ofcurry, which originated in India, across *sia has often led tothe dish eing laeled as the Qpan=*sianQ dish.!0$#

egional Indian cuisine continues to evolve. * fusion of 4ast *sian and Western cookingmethods with traditional cuisines, along with regional adaptations of fast food are prominentin ma>or Indian cities.!0)#

Clothing[edit]

Main article: Clothing in India

(un>ai woman dressed traditionally for 'Tee>' festival.

Illustration of different styles of 8ari,agra &holiand 8halwar ;ameeSworn y women inIndia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gamahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-81https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-82https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-83https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=11https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagra_Cholihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagra_Cholihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalwar_Kameezhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gamahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-81https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-82https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-83https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=11https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagra_Cholihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalwar_Kameez


15/36

Traditional clothing in Indiagreatly varies across different parts of the country and isinfluenced y local culture, geography, climate and ruraluran settings. (opular styles ofdress include draped garments such assarifor women anddhotior lungior panche @in;annadaA for men. 8titched clothes are also popular such as churidarorsal*ar0kamee8forwomen, with du&atta@long scarfA thrown over shoulder completing the outfit. 8alwar is often

loose fitting, while churidar is a tighter cut.!0+#For men, stitched versions include kurta=py>amaand 4uropean=style trousers and shirts for men. In uran centres, people can often eseen in >eans, trousers, shirts, suits, kurtas and variety of other fashions.

In pulic and religious places, Indian dress etiRuette discourages e9posure of skin andwearing transparent or tight clothes.!0-#%ost Indian clothes are made from cottonwhich isideal for the region's hot weather.!0#8ince India's weather is mostly hot and rainy, ma>ority ofIndians wear sandals.!0/#

Indian women perfect their sense of charm and fashion with make up and ornaments. indi,mehendi, earrings, angles and other >ewelry are common. , India's large clothing and handicrafts industry was left paralysed so asto make place for ritish industrial cloth. &onseRuently, Indian independence movementleader %ahatma andhisuccessfully advocated for what he termed as khadiclothing lightcoloured hand=woven clothes so as to decrease the reliance of the Indian people on ritishindustrial goods.!1$#The "105s were marked y a widespread modification to Indian clothingfashions which was characterised y a large=scale growth of fashion schools in India,increasing involvement of women in the fashion industry and changing Indian attitudestowards multiculturalism. These developments played a pivotal role in the fusion of Indianand Western clothing styles.!1)#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_dresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_dresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhotihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhotihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhotihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churidarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churidarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mc1-84https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mc1-84https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurtahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajamahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-85https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Kalman-86https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Kalman-86https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Kalman-86https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-87https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindoorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mc1-84https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rig-vedahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-88https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-88https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-89https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_spiceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_spiceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-autogenerated1-90https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-autogenerated1-90https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-91https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-92https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-93https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_dresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhotihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churidarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mc1-84https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurtahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajamahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-85https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Kalman-86https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-87https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindoorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mc1-84https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rig-vedahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-88https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-89https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_spiceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-autogenerated1-90https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-autogenerated1-90https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-91https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-92https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-93


16/36

Languages and literature[edit]

Main article:Indian literature

istory[edit]

2anguage families in India and its neighouring countries. India has $$ official languages M"- of which are Indo=4uropean. The $55" census of India found "$$ first languagesin activeuse. The second map shows the distriution of the Indo=4uropean languages throughout the

world.

Rigeda@padapathaA manuscript in6evanagari, early "1th century. *fter a scrialenediction @9rgan;9yanamah


17/36

2iterary records suggest India had interacted in languages of other ancient civilisations. Thisinscription is from Indian emperor *shoka, carved in stone aout $-5 &4, found in*fghanistan. Inscriptions are in reekand *ramaic,with ideas of non=violence against menand all living eings, as the doctrine of4useeia= spiritual maturity.

umerous words from India entered4nglish vocaulary during theritish colonial era.!1+#!1-#49amples:

andana,angles,ungalowandshampoo.

The 8anskrit language, whatever e its antiRuity, is of a wonderful structureN more perfectthan the reek, more copious than the 2atin, and more e9Ruisitely refined than either, yet

earing to oth of them a stronger affinity, oth in the roots of vers and the forms ofgrammar, than could possily have een produced y accidentN so strong indeed, that no

philologer could e9amine them all three, without elieving them to have sprung fromsomecommon source, which, perhaps, no longer e9istsN there is a similar reason, though not Ruiteso forcile, for supposing that oth the othic and the &eltic, though lended with a verydifferent idiom, had the same origin with the 8anskrit ...

