Free Essay

Indian Culture

In: Historical Events

Submitted By chandersfdc
Words 4429
Pages 18
Indian culture

The culture of India is among the world's oldest, reaching back about 5,000 years. Many sources describe it as "Sa Prathama Sanskrati Vishvavara" — the first and the supreme culture in the world. India is a very diverse country, and different regions have their own distinct cultures. Language, religion, food and the arts are just some of the various aspects of Indian culture. Here is a brief overview of the culture of India.

Language

India has 28 states and seven territories, and each has at least one official language. While the national languages are Hindi and English, there are about 22 official languages and nearly 400 living languages spoken in various parts of the country. Most of the languages of India belong to two families, Aryan and Dravidian.

Religion

India is identified as the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism. A huge majority — 84 percent — of the population identifies as Hindu. There are many variations of Hinduism, and four predominant sects — Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakteya and Smarta.
About 13 percent of Indians are Muslim, making it one of the largest Islamic nations in the world. Christians and Sikhs make up a small percentage of the population, and there are even fewer Buddhists and Jains.
Food
Indian cuisine boasts Arab, Turkish and European influences. It is known for its large assortment of dishes and its liberal use of herbs and spices. Cooking styles vary from region to region.
Wheat, Basmati rice and pulses with chana (Bengal gram) are important staples of the Indian diet. The food is rich with curries and spices, including ginger, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, dried hot peppers, and cinnamon, among others. Chutneys — thick condiments and spreads made from assorted fruits and vegetables such as tamarind and tomatoes and mint, cilantro and other herbs — are used generously in Indian cooking.
Many Hindus are vegetarians, but lamb and chicken are common in main dishes for non-vegetarians.
Much of Indian food is eaten with fingers or bread used as utensils. There is a wide array of breads served with meals, including naan, a leavened, oven-baked flatbread, and bhatoora, a fried, fluffy flatbread common in North India and eaten with chickpea curry.
Architecture
The most well-known example of Indian architecture is the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles. India also has many ancient temples.
Arts
India is well known for its film industry, which is based in Mumbai and is often referred to as Bollywood. The country began as a major producer of movies in the 1930s. Today the films are known for their elaborate singing and dancing and Bollywood produces more films per year than Hollywood.
Indian dance has a tradition of more than 2,000 years. The major classical dance traditions — Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam and Kathakali — draw on themes from mythology and literature and have rigid presentation rules.
Clothing

Indian clothing is closely identified with the colorful silk saris worn by many of the country’s women. The traditional clothing for men is the dhoti, an unstitched piece of cloth about 5 yards long that is tied around the waist and legs. Men also wear a kurta, a loose shirt that is worn about knee-length. For special occasions, men wear a sherwani, which is a long coat that is buttoned up to the collar and down to the knees.

Customs and celebrations

The country celebrates Republic Day (Jan. 26), Independence Day (Aug. 15) and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (Oct. 2). There are also a number of Hindu festival that are celebrated, including Diwali, a five-day festival known as the festival of lights and marks a time of home-based family celebrations

