Indian Culture and Music

2008 Fulbright Summer

Seminar to India & Sri Lanka
India-South Asian Adventure!
 “Unity through
diversity” is the
theme of the
approximately
one billion people
that live in a
country that is so
big, it’s called a
subcontinent!
 India’s People Come in All Shapes
and Sizes, Just Like American People
 People with
different clothing
 People with
different religions
 People with
different foods
 People with
different
celebrations
 India’s Government
India is the
world’s
largest
democracy
 Famous Indians
Gandhi,
India’s greatest
peacemaker,
who influenced
Martin Luther
King, Jr.
 Where People Live in India
Many Indian
people live in
villages in
rural India
 Where People Live in India
 Other people in India
live in large cities, like
– New Dehli, the capital
– Mumbai (West)
 Home of Bollywood,
India’s Hollywood
– Kolkata (East)
– Deccan (Southern
Plateau), with cities
like Bangalore and
Chennai
 India’s People Eat Many Foods
 Rice
 Vegetables
 Seafood
 Meat-however, cows
are considered sacred
by Hindus, many of
whom are vegetarian
 Masala-spices
 Tea-common drink
 India’s People Have Different
Religious Beliefs
Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam (Muslims)
Sikkhism
Christianity
Judaism
 India’s
History

 Indian civilization is ancient

 The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first civilizations on earth
 The Vedic period was a time in Indian history when the Hindu religion and
caste system began in India
 Mughal Empire was the last and the strongest Islamic empire in India
 Agra & the Taj Mahal
Agra is a large
city in northern
India
It is the home of
India’s greatest
historical
monument, the
Taj Mahal
 Transportation in India
 Planes
 Trains
 Cars
 Rickshaws
 Camel & donkey
carts
 Bicycles
 Walking
 Traditional Music of India
Hindustani
means classical
music of North
India
Carnatic means
classical music
of South India
 Traditional Elements
of Indian Music
Melody (raga)
Drone
(harmony)
Rhythm (tala)
 Indian Instruments

String
Wind
Percussion
 India’s People and the Musical
Instruments of India Are Very Diverse!

India, the
land of
“Unity
through
diversity!”
A Taste of India
 India’s Weather
 Most of India has a tropical climate with three
main seasons.
 October to March is cool 24-25°C and dry.
 April to May is hot 28-31°C and dry.
 June to September is hot 27-31°C and very
wet – the MONSOON season.
 During the Monsoon season India
experiences very strong winds and very
heavy rainfall.
 Travelling across India
 The landscape of India is very varied.
 In the north there are the mountain
ranges of the HIMALAYAS. The highest
peak in the Himalayas is MOUNT
EVEREST.
 South of the Himalayas is a huge flat area
through which the RIVER GANGES
flows.
 Southern India is an area of high flat land
called the Deccan Plateau.
 Hinduism
 Most people in India follow the HINDU religion.
 Hindus believe that Hindu gods and goddesses
represent the different qualities and powers of
one supreme God.
 Hindus have many festivals and celebrations, for
example DIWALI.
 Hindus believe that the place where any rivers
meet is sacred. Platforms called ghats are built
to enable pilgrims to bathe more easily in the
RIVER GANGES.
 Diwali
 For most Hindus, Diwali is the most important festival
of the year. It takes place at the end of October.
 Various traditional stories are remembered at Diwali,
for example the story of RAMA AND SITA.
 Hindus decorate their homes and temples with rows of
lights called DIVAS.
 There are big family celebrations with feasts and
fireworks.
 Elephants have been a symbol of India for many
centuries and are still ridden in festival processions.
 Special patterns called RANGOLIS are drawn on the
floor with coloured powders. They believe that they will
bring good luck to the house.
 Cooking and eating in India
 Indian food is colourful and uses many spices.
 Indians eat different meals depending on what is
grown in the area in which they live, and their
religion.
 Many Indians are vegetarians. Hindus do not
eat beef and Muslims do not eat pork.
 Although knives and forks are used in India,
eating with the fingers of your right hand is
considered good manners. You are able to feel
and appreciate the texture of the food.
 Cooking and eating in India
 Daal is the Indian word for pulses, like lentils, chickpeas
and kidney beans. These pulses are used to make a
stew-like dish called Daal.
 Ghee is a form of butter used in cooking.
 Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. It is bright
yellow and is considered a symbol of hospitality.
 Turmeric is a yellow spice used in curries and is
thought to be lucky.
 Red chillies are very hot! They are used in curries.
 Ginger is a root used in curries and is added to tea.
 Mango is called the ‘King of Fruits’ in India and is used
in Indian ice-cream called Kulfi.
How much can you remember?
INDIAN TRADITION
AND CULTURE
Child Guidance Centre
Hyderabad, 2010
 A NAMASTE TO ALL!
 Namaḥ, to bow
 te, "to you."

