Indian culture is a combination or amalgamation of several cultures.
Beginning with the Indus Valley Civilization and then influenced by history Indian culture has a lot of diversity.
The fundamentals of Indian culture, like philosophy, religion, languages, dance, music, cuisine, mathematics, literature and movies have a deep impact across the world.
Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism, and are all based on the concepts of “Karma and Dharma”.
Ahimsa, the philosophy of nonviolence, is a significant aspect of native Indian faiths. The most well-known advocate of this faith was Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in uniting India during the Indian independence movement. Hence, is he also known as the “Father of the Nation”
Foreign-origin religions, like Judaism, Islam and Christianity have also become a part of Indian culture.
India is a country comprising 28 states and 8 union territories. Each state has its own culture.
India is known for its religious and ethnic diversity.
The oldest preserved and well-known epics of India are the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata.
The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses. It tells the story of Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The Mahabharata has “Bhagwad Gita”. Gita is a holy Hindu book that is actually based on the conversation or knowledge imparted by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.
Both these epics emphasize the role of Dhárma. Dharma is considered the ideal guiding force for the Hindu way of life.
INDIAN TRADITIONS
Traditional Indian clothing also varies greatly across different parts of the country. It is greatly influenced by local culture, climate, geography and rural/urban settings.
The most popular traditional wear is a Saree, worn by women and dhoti or lungi, is worn by men.
Bindi, bangles, Mehendi, earrings, nose rings and other jewellery are worn by Indian women.
Gold, silver or other regional stones and gems are worn on special occasions, such as marriage ceremonies and festivals, as it has their own significance.
Gold has properties that attract wealth, positivity and happiness.
Bindi is worn on their forehead and is an important part of a Hindu woman’s make-up. But with time, the use of bindi is fading.
India is a culmination of many religions,
hence has a vast culture and tradition,
with its own intricacies.