Project Report/Essay - Indian Culture • Our Religions • Our Languages • Dance, Music and Art • Our Scientist • The Food We Wear • Our Festivals
Indian Culture Report
India has one of the richest and most exciting cultural tradition in the world our culture goes back several thousands year. That is why ours is known as one of the oldest civilization in the world. India is a land of festivals. There is hardly any month of the year without any festival. Therefore the festivals also play an important in our life & they remains our culture evergreen similarly there are many states in our India, all having their own traditional dress& food also because of all this about India it has be said that India has unity in diversity. In this project will learn about the varieties of our India & I will try to attract you towards the Indian culture or a great culture.
Religions in India
India, being a secular country does not have any state religion. The state of India allows for freedom of faith, worship & religion. People of many different religions live in our country. They are free to follow & preach the religion of their choice. Among the major religion in India, Hinduism is the largest, followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddism, Jainism & Zoroastrianism.
Hinduism
Hinduism is among the most ancient religions of India. The followers of Hinduism account for over 80% of India's total population. The holy books & scriptures of Hinduism include the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita & the epics like the Ramayana & the Mahabharata.
Hindus believe in one supreme God but they worship God in different avatars or forms. Hinduism has a rich & varied philosophy. They have been many well-known Hindu thinkers & reformers like Adi Shanker, Dayanand Saraswati, & Swami Vivekananda. They all have tried to teach us how to be better human beings.
Islam
The followers of Islam are known as Muslim. They are second largest religions community in India accounting for over 11% of her total population. Muslims believe in only one God of or Allah. Prophet Mohammad is believed to be the last & the greatest of the Prophets. He was born in 570 A.D in Mecca. He preached & spread Islam. The Koran is a holy book of the Muslims. The devout Muslim has five duties belief in one God; prayers five time a day; the giving of alms; a month’s fast every year; and a pilgrimage to Mecca atleast once in life time. The Muslims do not allow idol worship. Neither do they allow any picture of Allah.
Christianity
Christians comprise about two & a half % of India’s population. Christianity was founded by Lord Jesus Christ. He was born at Bethlehem in Israel near two thousand year ago. Jesus taught the people the importance of peace, love & compassion. The teachings of Jesus Christ are contained in the holy book, Bible Christians worship in a Church. The symbol of a Church is cross signifies the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ.
Sikhism
The Sikhs constitute a little the 2% of India’s population. Sikhism, which emerged in the15th century, was founded by Guru Nanak Dev. Sikhism tried to bridge the gap between Hinduism & Islam. Guru Nanak Dev said that the God for Hindus & Muslims was the same. Sikhs worship in a Gurudwara. Their holy book is called the Guru Nanak Dev & the nine Guru who came after him.
Buddhism
Buddhism originated in India and its follower’s formless then 1% of India’s population. The founder of Buddhism was Lord Gautam Buddha. He was the son of an India, King. Who lived 2500 years ago. His childhood name Siddharatha. He gave up his princely life & went out for true knowledge. At last he become enlightened under the Bodhi tree in Gaya. From that day he become known as the Buddha or the enlightened one. Buddha believed in non- violence. He thought that every human being must follow the middle path & adopt good behaviour & simple habits. Buddism spread to China, Sri Lanka, Japan &many other countries in Asia.
Jainism
The Jains form about half of a percent of India’s population Jainism was founded by Mahavira. He lived about 2,500 years ago. He preached Ahimsa, right conduct, right faith and tolerance. The followers of Jainism are strict vegetarians & do not hurt living things.
Zoroastrianism
The followers of Zoroastrianism are called Parsis. Zoroastrianism was founded by the great Persian. Prophet Zoroaster or Zarathushtra. He preached that there is a continuous battle going on between the forces of good and evil. And in the end God always triumphs or wins over evils. The parsis worship in a fire Temple. The holy book of parsis is Zend Avesta.
Languages in India
There are as many as 1,652 languages & dialects spoken in different parts of India. It is said that in India a dialect changes every thirty or 40km.
The constitution of India recognizes 18 major languages they are: -
(1) Assamese (2) Bangla
(3) Gujrati (4) Hindi
(5) Kannada (6) Konkani
(7) Malayalam (8) Manipuri
(9) Marathi (10) Nepali
(11) Punjabi (12) Tamil
(13) Sindhi (14) Kasmiri
(15) Sanskrit (16) Oriya
(17) Telgu (18) Urdu
Of these Sanskrit & Tamil are the oldest languages. The scripts of all these languages except Kasmiri, Sindhi & Urdu are written from left to right. The script of Kasmiri, Sindhi & Urdu are written from right to left.
Hindi is the official language of India. Before Independence English was the official language of India.
Dance and Music in India
Dance & Music are an important part of the culture of our country. The people tell stories about their history through these forms of arts.
In India there are two main types of dances, folk dance & classical dance.
Folk dances are performed by a group of people. These dances are performed on special occasions. The occasion may be a feast, a festival or a wedding. Through these dances, people express their joy. In India there are numerous folk dances. The most well-known folk dances & their areas are listed below.
