India is a country which is popular for its rich culture. From the snow-filled mountains in the Himalayas to the oceans in Mangalore, India always gives a great mixture of languages, religions, festivals and customs that are over a million years old. Indian culture has a variety of philosophies, outlined by ancient wisdom. The best thing about Indian culture is its shared traditions and values. Although all the cultures are extremely different in nature, yet we are all very similar when it comes to wishing well for India. We are all united when we are cheering India in sports matches against any other country because at the end of the day, keeping our regional states aside, we are Indians.
Religious Attire
India is known for its unique colors and personalised designs. It has many hidden meanings. For example, Chikankari clothing had started in Lucknow. On these days, women adorn themselves with saris, salwar kameez, churidar with kurti etc. Men commonly wear sherwani or suit or kurta pajama on these kind of days. In modern times, Indian fashion often blends western and old styles known as Indo western but traditional dresses still hold a very special space in Indian society.
The Different Forms of Art
In fact, Indian clothing is closely related to art, music and dance because they are also considered to be a segment of culture. Art, music and dance are a form of storytelling and a way for disciples to dedicate and devote themselves to God. For example, in Tamil Nadu, dancers perform Bharatnatyama. In Uttar Pradesh, Kathak is a very prevalent dance. Other classical dance forms are Mohiniyattam, Odissi, Manipuri and Kuchipudi. When it comes to music, Hindustani music relates to North Indians and Carnatic music relates to South Indians. These two forms of music are the two primary traditional music forms. Other than that, devotional bhajans, folk music and modern film songs are also of good taste.
Indian painting styles like Warli art or Madhubani drawings or Tanjore art showcases the creativity and traditions of various regions. Moreover, it showcases how diverse and cultural India really is, as a country.
Festivities in their Most Prominent Forms
India has such a huge number of festivals that it often is called the land of festivals. Every state celebrates their festivals with so much of enthusiasm as if there is no tomorrow. These festivals are tactfully highlighted with decorations, rituals, praying and most importantly; feasting. Other than being religious occasions where the primary task is praying, they serve as opportunities for relatives to rejoice with each other, for friends to bond merrily with each other and to share their joys. For example, Deepavali is celebrated by Hindus to highlight the return of God Rama to Ayodhya.
Families adorn their homes with lights and decorative items, get their walls repainted and worship God Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi for good luck in business. Holi is also known as the festival of colors and is a major Hindu festival which showcases that good will always prevail over evil. After Muslims fast for one month over the period of Ramzan, they rejoice by celebrating Eid ul Fitr. In order to highlight the birthday of Jesus Christ, Christmas is celebrated. Punjab celebrates Lohri every January by creating a bonfire.
In conclusion, Indian culture and art is not simply about history and ancient India. It is regarding how Indians manage to strike the perfect balance between managing traditional duties and being modern. From the way Indians greet each other by saying Namaste to the way they host a guest, everything we do showcases a deep cultural philosophy.
Author
Shreeja Mukherjee