6 Sir "illiam Jones, ?@A!1#

The igvedic8anskritis one of the oldest attestations of any Indo=*ryan language, and oneof the earliest attested memers of theIndo=4uropean language family.The discovery of8anskrit y early 4uropean e9plorers of India led to the development of comparative(hilology. The scholars of the "0th century were struck y the far reaching similarity of8anskrit, oth in grammar and vocaulary, to the classical languages of 4urope. Intensivescientific studies that followed have estalished that 8anskrit and many Indian derivativelanguages elong to the family which includes 4nglish, erman, French, Italian, 8panish,&eltic, reek, altic, *rmenian, (ersian, Tocharian and other Indo=4uropean languages.!1/#

The evolution of language within India may e distinguished over three periods: old, middleand modern Indo=*ryan. The classical form of old Indo=*ryan wassanskritmeaning
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashokahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebeiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebeiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-94https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-95https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-95https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banglehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banglehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungalowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungalowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shampoohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-jones-96https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigvedahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Aryan_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_language_familyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_language_familyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_language_familyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-burrow1-97https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashokahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebeiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-94https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-95https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banglehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungalowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shampoohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-jones-96https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigvedahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Aryan_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_language_familyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-burrow1-97


18/36

polished, cultivated and correct, in distinction to%rakrit= the practical language of themigrating masses evolving without concern to proper pronunciation or grammar, the structureof language changing as those masses mingled, settled new lands and adopted words from

people of other native languages.%rakritaecame middle Indo=*ryan leading to%ali@thelanguage of early uddhists and *shoka era in $55=)55 &4A,%rakrit@the language of Jain

philosophersA and!&a3hramsa@the language lend at the final stage of middle Indo=*ryanA.It is!&a3hramsa, scholars claim,!1/#that flowered into 3indi, u>arati, engali, %arathi,(un>ai and many other languages now in use in India's north, east and west. *ll of theseIndian languages have roots and structure similar to 8anskrit, to each other and to other Indo=4uropean languages. Thus we have in India three thousand years of continuous linguistichistory recorded and preserved in literary documents. This enales scholars to followlanguage evolution and oserve how, y changes hardly noticeale from generation togeneration, an original language alters into descendant languages that are now arelyrecognisale as the same.!1/#

8anskrit has had a profound impact on the languages and literature of India.3indi, India's

most spoken language, is a Q8anskritised registerQ of the ;harioli dialect. In addition, allmodern Indo=*ryan languages, %unda languagesand 6ravidian languages, have orrowedmany words either directly from 8anskrit @tatsamawordsA, or indirectly via middle Indo=*ryan languages @tad3haawordsA.!10#Words originating in 8anskrit are estimated toconstitute roughly fifty percent of the vocaulary of modern Indo=*ryan languages,!11#and theliterary forms of @6ravidianA Telugu, %alayalamand ;annada. Tamil, although to a slightlysmaller e9tent, has also een significantly influenced y 8anskrit.!10#(art of the 4astern Indo=*ryan languages, theengali languagearose from the eastern%iddle Indic languagesand itsroots are traced to the -th=century &4*rdhamagadhilanguage.!"55#!"5"#

3indiis mutually intelligile with Prdu, oth languages eing standardised registers of3industani. Prdu is generally associated with 8outh *sian %uslims. The main difference

etween the two is that 3indi is generally written in the6evanagariscript, whilst Prdu iswritten inastaliR, ut, when spoken colloRuially, oth are mutually intelligile. %utualintelligiility decreases, however, in specialised conte9ts where Prdu has orrowed wordsfrom (ersian and *raic, whilst 3indi has done so from 8anskrit and 4nglish.

Tamil, one of India's ma>or classical language, descends from (roto=6ravidianlanguagesspoken around the third millennium &4 in peninsular India. The earliest inscriptions ofTamil have een found on pottery dating ack to -55 &. Tamil literaturehas e9isted for overtwo thousand years!"5$#and the earliest epigraphicrecords found date from around the )rd

century &4.!"5)#

Telugu, one of India's ma>or classical language, descends from 8outh=&entral 6ravidianlanguage spoken around the third millennium &4 in all over south India. 4arly inscriptionsdate from $5 *6 and literary te9ts from the ""th century, written in a Telugu script adaptedfrom the hattiprolu script of the early inscriptions.