Falk dances State
Bhangra & gidda Punjab
Nati Himachal predesh
Bihu Assam
Ghoomar Rajasthan
Garba Gujarat
Kolattam Tamil Nadu
Lezhim Maharashtra
Rouf Jammu & Kashmir
Dandiya Ras Gujarat
Classical dance are entirely different from folk dances. They require training & prachce. They are based on different beats & rhythms. Each moment & gesture of the dancer has some meaning. The dancers wear special costumers like masks & head dresses.
The main classical dances & their areas are given below.
Classicial dance State
Bharatnatyam Tamil Nadu
Kathakali Kerala
Manipuri Manipur
Odissi Orissa
Yakshagana Karnataka
Kuchipudi Andhra pradesh
Perhaps these dances were performed in temples or place in the past. Now a day we can see these in films & on TV.
Classical music has a long & rich tradition in India. It is said that saint Narada, son of saraswati, taught music to men. The earliest book on India music is Rikaprahohakhaya. There are two main schools or divisions of music in India. The north India school is cornatic. Both Hindustani & carnatic styles of music are based on ragas. There are different ragas for different times, occasions &even for seasions. In the past there were great singers like tansen, haridas, &Baiju Bawra.Tensen, a great singer in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar has composed many ragas.
Instrumental Music in India
Instrumental Music is also very popular in our country. The popular musical instruments are the flite, shanai, sitar, harmonium, tabla, sarangi, veena, moidangam & dhalak. Some of the famous instrumental musicians of our country are Ravi Shanker, Allo Rakha, Ali Akbar Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Bismillah Khan, Hari Prasad Choursia & Zakir Husian.
Painting in India
Indian Painting has a style of its own. There have been artists in India for thousands of years. Kings employed artists & empeross to decorate their places & temples. Some kings were very found of art of & they employed artists even from other countries. For example, when mughals first came to India they bought with them the persain artists. They painted landscapes, hunting scenes, scenes from the royal durbars & battle fields. However, the most famous & the finest painting can be seen in the Ajanta caves. These paintings are nearly fifteen hundred years old. They were painted by the Boudha Bhikshus or priests. These paintings look bright even today. These painting at Ajanta are called Frescos.
India's Architecture
When people think of India, they think of its architecture. India has an amazing variety of architecture. The ruins of the Indus valley civilization tell us how advanced we were even 5000 ago. The stupas of sanchi & sarnath, built by the emperor Ashok & his successors, are the finest specimens of Indian architecture.
The Kailash temple at Ellora is perhaps the greatest wonder of its kind. The whole temple has been carved out from a single rock. There is a long list of ancient temples which speak about their beauty. Mention must be made of the temple of Konark, Puri, Khajuarho, Bellur, Thanjavur, Tripati, Chennai and Madurai.
The Meenakshi temple at Madurai has a huge hall with one thousand pillars. Therefore, it is called the hall of a thousand pillars. Each pillar has been carved with sculptures which tell the stories about the lives of the Gods.
The Turks and Mughals introduced the special style of central Asian architecture in our country. These styles were combined with ours and thus resulted in a new style of architectural designs. Some of the examples of this new style of architectural designs are the Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur, the Jama Masjid, the Red Fort and the Humanyun Tomp of Delhi, and the Taj Mahal of Agra.
The Qutab Minar is one of the word’s finest examples of tower building. Built in the thirteenth century, it rises over 230 feet.
The forts of Agra, Gwalior and Chittorgarh are very strong and huge structures.
With the coming of the Europeans, our architecture grew further. The British built huge churches and official building. Examples of the British architecture in India are the St. Xavier Church In Goa the Victoria Memorial at Kolkata, the present Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Parliament House in New Delhi.
The Victoria Memorial at Kolkata is one of the most impressive monuments in India. Made of white marble, it reminds us of the Europwan and Mughal architecture. It took fifteen years to build the Victoria Memorial. It has portraits and statues of almost all the main figure in British-India history.
Since independence, Indian architecture has made much progress. We have huge and beautiful buildings, temples and railway stations in almost every big city. The Assembly buildings of Mumbai and Jaipur and New Delhi municipal corporation office building are the example of new architectural designs. The Lotus Temple of Delhi is a valuable treasure of Indian architecture.
Scientists in India
India is proud of having many scholars and scientists who have made great contributions in science, mathematics, astronomy and medical sciences. Aryabhatta & Varahamihir were celebrated Indian astronomers. They could study the heavently bodies like stars with great accuracy. Beside an astronomer, Aryabhatta was also a great mathematician. Indian’s first satellite, Aryabhatta was christened after him.
Charaka & Sushruta, were famous physicians of ancient India. Charaka is called the ‘king of Indian physician’. Sushruta was an expert surgeon. He is called the ‘father of plastic surgery’. Their writing are valued even today. The Truks & Mughals also made valuable contributions to medical science. Their system of medicine in know as Unani.
