Find out about Indian culture and
lifestyle
Variety is the spice of Indian life: The
distinctive languages, cuisines, arts, crafts, customs and
traditions of each region make India an unending journey of
discovery full of pleasant surprises.
The national dress of India is the saree- six yards of
unstitched cloth that is skillfully draped to impart grace and
elegance. Other traditional dresses worn around the country include
the Salwar Kameez and Lehenga Choli. Bright hues and intricate
patterns are a common feature of Indian dresses. Modern Indian
women on the metros wear western dresses like their male
counterparts and the universal 'jeans and t-shirt' are popular
amongst the college students.
So popular is Indian cuisine across the world today that
London is believed to have more Indian restaurants that Delhi. The
secret of the Indian cuisine lies in the skillful use of spices.
While 80% of Indians are vegetarian, fish is a major component of
the diet in the coastal region. The southern part of India has a
distinctive style of cooking with the predominant use of rice and
coconut.
In cricket crazy India it is easy to forget that hockey is
really the national game. Lack of resources is hardly a setback to
the game which is played in every street corner and cramped back a
lley. While India's performance has not been quite as good as it
should have been, it is expected that modern training methods and
more competitive spirit will give a better medals tally at the next
Olympic Games.
India has a very old and traditional school of Music and
Dance. Master performers train long and hard under a 'guru'.
Performances are viewed by large and appreciative audience. Vibrant
folk and tribal art forms also prevail in parts of India but are
gradually dying away. Many government and non-government
organisations are taking initiative to keep these traditional art
forms alive.
Modern Indian painters like MF Hussain, Ganesh Pyne and
Anjolie Ela Menon are making waves globally. Works of Indian
painters are believed to be a good investment in the art market
today. Indian literature too is a treasure house of wisdom and
knowledge. From the ancient religious text to modern day writers
are a long unbroken line of authors who skillfully tell their tales
and comment upon contemporary life in India. Modern Indian writers
who have received acclaim are Vikram Seth, Arundhuti Roy, Jhumpa
Lahiri and many others.
No commentary on culture and tradition in India could end
without a mention of 'Bollywood' – the great Indian Film Industry.
Established in 1896 today India produces largest number of films in
the world. Well known for romance, violence, music and dance the
popularity of these films across the world has been
phenomenal.
Running through the myriads of kaleidoscopic impression of
Indian culture and lifestyle is a constant desire to make a perfect
and unique blend of the old with the new, traditional with the
modern and eastern with the western.