*nother ma>or &lassical 6ravidian language, ;annadais attested epigraphically from themid="st millennium *6, and literary


19/36

*shoka rock edictfound at rahmagiri@dated $)5 &4A has een suggested to contain aword in identifiale ;annada.!"50#

or wave of humans possily enteredIndia, long ago, through the northeast, along with trial populations of Tieto=urmanorigins. enome studies of Fstdistances suggest the northeastern 3imalayas acted as a

arrier, in the last -555 years, to human migration as well as to admi9ing. 2anguages spokenin this part of India include *ustro=*siatic @e.g.$hasiA and Tieto=urman @e.g.'ishiA.!""$#!"")#!""+#!""-#!""#

%anuscript illustration of the attle of ;urukshetra.

*ccording to the $55" and $5"" India census, 3indi is the most spoken language in India,followed y engali, Telugu, %arathi, Tamil and Prdu.!""/#In contemporary Indian literature,there are two ma>or literary awardsN these are the8ahitya *kademi Fellowshipand theJnanpith *ward. 4ight Jnanpith awards have een awarded in ;annada, si9 in 3indi, five inengali,four in arati, Prduand Telugu andtwo each in *ssamese,and Tamil.

!pics[edit]

The LmLyanaand the %ahLhLrataare the oldest preserved and well=known epics of India.7ersions have een adopted as the epics of 8outheast *sian countries like (hilippines,Thailand, %alaysia and Indonesia. The amayana consists of $+,555 verses in seven ooks@kndasA and -55 cantos@sargasA,!""0#and tells the story of ama @an incarnation or*vatarofthe 3indu preserver=god 7ishnuA, whose wife 8itais aducted y thedemonking of2anka,avana. This epic played a pivotal role in estalishing the role of dhCrmaas a principal idealguiding force for 3indu way of life.!""1#The earliest parts of the %ahaharata te9t date to +55&!""1#and is estimated to have reached its final form y the earlyupta period@c. +th century*6A.!"$5#or epics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka_rock_edicthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka_rock_edicthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmagiri_archaeological_sitehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-isila-108https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odia_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-109https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-110https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-111https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixation_indexhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-nature.com-112https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-113https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-114https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-115https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-w1-116https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kurukshetrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kurukshetrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathi_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-117https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-117https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahitya_Akademi_Fellowshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahitya_Akademi_Fellowshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahitya_Akademi_Fellowshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jnanpith_Awardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odia_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarati_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarati_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-118https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-118https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-118https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Brockington-119https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Brockington-119https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupta_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupta_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-120https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-120https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramavataramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramacharitamanasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunchaththu_Ramanujan_Ezhuthachanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka_rock_edicthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmagiri_archaeological_sitehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-isila-108https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odia_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-109https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-110https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-111https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixation_indexhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-nature.com-112https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-113https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-114https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-115https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-w1-116https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kurukshetrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathi_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-117https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahitya_Akademi_Fellowshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jnanpith_Awardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odia_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarati_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-118https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Brockington-119https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-Brockington-119https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupta_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-120https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramavataramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramacharitamanasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunchaththu_Ramanujan_Ezhuthachan


20/36

in the classical Tamil language Sila&&atikaram,Manimekalai, Ciaka0cintamaniand7alayapathi=kundalakesi.

Performing arts[edit]

;uchipudi


21/36

"ance[edit]

Main article:.ance in India

2et drama and dance @Ltya, A e the fifth vedic scripture. &omined with an epic story,

tending to virtue, wealth, >oy and spiritual freedom, it must contain the significance of everyscripture, and forward every art.

6 -irst cha&ter o4 'tya9stra, sometime 3et*een DDBC 0 DD!.!"$"#!"$$#

Sattriyadancer ;rishnakshi ;ashyap in a traditional Sattriyadance costume made of!ssam%at silkand traditional *ssamese >ewellery:$o&alion the forehead,Muthi $haru@raceletsA,5huka Suna@earringsA and /al&ata, .hul3iri, Jethi&ataandBena@necklacesA. Traditional

$ingkha&motif is used in the main costume with$eshpattern on the order. The$anchior

the waist cloth has the traditionalMirimotif.