In the field of mathematic, the concept of zero was given by Indian thinkers. The numbers 1 to 10 & the decimal system are also entirely Indian. The Arab trader learnt these mathematical systems from Indians & carried them to Europe. The Arabs called these numbers Hindsa.
Today, Indians scientists are known through out the world. Indian scientists like C.V roman, J.C Bose, Homi Bhabha & Vikram sarabhai have made significant contribution to the growth of modern science.
The food we eat
Our country is very big. There are 26 States and 6 Union Territories in our country. People eat different kind of food in different state & union territories. In some parts people like to eat rice. There are other parts where most of the people prefer millet (Jower orBajra). Thus, wheat, rice, & millet are the most popular food grains. Beside the food grains, people eat many other things like pulses, sugar, fruits, vegetable, egg, meat, fish, edible oil, bread & biscuits.
Generally people eat those foods items more which are grow in that area.
In the northern state of India like Punjab, Haryana, Utter pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and wheat is the main foods of the people.
In desert sate of Rajasthan, millets like jowar & corn are eaten beside wheat.
People living in Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Assam & also the states of southern India generally prefer rice. People near sea cousts eat rice with fish.
Cereals & lentils like ragi & dals are eaten through out the country. Similarly, vegetables & fruits are also eaten all over the country.
Many people prefer meat, eggs & fish. People who eat meat & meat products are called non-vegetarians people who do not eat meat, egg, & fish are called vegetarians.
Let us see some special food eaten by the people in certain parts of our country.
The people of Kashmir prefer to eat rice, fish & karan ka sag. The popular food of the people of Punjabi is makki ki roti & sarson ka sag. The people of Bengal & other eastern states eat rice & fish. Their favorite sweet dishes are Rasgulla & Sandesh. The people of Gujrat & Maharashtra like to eat Rice, Dal, Curds, Vegetables & Papads.
Sambhar, Dosa, Idli, Rasam & Uthapam are favorite dishes of the people of south India.
India is famous all over the world for its spices. Spices are used to flavour different dishes. Some of the common spices are saffron, turmeric, chilies, ginger, conander, cloves, cardamom & garlic.
The country produces a rich variety of fruits. Himachal pradesh is famous for apples, Gujrat for chikus & Bihar for litchis. Mangos & bananas are found throughout the country. Orange of Nagpur is famous all over the world.
India has a vast population. In many part of the country sufficient foods is not available. So our Government sends foods articles to these areas. Fruits & vegetable are also transported from the place they are grown in plenty to other place.
The central government has a separate tood & civil supplies ministry. It arranges the food grains for the people all over the country. People get the food grains & other food articles from fair price shop or ration shop at reasonable price.
The dresses we wear in India
The surface of the land is different in different parts of our country. People living in different parts of India eat different type of foods.
Similarly, the climate is not the same in all parts of our country. Some places have very hot summer & very cold winters. Place near the sea have the same climate throughout the years. Therefore people living in different areas ware different types of dresses. However, there are some dresses women & men, which are common & very popular throughout the country.
Dresses of Women
The most common dresses of women in India are saree, salwar-kameez, blouse, skirt (ghagra) & a shawl (odhani) to cover the head.
The pattern & style of wearing a saree varies from state to state.
Let us see the popular dresses of women in different states of India.
Salwar-Kameez with Dupatta is the popular dress of women in Punjabi Ghagra-Kurta with Odhani in Haryana, Ghagra-Choli in Uttar predesh, Ghagra-Blouse with Odhani in Rajasthan, Lehnga & Choli in Gujrat & Baku in Sikkim.
Dresses of Men
The dresses of men also differ depending upon the place they live in. The most common dresses of men are Trousers, Shirts, Dhoti-Kurta, Dhoti-Shirt, Kurta-Pyjama and Kurta-Lungi.
In many states, people still follow their traditional style of wearing dresses. Achkan with a turban is popular in Rajasthan; Chundar Pyjama and Jecket are common in Gujart and Dhoti-Kurta in Utter Pradesh and West-Bengal.
Trubans and Caps are a part of Indian mans headgerar. But the style of tying a turban varies from state to state.
The people of Utter Pradesh and Gujrat use Gandhi cap to cover the head. The cap of Himachal Pradesh is famous for its beautiful embroidery.
Festivals of India
India is a land of festivals. There is hardly any month of the year without a festival. We all celebrate festivals like Holi, Diwali, Id, Onam, Bihu, Guruparb, Chirstmas and Pongal with great Pomp and Slow.
A festival is a day of rejoicing. People wear new clothes and prepare many types of sweet and other dishes.
Some festivals are celebrated throughout the country. Other festivals are celebrated only in some parts of the country.
Festivals are mainly of three kinds: • National Festivals • Religious Festivals • Harvest Festivals
Now some discussion about these festivals in detail
National Festivals:-
National Festivals are celebrated by all the people in country. Independence Day, Republic day, Gandhi Jayanti are our National Festivals.
INDEPENDENCE DAY:
Independence Day is celebrated on 15th August every year. The prime Minister of India hoists the National Flag at Red Fort & addresses the people. The National Flag is also hoisted in schools, offices & other important places throughout the country. On 15thAugust 1947, India got freedom from the British Rule.
REPUBLIC DAY:
Republic Day is celebrated on 26th January every year. A big parade is taken out at Rajpath on this day. The President of India takes the salute of the Republic Day parade Children who won awards for bravery also take part in the parade. Tableaux from different states are a big attraction of parade. We also remember the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters on this day. On 26thJanuary, 1950, India becomes a Republic.
GANDHI JAYANTI
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on 2nd October every year. We celebrate this day to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Prayers are held at his Samadhi at Rajghat in New Delhi. People spin on Charkha & sing the Ramdhum. The whole country pays homage to the Father of the Nation on this day.
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
Religious Festivals are celebrated by the people of different religions. Some of the important religious of festivals are Dussehra, Diwali, Id, Christmas, Ganesh Chathurthi, & Durga Puja.
Dussehra:-
Dussehra is celebrated throughout the country. It is a ten-day festival. Ramlila is staged for nine days. On the tenth day the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath are burnt. This marks the day when Lord Rama killed the ten-headed demon king Ravana. This festival marks the victory of good over evil. That is why it is known as Vijay Dahmi.
Diwali:-
Diwali is called the Festival of lights. It marks the return of Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. People express their joy by lighting oil lamps (Diyas), candles & electric bulbs. People clean their homes & wear new clothes. Lord Ganesh & Goddess Lakshmi are worshiped on Diwali night. The children play with crackers.
Business men & traders celebrate this day as a NEW YEAR DAY.
ID-UL-FITTER:-
Id-Ul-Fitter is an important Muslim festival Id is celebrated at the end of Ramzan. Ramzan is the month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. On Id, Muslims wear new clothes & offer namaz in the Mosque Namaz is a form of worship of Good. They embrace each other & exchange greetings. They greet each other saying ‘Id MUBARAK’ Sewain, a special sweet dish, is prepared by the Muslims on this day.
CHRISTMAS:-
Christmas is celebrated every day on 2 year on 25th December by Christians. It marks the birthday of Jesus Chirst. Christians go to church at midnight or in the morning for offering prayers. A small Christmas tree is set up in every house. This tree is beautifully decorated with paper stars, bell & coloured glass balls. Children believe that Santa Claus leaved gifts for them under the Christmastree
GURUPARB:-
The birthday of the ten G. Sikh Gurus are celebrated by the Sikhs as Gurupards. The birthday of Guru Nanak, Guru Teg Bahadur, Guru Arjan Dev, & Guru Gobind Singh are celebrated with great pomp & show. Huge processions are taken out. The Sikhs go to Gurudwaras & listen to the Gurubani from their Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib.
DURGA POOJA:-
Durga Pooja is the most popular festival of Bengal. It lasts for ten days. For nine days, people worship ten armed images of goddess Durga, the Goddess of Shakti. On tenth day, images are immersed in a holy river. Thousands of people participate in this festival.
GANESH POOJA:-
Ganesh Pooja is celebrated in Maharashtra. People of all communities participate in it with great enthusiasm. Coloured idols of lord Ganesh are taken home.
BUDDHA PURNIMA:-
The birthday of Gautam Buddha is celebrated as Buddha Purnima. Special prayers are offered by the Buddhists on this day.
HARVEST FESTIVALS
Harvest Festivals are celebrated to mark the changes in seasons. Harvest is the time of gathering ripe crops.
HOLI:-
Holi, as harvest festival, is mainly celebrated in North India. It is called the festival of colours. It marks the end of winter.
PONGAL:-
Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated for three days. Bhogi Ponal, the first day, is celebrated by worshipping the sun. Surya pongal, the second day, is celebrated as a family festival.
ONAM:-
Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala. People believe that kind Mahadali visits the country on this day. People decorated their homes with coloured lights at night.
BAISAKHI:-
Baisakhi is the harvest festival of Punjab. It is celebrated in the month of April. People express their joy with the beat of dholak & perform the popular Bhangra dance.
BIHU:-
Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam. It is celebrated three times a year. Young boys & girls in typical Assamese dresses perform the special Bihu dance.
There are many other festivals celebrated in various parts of the country. A list of such festivals is given below:
| |Festival |Reason for celebration |
|1 |Raksha Bandhan |It marks deep affection between brother & sister. On this day sister ties a Rakhi |
| | |on the wrist of her brother. |
|2 |Basant Panchmi |It is celebrated in the honour of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. It is a |
| | |seasonal festival |
|3 |Good Friday |Christians fast on this day. Jesus Christ was crucified on this day. |
|4 |Mahavir Jayanti |It is the birthday of lord Mahavira |
|5 |Mohrrum |It is the mourning festivals of the Muslims. |
|6 |Id-Milod |It is the birthday & death anniversary of Prophet Mohammad |
|7 |Janam Asthmi |It is the birthday of lord Krishna. It is celebrated all over India. |
|8 |Shivaratri |It is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva |
|9 |Children’s Day |It is the birthday of Chacha Nehru. It is celebrated on 14thNovember every year. |
|10 |Teacher’s Day |It is celebrated on 5th September. It is the birthday of Dr. Radha Krishnan. |

.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Indian Culture

...time and do the homework to understand the culture of the countries they want to do business in. This paper discusses some detail Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions and how understanding the dimensions and as they relate to a specific culture can assist in determining a strategy for designing HRM policies to fit a particular countries culture. Although this paper will focus on India, you will be able to get a good idea of how the theory can be applied to any country with proper research of that countries culture. What is the definition of culture? It sounds like a very simple question, if you search the Internet, read books, talk to different people you will get different responses. However, if you pay close attention the answer is basically the same. To simplify things for the purpose of this paper I will use Merriam Webster Dictionary definition of culture: culture is the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc. a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business). From an HR/operations perspective understanding cultural differences is key to success in a global organization. This paper will focus on the Indian culture and the differences in US culture and the impacts on some HRM policies and approaches. Indian Culture and Business To fully understand the Indian culture would take some time. For the purpose of...

Words: 1310 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Asian Indian Culture

...Asian Indian Culture and Tradition NURS236: Transcultural Nursing March 29, 2016 According to the U.S. census, there are over 1.6 million people of Asian Indian origin in the United States. Asian Indians began immigrating to the U.S. as early as the turn of the 20th century. Most found work in agriculture working on farms. Between 1980 and 1990, the population of Asian Indians in the U.S. increased by 125%. Due to family reunification laws, the number of Asian Indian elders who followed their offspring to this country has also risen (India, 2015). There are now two major groups of Asian Indians, those who came to U.S. in the late 1960’s and early 70’s, and the group who came much later. According to the 1990 Census data, there were approximately 23,000 Asian Indian elders over the age of 65; 83% are foreign born and 51% do not speak English very well. Only 12%, however are classified as linguistically isolated (without an adult who speaks English in the household) – the smallest of any Asian ethnic group (India, 2015). Older Asian Indian immigrants are often financially dependent on their children. They face the challenges of a culturally different society, such as a language barrier, culture mismatch, new lifestyle factors, and role reversal. In traditional Indian society, extended family members usually live together as a single-family unit. Often, the husband's parents will join the family after they have retired or when help is needed. The grandparents' role in raising...

Words: 2202 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Amrican and Indian Culture

...No two cultures are the same. The American and Indian cultures have very vast differentiation between them..While the culture of America is a mixture of different cultures, the Indian culture is unique and has its own values. One of the major differences that can be seen between American and Indian culture is in family relations. While the Indians are very much family oriented, the Americans are individual oriented. In Indian culture, the family values are given more prominence than the individual values. Indians respect family values. On the other hand, in American culture the individual values gets prominence than the family values. Indians are more committed to their family where as the Americans are more committed to themselves only. In another sense, it can be said that the American culture is more goal oriented and the Indian culture is more people or family oriented. Indians may even forsake their individual wishes and also happiness for the sake of families. But in American culture, this trend cannot be seen. Unlike the Indians, the Americans plan things ahead. The Americans believe in dominating nature and controlling the enviorment around them. On the contrary, Indians believe in the harmony with nature. Another difference that can be seen between Indian culture and American culture is that the Indians love stability where as the Americans love mobility. In American culture, one can see that the individuals think of self-reliance and independent. On the...

Words: 433 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Navajo Indians and Their Culture

...Navajo Indians and Their Culture Kimberly Davis Intro. To Cultural Anthropology Instructor Jason Gonzalez 04/02/2013 Within the Navajo community, there are several dynamics that are used to keep the community together. Their culture, family bonds and work ethics are all factors that play major roles in the raising of their families and also with maintaining their land and properties. By nature, Navajo Indians are born Pastoralists, which means they are natural farmers of land. These ethics and techniques have been passed down from generation to generation from birth. This paper will explore how they communicate with one another and how they function together to maintain their culture and beliefs. I. Pastoralists a. Definition b. How Important Is It To Be A Pastoralists To The Navajo Indians 1. How did it become their primary mode of subsistence 2. Is this different from being just a farmer and in what ways II. What Are Three Aspects of Their Culture A. Beliefs and Values 1. What are they? 2. How are they determined? B. Kinship 1. Who is considered to be the head of the Tribe? 2. How is this determined? C. Sickness and Healing 1. Spiritual Aspect 2. Do they believe in modern medicine? References The Sense of Collectivism and Individualism among Husbands and Wives in Traditional and Bi-Cultural Navajo Families on the Navajo Reservation. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. Sept2011, Vol. 42...

Words: 292 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Indian Culture

...India is known to be the chaotic canvas of art and spirituality and this nature of this diversified country delights each and every one with its gaiety. The buzzing nation’s mind-blowing mix of exotic landscapes and intricately woven heritage bristles with compelling art exhibitions, pompous festivals and novel forms of highly creative expression. Behaviour of people, the way they communicate, their dressing styles, food habits form an integral part of the country’s culture, but when it comes to describing the culture of India, it can be said that the country is a cocktail of cultures and that is exactly the beauty of India. India has the proud parent of some of the greatest of religions namely Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism, and the country also embraces Islam and Christianity. People belonging to all these religions live together with harmony and this diversity promises 365 days of joys, colours, rituals and appealing cultural exchange. India is flavoured with the unity of rich culture whilst it takes a dip in diversity of the many religions that live under one sky, and it is true celebration when this sky is painted with joys of people beneath. This is exactly what happens during the international kite festival of Gujarat. Festivals in India form occasions for celebrations that bring everyone together and festivals like Holi, Diwali and Uttarayan which involve fun activities provide a brilliant stage for people from all religions to get together and be the reason...

