10 Customs and Traditions in Indian Culture www.deekpay.com

Indian cultureFull of unique customs and traditions waiting to be explored. India The 28 states and 7 districts vary greatly in these cultural aspects, many of which have their roots in ancient Indian scriptures and texts that have paved the way for the Indian way of life for centuries. This article will showcase 10 customs and traditions in Indian culture.

Greetings from India

One of the most favoured customs and traditions in Indian culture is the Hosannas, sometimes referred to as the Hosannas or Hosannas, which translates as "I bow to your inner sanctity". During the coronavirus outbreak, this respectful greeting, goodbye and thank you was widely adopted around the world as an alternative to handshakes and hugs. The gesture is performed by placing the palms of the hands in front of the chest in a prayer position, with the fingers pointing upwards, and bowing gently.

Another popular expression is "Atithi Devo Bhava", a Sanskrit verse from the Hindu scriptures, which translates as "the guest is equal to God". In Indian culture, the guest has always been accorded supreme status.

Families in India

The joint family in India is where the entire family lives together, which may include parents, wife, children and occasionally relatives. The head of the family is the "Karta", the senior male or female who makes economic and social decisions on behalf of the entire family, and other relationships may be equal, respectful or teasing in nature. Income goes into a common pool that benefits all members. Today, economic development and urbanisation have resulted in nuclear families outnumbering joint families.

Arranged marriages are still a strong tradition in India. It dates back to the Vedic era, 1500-1100 BC, when suitable matches from all parts of the kingdom would take part in competitions to win the heart of a royal bride.

Food in India

One of the most popular customs and traditions in Indian culture is food! Each region of India has its own unique cuisine and signature dishes or ingredients. India has one of the best vegetarian cuisines and vegetarian food is mainly concentrated in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Non-vegetarian food features prominently in Bengali, Mughlai, North Indian and Punjabi cuisines, and Kerala, a southern Indian state, is known for its delicious fish dishes.

Although many restaurants provide cutlery for visitors, it is traditional in India to eat with your hands, washing them thoroughly before and after meals and eating with your right hand.

Religion in India

India is a country where people of different religious faiths live in harmony. 79.81 TP3T of the population follow Hinduism, 14.21 TP3T follow Islam, 2.31 TP3T follow Christianity, 1.71 TP3T follow Sikhism, 0.71 TP3T follow Buddhism and 0.41 TP3T follow Jainism.

The bull is a sacred animal in Hindu culture and is depicted in mythology as accompanying several gods, such as Lord Shiva riding his bull Nandi, or Krishna, the cowherd god. The horns represent the gods, the four feet represent the Vedas (ancient Hindu classics), and the udders represent the four goals of life - desire, material wealth, justice and salvation. Eating beef or slaughtering cattle is considered sinful and in some states slaughtering cattle is illegal.

Fasting ("Vrats" or "Upvas") is an important part of Indian culture as a way of thanking the gods and expressing determination and sincerity. It is believed that by abstaining from food, one can purify oneself of sins. Fasting is practised throughout India on different days and on various religious occasions.

Temples in India

Most temples in India have an idol of the main deity with a copper plate called Garbhagriha or Moolasthan underneath that absorbs and resonates underground energies. One of the customs and traditions of Indian culture is to take a bath or shower, or at least wash one's hands and feet, before entering a temple to purify oneself of negative thoughts and evil influences.

Festivals in India

Next on the list of Indian cultural customs and traditions are festivals. There are hundreds of celebrations to experience in India, which means there is something new to celebrate every day. The wide variety of festivals represents India's rich culture and traditions, offering state-wide, religion-based and community-centred festivals.

Hindus celebrate Diwali, Holi and Makar Sakranti, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, Baisakhi (crop harvest) is a Sikh festival, Jains commemorate Mahavya Jayanti, and Buddhists commemorate Buddha's birthday. Christians also celebrate Christmas and Good Friday. Then there are festivals honouring saints, public figures and gurus.

Indian festivals feature ornate idols, lavish processions, specific dishes, dance and music, sacred rituals and vibrant colours. There are also health festivals, yoga festivals and walking festivals. Unlike many festivals around the world, many of the "No Alcohol Days", which prohibit the sale of alcohol, take place on major national festivals and occasions in India.

Clothing in India

Clothing in India depends on the climate, cultural traditions and ethnicity of each region. Both men's and women's clothing has evolved from simple garments that cover the body (sari, wrap, gancha, kopina, rangota, lungi, and wrap) to complex garments used not only for daily wear, but also for festive occasions, rituals, and dance performances.

Indian traditional clothing often showcases the mastery of techniques passed down from generation to generation, including embroidery, embellishments and prints, as well as ornate textiles such as fine silks. Clothing may be worn in specific colours to represent religion or a particular ritual.

Dance in India

India has various forms of dance, which vary from state to state. The Hindu Sanskrit word 'Natyashashtra' (performing arts text) recognises eight Indian classical dances, including Kathak from North, West and Central India, while East India showcases Sattriya from Assam, Manipuri from Manipur and Oddisi from Ortiza. In South India, you can see Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam from Kerala.

Each of these dances has a different legend behind it, and the performers tell stories mostly from mythology through gestures and movements.

Indian folk dances are generally story-based, passed down from generation to generation and popular in rural areas.

Literature of India

India has a number of long-standing literary epics, dating back centuries, in the form of stories, poems, plays and self-help guides. Two of the most famous Hindu epics are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, both of which contain thrilling tales of gods and demons, love and war, chariots and kidnappings. These stories have been told for thousands of years and play an important role in Indian culture.

The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, the legendary prince of the kingdom of Kosala, about his fourteen-year exile to the forest at the urging of his father, King Dasaratha. The Mahabharata is the longest poem written in Sanskrit. Both epics tell the story of the triumph of good over evil and demonstrate the values of devotion, loyalty, sacrifice and truth.

Languages of India

India is a multilingual country. There are more than 19,500 mother tongues, 415 languages in force and 23 constitutionally recognised official languages in India. Hindi is spoken by 41% of the population, especially in the northern regions, and English is spoken as a second language by 12% of Indians.

Many people living in India write in the Sanskrit script, which was developed between the first and fourth centuries. The script has 47 basic characters, 14 vowels and 33 consonants, written from left to right. These characters have a symmetrical circular shape within a square outline and all have the same case form without any capitalisation.