Skip to main content

Indian culture and tradition in the world 🌎

 As India is one of the world’s oldest cultures it has been subjected to a plethora of language influences.

The primary ones are; Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%. English is used primarily in business, and for economic and political purposes.

Language is regional and dialects play a role in the variety of languages spoken throughout India, with some sources suggesting that there are possibly 1,652 different languages or dialects. These come from four main linguistic families and are centred on different regions.

Local guides and translators may be beneficial if you are conducting meetings in a variety of locations throughout the country as the difference in language is ubiquitous.


INDIAN CULTURE & SOCIETY


Religion & Beliefs

  • Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)
  • India has the second largest Muslim population in the world
  • Religious practises are an integral part of daily life
  • From the Hindu culture arose three other major religions: Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
  • Hinduism has long established roots in India dating from 2000-1500 B.C.E
  • In Hinduism there is no single founder, specific theological system, or central religious structure
  • Vedas and Upanishads are the holy books of Hinduism
  • Hinduism teaches meditation, yoga and ascetic practices to cultivate self-discipline and unity
  • The cow is considered a sacred animal

 

Major Celebrations/Secular Celebrations

  • 26th January (Republic Day)
  • 15th August (Independence Day)
  • 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti; Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday)
  • Diwali – October/November
  • Holi – March, to celebrate Spring

 

The Family

  • Family values are highly respected throughout India and are fundamental in daily life
  • The structure of the family is patriarchal; a woman must obey her father, her husband, her son.
  • Arranged marriages are commonplace
  • The urban middle-class population of India have begun to move away from arranged marriages
  • Families often live with three or four generations in the same household
  • Traditionally sons inherit and daughters receive a dowry
  • Child care is provided by the female family members

 

Social Stratification

  • India has one of the world’s oldest caste systems
  • The caste structure divides people into four main groups: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras
  • Brahmins, the teachers and intellectuals - Brahma's head. Kshatriyas, the warriors and rulers – Brahma’s arms. Vaishyas, the traders - Brahma’s thighs, and finally, Shudras, the menial workers - Brahma's feet
  • There can be as many as thirty castes within one village
  • Intermarrying between castes was forbidden but in urban areas is now more common
  • Your caste is set by birth

indian family on bike



Gender Roles

  • Mothers, grandmothers and older siblings care for infants
  • Patriarchal families are the norm
  • Women are considered to hold secondary positions within the home and workplace
  • 82.14% of males and 65.46% of females are literate (2011 census)
  • Women often receive little schooling
  • Divorce and inheritance laws are male-dominated

 

Socialisation

  • Until the child is two,  the mother or grandmother is the primary caregiver
  • Once the child is two, older sisters are the primary caregivers
  • Sons are generally given better opportunities and receive a superior education
  • Gender-specific roles are encouraged within the family unit and in wider society


Economy

  • The Indian economy is one of the fastest growing in the world
  • Indian labour force is estimated at 509.3 million
  • 60% are employed in agriculture or related industries
  • India has established Special Economic Zones to encourage and support business
  • India's long-term growth is considered moderately positive due to a young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates
  • GDP 7.6% (2016 Est.)

 

Food

  • Food in India is often served on a ‘thali’ – a tray or plate that can hold several dishes
  • ‘Curry’ is a European term to describe the spicy dishes found in India
  • In some parts of India meals are eaten with rice (chawal), in others, flat breads (roti) are preferred
  • Food is infused with spices such as cumin, turmeric, black pepper, cardamom, cloves and coriander  
  • Most Hindus avoid eating beef

 

Arts, Humanities & Popular Culture

  • The Indian culture has absorbed and amalgamated many different customs and ideas throughout its long history which has led to a rich tradition and folk culture
  • The most popular musical instrument in India is the sitar, an instrument similar to a guitar
  • India is well regarded for its rugs, craft, metalwork, bronzes, stone carving, pottery, woodwork, and jewellery.
  • Traditional sports include camel racing and cock fighting
  • Folk dances are regional and often celebrated during festivals
  • ‘Bollywood’ is the informal name given to the popular Mumbai-based film industry
  • Bollywood has the largest output in the world in terms of number of films produced and, possibly, number of tickets sold.

proper thali



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How long will the Corona last

  How the Pandemic Will End The U.S. may end up with the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the industrialized world. This is how it’s going to play out. Joan Wong Story by  Ed Yong MARCH 25, 2020 HEALTH Like  ​The Atlantic ? Subscribe to  ​ The Atlantic Daily​ , our free weekday email newsletter. Editor’s Note:   The Atlantic  is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection  here . T hree months ago , no one knew that SARS-CoV-2 existed. Now the virus has spread to almost every country, infecting at least 446,000 people whom we know about, and many more whom we do not. It has crashed economies and broken health-care systems, filled hospitals and emptied public spaces. It has separated people from their workplaces and their friends. It has disrupted modern society on a scale that most living people have never witnessed. Soon, most everyone in the United States will know someone who has been infected. Like World War II ...

How to motivate to get success

  there’s one thing I’ve learned from   being self-employed as a writer , it’s that motivation is a complex and fickle beast. Some days, I’m in a groove—I can crank out articles left and right, only taking a quick break to refill my coffee or eat lunch. Other days, I have to force myself not to surf Reddit and run unimportant errands. When motivation has to be intrinsic (meaning there’s no boss breathing down your neck to get things done), it can be harder to come by. Below, you’ll find a series of research-backed tips and tricks that entrepreneurs swear by when they’re stuck:1-To make strategy for success This is my go-to strategy. Over the past few years, I’ve identified the times when I’m most productive: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. I make sure to schedule the work that requires the most focus during these windows. I’ll never leave an article that’s due on a Monday morning, for example, for Friday afternoon because I know it’s unlikely I’ll muster the ment...

Destructores contaminantes del mundo

 los contaminantes más peligrosos del mundo  / 26 de julio de 2017  Veintiocho productos químicos que causan problemas de salud, incluidos el cáncer y los trastornos reproductivos, y en ocasiones la muerte, están prohibidos o restringidos por el Convenio de Estocolmo, uno de los acuerdos internacionales más críticos administrados por ONU Medio Ambiente.  Conocidos como contaminantes orgánicos persistentes, o COP, la industria y la agricultura han liberado estas toxinas durante décadas y se han extendido por todas partes, incluso hasta el Ártico.  Permanecen intactos durante años en el medio ambiente y se “bioacumulan” en organismos que se encuentran más arriba en la red alimentaria, incluidos los peces grandes y los depredadores.  Envenenan tanto a las personas como a la vida silvestre.  Sus efectos también incluyen alergias e hipersensibilidad, daño al sistema nervioso y alteración del sistema inmunológico.  Algunos COP se consideran disruptores ...