Words: 584 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Indian Culture- Informative Speech

...Purpose: To inform Specific purpose: To inform my audience about the Indian culture's diversity Central Idea: India is a fascinating country with diverse traditions related to their language, their costumes, and their cuisine. Organization: Topical Order Visual Aids: Power Point Presentation Audience: University colleagues especially those interested in travelling or in improving their knowledge about cultural diversity. Introduction: I. “Namaste.” A. Does anyone understand what I said? B. I greeted you in Indian. The same word can also be used to say good-bye. C. Have you ever been watching T.V. and found documentary on the Indian culture on the discovery channel? Do you just skip it because you are not interested in other cultures? If you do so then you have missed a lot of interesting information about this fascinating culture. II. Similarly to the way Indians can use one word in a variety of meanings, the diversity of life is a hallmark of the Indian culture. III. As a university student interested in cultural diversity, and after conducting extensive research, IV. I would like to open your eyes on another part of the world and share with you a glimpse of India's diversity of life by looking at its languages, its costumes, and its cuisines. (Transition: Let’s start with Indian languages) Body: I. India is distinguished by a large linguistic...

Words: 959 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Cherokee Culture Influence On Indian Culture

...definition of the Blue Ridge province spreads westward to the Ridge and Valley area; The Blue Ridge encompasses also far north as Pennsylvania. The blue Ridge is also contained with the greater Smoky Mountains. They did have access to many unique foods that would go onto to change the basis of their cooking which in turn changes their culture. Food is a main aspect of culture that you cannot unentwined from each other. Any pre-contact culture that the Cherokee would have had would have been solely based on their access to different types of foods, and how that access lead to the establishment of culture through the easy access to said foods. This culture was put to the test when the Indian Removal act was passed after gold...

Words: 922 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Difference Between Indian and Spanish Culture

...between Indian and Spanish Culture According to Samovar and Porter (1994) “Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving.” (Stanford.edu, n.d.). Our culture defines who you are as a person; it contours ones judgment to a certain approach. In other words, it is our identity. Every nation has its own set of morals and is defined by its own distinct cultures; which gives rise to cultural differences between each and every country in this world. In this vast world, no two cultures are exactly identical. Taking into account India and Spain, needless to mention, both the cultures have an enormous amount of differences between them. Spain being a part of Europe is largely influenced by the European culture furthermore the Rome culture; on the other hand India’s culture is more multifaceted and has been influenced by colonialism over the past century- both collaterally and vernacularly (Sen Amartya, 2005). India is a home to a variety of different cultures; it is known to be the most diverse country in the world in every aspect. Looking into a major aspect of any culture that has existed, religion plays a major role in the upbringing. It influences the framework of a particular culture and individual...

Words: 1461 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The East India Company and Perceptions of Indian Culture

...Company and Perceptions of Indian Culture Throughout the 16th century, the Indian Ocean was filled with lucrative trade. Incredible amounts of capital and resources were exchanged all throughout the Indian Ocean from the Middle East to the shores of Japan. At the heart of all this trade stood the Indian subcontinent, whose merchants and monarchs accumulated vast amounts of wealth by taking advantage of their geographic position relative to the international market. Although the larger dynasties of Europe had learned of the vast material wealth of Asia through the travels of Marco Polo and other European explorers as early as the 14th century, it wasn’t until the 1600s that the first legitimate European trading companies set up shop in the east to bring Asiatic commodities to the European continent at a large scale. The first of said companies, the British East India Company, created under Elizabeth I of England, would bring not only great wealth, but also eventual colonization to the people of the India. The British East India Company arrived in the Indian subcontinent with purely economic goals. The merchants in the company adapted to Indian culture extremely well, quickly making friends with the monarchs of different Indian states, adopting and practicing Indian religions, marrying Indian women, and learning the vernacular languages of the continent so that they could seamlessly blend into the already thriving market. As English influence in the Indian economy grew, so did their...

Words: 1682 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Dreadful Impact If Indian Yellow Culture on Bangladeshi Youths

...Dreadful Impact of Indian ‘Yellow Culture’ on Bangladeshi young generation Md. Abdun Noor Shaheen Lecturer in Sociology Generally, culture refers the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group. And, of course, we have a very rich culture which we can feel proud of. But the shocking fact is that that our culture is now under a great threat because of foreign cultural aggression. Indian cultural practices, have especially added a new flavour to this extent and satellite TV channels run by India have made the path of aggression easier. Our young generation is so much affected and influenced by those channels that they are trying to practise what they see on the television screen. So from my point of view, Indian cultural practices are now turning as a threat rather than mere source of amusement. Some Concrete Facts of Indian forms of Culture: Indian films, for instance, are now at the epicenter of the culture wars. They are corrupting our youth. There are about ten Indian channels, showing movies and movie songs round the clock. We are quite stunned at many of the shows in Indian TV channels that are apparently for children. The Indian channels are full of contests when ten year old girls are dressed up and made up like Bollywood actresses, rotating to some hit Hindi songs, making all those suggested moves in front of thrilled audiences and approving panel of judges. Then...

Words: 1096 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Literature From A Salo Indian Culture Summary

...One's identity is the makeup of their culture, by transforming them into the person that he or she will be. Culture goes far back in time, since the beginning of mankind. Which is what separates us from animals. Since culture is the shared beliefs that a community has. The customs, values and morals that are implemented through generations. Without even thinking it, one tends to place their culture on their offspring or whoever will listen. In Leslie Silko's article Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian Perspective, she starts off by saying that a story is never ending. Every word within the story has its own story, as to why it came to have that connotation. Then there is Sandra Ciseneros's article Only Daughter, about a woman raised in a house with six of her brothers. Whom her father saw her as just a daughter and not someone that would achieve greatness. Lastly Mark Behrs article Boy discusses the generalization of being a man in a mans' world. The culture in Silko's, Cisneros's and Behr's article is unraveled through the setting, plot, and theme....

Words: 783 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Similarities Between Hurons And Native American Indian Culture

...Folktales, sometimes also known as myths, has strong ties with Native American tribes. Their sacred beliefs of divine things consists of places, animals, and people. Native American myths are slightly similar to each other. The Hurons ( an American Indian tribe) myths were related to the creation of the earth with the help of animals. Hurons believed in supreme deity and their myths were mainly concerned with how creations, living within the single water source, can be supportive in the beginning of this earth and how they can be helpful to the weak human beings. Huron myths show resemblance with each other, as they believed that animals were there to support humans. In “The Sky Tree”, the old chief’s wife, Aataentsic, was told to get the...

Words: 623 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Indian Culture

...Indian Culture Abstract India is located in continent Asia. It is Federal republic government. Its official language is Hindi and there are 14 other languages e.g. Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu and Punjabi. The major religion that is follow by majority of people is Hinduism. In India people speaks different languages, dress differently, follow different religions, eat different food but they all have the same nature. Whether it is a happy occasion or a moment of sadness people participate in it with feeling of happiness or pain. A festival or a celebration is never constrained to a family or home. They whole community or neighborhood is involved in bringing a joy to an occasion. In India people consider guests as a gift from god. They give much respect to guest and welcome them with open heart. Indian people look afterward for each other in every occasion. They live with love and peace. Religion There are three main religions in India; Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Buddhism is follow by 307 million people. Buddhists believe in Buddha as a spiritual being. According to the teachings of Buddha, we learn that there is nothing in self and that we only suffer and gain agony by going towards something that is not permanent. A Buddha is free from greed, hatred and ignorance, and characterized by wisdom, compassion and freedom. Hinduism...

Words: 973 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Indian Culture

...CULTURE OF INDIA Independence Day = 15th Aug 1947 In India, Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into force–on 26 January 1950–replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. Incredible India is the name of an international marketing campaign by the Government of India to promote tourism in India in 2002 to a global audience. Tourism is a major industry in India and the Ministry of Tourism launched a campaign to promote Incredible India as a tourist destination in 2002 Indian Flag – Facts • The saffron colour = denotes courage and sacrifice. • White colour = denotes truth, peace and purity. • Green colour = symbolizes prosperity, vibrance and life. • The Ashok Chakra (wheel) represents the righteousness, progress and perpetuity. The 24 spokes of the wheel represents the 24 hours of a day. • Indian flag was adopted on 22nd July 1947 • Nickname for Indian flag is Tiranga (Tricolor) Introduction • The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilization (3300–1300 Before Common Era; mature period 2600–1900 BCE) in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. • The Indus Valley is one of the world's earliest urban civilizations, along with its contemporaries, Mesopotamia (site of several ancient civilizations; part of what is now known as Iraq) and Ancient Egypt • "Ek sur" (One Tune) (languages of India), or Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" as it is better known, is an Indian song and accompanying...

Words: 640 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Indian Culture

...ndian cultureIndian Culture focusing on Hinduism Marriages are religiously, economically, politically, and socially oriented and they are usually arranged by the elders and extended family members. Many of the youth in India prefer arranged marriages, as it gives them the time and the ability to enjoy their youth without the constant worry of relationships and finding a mate. Many Indians look at marrying a person they don’t know, “a lifetime to learn to love them”, as to the American idea of learning a person inside and out before marriage. It can be said that an arranged marriage in India is not based on feelings, but rather on commitment. In American everyone makes their own decision on who they would like to marry, they marry for who they love. Wedding ceremonies can be expensive, and costs are typically paid by the parents of the female. It is not uncommon for middle-or upper-class weddings to have a guest list of over 500 people. Often, a live instrumental band is played. Vedic rituals are performed and then the family and friends bless the couple. Food is served to the entire guest list. The wedding celebrations can take up to one week depending on the practice in that different part of India. The woman takes the man’s name as their own. In American weddings can be cheap and can just go to the courthouse if money is tight. Most of the time a woman takes the man’s last name, but can keep her own if she wants. The married Hindu women in different parts of India follow...

Words: 827 - Pages: 4