India has had a long romance with the art of dance.'tya9stra@8cience of 6anceA and!3hinaya .ar&ana@%irror of estureA are two surviving 8anskrit documents, oth estimatedto e etween "/55 and $$55 years old.!"$$#

The Indian art of dance as taught in these ancient ooks, according to agini 6evi, is thee9pression of inner eauty and the divine in man.!"$)#It is a delierate art, nothing is left tochance, each gesture seeks to communicate the ideas, each facial e9pression the emotions.

Indian danceincludes eight classical dance forms, many in narrative forms with mythological

elements. The eight classical forms accorded classical dance statusy India's'ational!cademy o4 Music, .ance, and .ramaare: 3haratanatyamof the state of Tamil adu,kathakof Pttar (radesh, kathakaliand mohiniattamof ;erala,kuchi&udiof*ndhra (radesh,

yakshaganaof ;arnataka,mani&uriof%anipur, odissi(orissi)of the state of aN the 3ihuof *ssamN theSeliang ofagalandN the chhauof Jharkhandand engalN thehumura 6ance,otipua,%ahari danceand 6alkhaiof at=>atin, nat=natin and saturi of iharN theghoomarof a>asthanN the dandiyaandgar3aof u>aratN the kolattam of *ndhra (radeshN theyakshaganaof ;arnataka N laaniof%aharashtraN.ekhnniof oa. ecent developments include adoption of international dance
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=16https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-121https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mog17-122https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_silkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_silkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mog17-122https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mog17-122https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-123https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_classical_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeet_Natak_Academihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeet_Natak_Academihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeet_Natak_Academihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatanatyamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatanatyamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohiniattamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohiniattamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuchipudihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshaganahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshaganahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnatakahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipuri_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipuri_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odissihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattriya_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-124https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-125https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_folk_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangra_(dance)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangra_(dance)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_regionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagalandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhau_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharkhandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharkhandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghumura_Dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghumura_Dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotipuahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotipuahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotipuahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahari_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalkhaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoomarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandiyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garba_(dance)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshaganahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshaganahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavanihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekhnnihttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=16https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-121https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mog17-122https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_silkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_silkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-mog17-122https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-123https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_classical_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeet_Natak_Academihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangeet_Natak_Academihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatanatyamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohiniattamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuchipudihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshaganahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnatakahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipuri_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odissihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattriya_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-124https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-125https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_folk_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangra_(dance)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_regionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagalandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhau_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharkhandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghumura_Dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotipuahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahari_dancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalkhaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoomarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandiyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garba_(dance)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakshaganahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavanihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekhnni


22/36

forms particularly in the uran centres of India, and the e9tension of Indian classical dancearts y the ;erala &hristian community, to tell stories from the ile.!"$#

"rama and theatre[edit]

Main article: 5heatre in India

Indian drama and theatre has a long history alongside its music and dance. ;alidasa's playslike 8hakuntalaand %eghadootaare some of the older dramas, following those of hasa.


23/36

Images of musical instruments drawn y (ierre 8onnerat, the French e9plorer, in "/0$ duringhis voyage through India.

Main article:Music o4 India

%usic is an integral part of India's culture.atyasastra, a $555=year=old 8anskrit te9t,

descries five systems of ta9onomy to classify musical instruments.!")5#


24/36

The Jataka talesfrom *>anta &aves.

&ave paintings from *>anta, agh,4lloraand 8ittanavasaland temple paintings testify to alove of naturalism. %ost early and medieval art in India is 3indu, uddhist or Jain. * freshlymade coloured floor design @angoliA is still a common sight outside the doorstep of many

@mostly 8outh IndianA Indian homes. a>a avi 7armais one of the classical painters frommedieval India.

(attachitra,%adhuani painting,%ysore painting,a>put painting, Tan>ore painting,%ughalpaintingare some notale enres of Indian *rtN whileandalal ose, %. F. 3usain,8. 3.aSa, eeta 7adhera, Jamini oyand . 7enkatappa!")#are some modern painters. *mongthe present day artists, *tul 6odiya, ose ;rishnamacnahri, 6eva>yoti ayand 8hiu

atesan represent a new era of Indian art where gloal art shows direct amalgamation withIndian classical styles. These recent artists have acRuired international recognition. Jehangir*rt allery, %umai, %ysore (alacehas on display a few good Indian paintings.

%culpture[edit]

The -th=century uddhist ishaka

Documents

Short Essay on Diversity in Indian Culture