What makes indian culture unique

Despite modernisation and Westernisation, Indian culture and the traditional practices are held on to with considerable vigour. In its deepest pockets, many lead a primarily orthodox lifestyle. However, the country as a whole is as colourful and complex, as its plethora of people that it is home to.

India, a land of 28 states and seven union territories, does not have one official language. In a survey conducted by the Times of India, results showed that almost 60 per cent of the citizens speak a language which is not Hindi.

As recorded in the language census, there are languages which are spoken by 10, people or more in India. The languages are presented in two parts: the 22 languages which are a part of the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and the languages not included in the Eighth Schedule.

According to the latest census, more than 19, languages or dialects are spoken in the whole of India as mother tongue. India is characterised by a massive population of people who belong to a diverse list of religions. Identified as the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, India is a home to a varying number of religious communities, many of which are minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Judaists, etc.

The largest democracy in the world , India is religiously pluralistic and multiethnic, and the Constitution provides for the security, free expression and equal human rights of the minorities. However, since the past decade, the country has experienced very high levels of social hostilities and brutalities that have germinated from religious issues.

Just like how diverse and enriching the country is in its culture, so is its cornucopia of various types of cuisines, comprising recipes prepared usually from indigenously grown spices, herbs, vegetables, fruits and grains.

Indian food is influenced by occupation, like the seafood dishes of the fishing community of Maharashtra , religion, like the rich preparations of meat and biryani influenced by the Islamic rule, ethnicity, like the varying sweet dishes of the Bengalis festivals and regional specialities.

Wheat, rice and pulses are staples of the Indian diet. The gastronomical variety is rich with different types of Indian spices , including coriander, cardamom, turmeric , and cinnamon. In other words Indian culture, over the last three millennia, has successfully, but quietly, observed the best assimilable parts from other religions and cultures, from time to time and integrated them into itself.

Since the ancient time Indian society is harbouring the different identities, languages, religions and ethnicities etc. So, Indian society is considered to be unique because of its ability to nourish and sustain its culture. There are a few peculiarities which substantiate this fact:. Many great cultures had developed in different countries and regions of the world. Many of them have perished or have been replaced by other cultures.

However Indian culture has had an enduring character. Despite major changes and upheavals significant threads of continuity can be traced throughout the course of Indian history right up to the present day. The evidence to show that cultures existed even before the matured phase of Harappan civilization has been clarified by the archaeologist.

You might aware that Harapan Civilization was flourished in the Indian subcontinent over years ago. This tells us that there is a long history behind us. And yet what is amazing is that even today the pattern of the house in the village is not different from the Harappan Civilization house pattern.

You can see that some aspects of Harappan cultures still practised, like Worshipping of Goddess, Trees and Pashupati. You can also trace the fact that Buddhist, Vedic, Jain and many other traditional cultures are practised even today. So, the continuity and change in our cultures gone hand in hand. In fact, a remarkable feature is that although our cultures change along with time, the basic spirit of our cultures is continued.

In our long history, there have been periods of ups and downs. Ex: Worship of trees and animals is still followed from the times of Indus Valley Civilization. Adaptation Ability to adapt and borrow from other cultures has been observed in Indian society.

This has made indian society an amalgamation of major cultures but still holding its core values. Ex: Cultural practices of Indian society has borrowed heavily from Islamic influence.

Dynamic Indian society has been successful in adapting to changing trends. This has allowed the society to modernize without having to lose its foundations. Ex: Modern democratic practices like women rights have been adapted easily when compared to societies of middle-east.

The Indian traditions and scriptures contain various signs and symbols which have multiple meanings. For example, the usage of the Swastika, in the Indian context, does not point towards Adolf Hitler or Nazism. It is the symbol of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The arms of the Swastika have various meanings. They signify the four Vedas, the four constellations, or the four primary aims of human pursuit.

In India, the saying 'Atithi Devo Bhavah' is also integral. It means 'the guest is equivalent to god'. It is a Sanskrit verse taken from the Hindu scriptures, which later became a part of the 'Code of conduct for Hindu society since the guest has always been of supreme importance in the Culture of India. Indian women are often seen sporting 'saris'. The sari is a single cloth and needs no stitching; it is easy to make and comfortable to wear, and also adheres to religious etiquette.

It initially started as a Hindu tradition but has very elegantly spread across all religions. The same applies to the more functional 'Kurta-Pyjama', and the formal wear of 'Sherwani' for Indian men of all faiths.

India is a land of 'unity in diversity', and our dances are no different. Different forms of dance classified as folk or classical find origin from different parts of the country, and they are a way of representation of the particular culture from which they originate.

Eight classical dances, which are classified as Indian classical dances and find a mention in the Hindu Sanskrit text ' Natyashashtra' , a text of performing arts are:. All the dance mentioned above forms are a complete dance drama, wherein a dancer or performer narrates an entire story, almost entirely and exclusively through gestures.

Such stories are mostly based on the vast Indian mythology. Classical dances in India are strictly classified as and performed according to the rules and guidelines prescribed in the Natyashastra. Just like Classical dances, folk dances in India too originate from different regions of the country. These performances are mostly based on stories which are orally passed on from one generation to the other.

Folk dances mainly trace their importance to the rural areas, where performances depict the day to day life of rural inhabitants. The process for a suitable match is one long and tiring effort, which begins with matching some criteria like the horoscope, religion, caste, professional stature, physical appearance and culture.