 namo: stu te
 "let there be a
salutation to you”
 GARLANDING

There are basically two

reasons behind the
garlanding tradition of
India. Firstly, it
showcases one's
happiness at receiving
the particular guest and
secondly, it is a form of
publicly acknowledging
the guest's importance.
The National Flag
 The flag's saffron color
symbolizes courage and
sacrifice
 white stands for peace and
truth,
 and green is for faith and
chivalry,
 blue represents the color of
the sky and the ocean.
 The 24 spokes of the wheel
(Ashoka Chakra), correspond
with the 24 hours of the day,
implying that there is life in
movement and death in
stagnation.
There are 28 states and 7 Union Territories in India
 Total population: 1.06 billion people
 72% in Rural areas
 Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%,
Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other
groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi
2.5% ( AC TO 2000 ss report)
 41.6% of the total Indian population
in India are Below Poverty Line.
 75% of the poor are in rural areas,
most of them are daily wagers, self-
employed householders , and landless
labourers.
 1,652 mother tongues (languages) in
India. National Language is Hindi
 Official languages are English and Hindi
 There are four Major Castes in India the
Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests) ,
the Kshatriyas (kings, warriors and
administrators) , the Shudras (service
providers, laborers) and Vyshyas
(agriculturists and traders) which have
evolved to 1000 more castes and sub
castes.
 The National Tree
 Indian fig tree, whose
branches root themselves like
new trees over a large area.
 The roots then give rise to
more trunks and branches.
 This tree is considered
immortal and is an integral
part of the myths and legends
of India.
 Even today, the banyan tree is
the focal point of village life
and the village council meets
under the shade of this tree.
The National Flower
 It is a sacred flower
and occupies a unique
position in the art and
mythology of ancient
India and has been
an auspicious symbol
of Indian culture since
time immemorial.
The National Animal-Tiger
The National Bird
The National Fruit
 Dining Etiquette
 Indian cuisine relishes in its flavors and spices.
 Much Indian food is eaten with the fingers.
 The guest of honour is served first, followed by
the men, and the children are served last.
 Women typically serve the men and eat later.
 You may be asked to wash your hands before
and after sitting down to a meal.
 Always use your right hand to eat, whether you
are using utensils or your fingers.
 Take off your shoes before entering the house.
Indian Attires
Ethnic Wear
Wedding Attires
 Indian tradition
 The uniqueness of Indian culture lies in its
strong social system and family values .
 The elders are considered the driving
force and so are respected and loved .
 The guests are considered as gods and
are treated with respect and love, even if
by foregoing some of the personal
pleasures.
 TOUCHING FEET
 Name Protocol
 Younger never uses the proper name of their
elders. (eg: Anna, Akka etc.)
 Only people of the same age will address each
other by first name.
 A Hindu wife never speaks the name of her
husband .
 CAUTION WITH FOOTWEAR: It is very
important to apologize immediately if one
touches someone with his or her shoe or sandal
 DISPLAYING AFFECTION: Married Hindu couples
do not hug, hold hands or kiss in public. Even
embracing at airports and train stations is
considered not wise. Men, however, frequently
walk hand in hand.
 MODESTY: Interaction in public between men
and women is much more restrained in Hindu
culture than in Western culture. In Hindu
culture, for the most part, men socialize with
men, and women with women. Men never touch
women in public unless the lady is very elderly
or infirm.
 WOMANLY RESERVE: In mixed company
especially in the presence of strangers, a Hindu
woman will keep modestly in the background
and not participate freely in conversation. This,
of course, does not apply to situations among
family and close associates.
 SERVING AT MEALS: At meals women follow the
custom of serving the men first before enjoying
their own meal.
 CHAPERONING: It is customary for a woman to
always be accompanied when she leaves the
home. Living alone, too, is unusual.
 WOMEN IN PUBLIC: Generally it is improper for
women to speak with strangers on the street
and especially to strike up a casual conversation.
 HOME VISITS: Close friends can visit one
another anytime without being announced or
making arrangements first. When they drop in,
at least a refreshing drink is always served.
 WIFE HOME ALONE: If the lady of the house is
in home alone and a male visitor comes to see
her husband, it is not proper for her to invite
him in, nor for him to expect to enter. Rather,
he will leave a message and depart.
 Family Systems in India
 Bondage of love and affection is
abundantly found in Indian family system.
 Parents do not let their child to live
independent life until they get a marriage
match.
 Culture and tradition of India does not
support love-marriages and the divorce
between a husband and a wife .
 The Dowry System
 Class (Upper, Middle, Low)
 Purdah system
 Tribes
 Transport(Bullock, Tonga etc)
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH