- India
- Demography
- Villages and Cities
- States and UTs
- Geography
- Climate
- Natural Resources
- Flora and Fauna
- The Economy
- Government
- History
- Art and Architecture
India has been a melting pot of people since the beginning of its history. Indians speak 15 major languages and hundreds of dialects. They practice many different religions and observe a variety of customs and traditions.
Origins
Although India is made of a varied ethnic groups, the majority of its people are of Dravidian and Indo-Aryan ancestry. The Dravidians have lived in India since pre-historic times The Indo-Aryans first arrived in the subcontinent about 1500 B.C. The two people differed in appearance, language, and customs. The Indo-Aryans were taller, with lighter skin colour and prominent noses. They spoke a language related to the modern European languages. Their religious beliefs evolved into Hinduism. The Indo-Aryans became the dominant people of India, particularly in the north. Southern India remained principally Dravidian.
Religion
Nearly all the world's major religions are represented in India. The vast majority of the people (about 83%) are Hindus. Islam is second largest in the number of followers, with about 12% of the population. Other religious groups include Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. India also has smaller communities of Parsis (Zoroastrians) and Jews.
Languages
The major languages of India may be divided into two broad groups. Those of northern, western and eastern India are derived from ancient Sanskrit, an Indo-European language and the sacred language of Hinduism. They include Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Urdu. The languages of the south - Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu - belong to the Dravidian family, although they have been influenced by Sanskrit. Kashmiri and Urdu also contain many words from Arabic and Persian.
Hindi, the national language, is spoken by about 30% of the population. Most educated English as well as Hindi and their regional language. Indian children are taught both their regional language and Hindi (the national language) in the primary and lower-secondary levels of school. Later they may also learn English, Sanskrit or Persian.
Education
Education in India is the responsibility of the state as well as the central government. In almost all the states, schooling is compulsory (required by law) for all children between the ages of 6 and 14. The students who graduate from the higher secondary schools may be admitted to one of India's more than one hundred universities.
India has made great strides in education since independence. It has more than doubled the literacy rate. However, the literacy rate is still unfavourable for women (75% of men and 54% of women are literate according to the 2001 Census). In addition, many of the village elementary schools have only one teacher.
Family life
Family ties are very strong in India. The Indian family is made up not only of a husband and wife and their children, but also includes a large "joint family". Sons bring their wives to their parents' home and bring up their children there. Often the joint family includes grandsons and their wives and children. Daughters and granddaughters remain in the family till they get married. Then they become part of their husband's joint family. After the death of the head of the family, a very large joint family may split apart, as sons start new families of their own. In the joint family all the property is held together, and all able members work together for the benefit of the entire family, including who are too old or sick to care for themselves.
Men traditionally took care of family money matters and the family's relations with the outside world. Women managed the household. Neither men nor women interfered with each other's duties. All members of the family respected the authority of the elders, particularly of the oldest male, in outside matters. But the mother had a great deal of authority in matters affecting the running of the household.
In recent years, the joint family system has begun to break up as result of new job opportunities in the cities. Couples and their children drift off to look for jobs. Family members, however, still consider the joint family home as their center, to which they return regularly.
Most marriages are traditionally arranged by the parents of the bride and groom. Dating takes place only among Westernized Indians.
Children grow up in the warmth of a large family circle, which includes many young cousins and brothers and sisters to play with. Hindu children celebrate "Sister's Day," called Raksha Bandhan Day. A sister ties a rakhi (silken amulet) around the wrist of her brother for his protection, and in turn he gives her a gift.
The Caste System
The peculiar Indian institution of the caste system developed out of the early Aryan custom of separating people according to the work they did. Members of each caste tend to follow a common occupation. For example, servants, janitors, and other menial workers belong to the lower castes, while educators and administers are often members of the higher castes. Families that make up a caste usually live in the same neighbourhood.
The castes are hereditary social classes. An Indian born in a low-caste family cannot change to a higher caste by education or wealth. In fact the entire Indian social structure is rigidly restricted by the caste system.
Formerly, members of a hereditary group called untouchables (considered outcastes) were much discriminated against by the higher Hindu castes. Although they make up a very large group, the untouchables were segregated in the Indian society. But the practice of untouchability has been abolished after independence due to social reform movements by Mahatma Gandhi.
Festivals
India is famous for the large number of festivals its people celebrate. Almost literally, each day one or the other festival is celebrated in some part of the country. The great many Indian religious beliefs and different cultural traditions account for the large number of festivals in India.
Dasehra, one of the chief festivals of India, celebrated in September or October, symbolizes the triumph of Good over Evil. In Delhi, Dasehra celebrations are climaxed with the burning of giant images of legendary demons made of bamboo and papier-mâché and stuffed with firecrackers. In Mysore (southern India), a parade is led by the governor of the state riding a richly decorated elephant.
Dipavali, or the Festival of Lamps, is celebrated in October or November. All homes are lit with lamps or candles to show great joy.
Holi is the festival of colors. Originally a festival to celebrate the end of winters and arrival of spring seasons, Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. According to the legend, an arrogant king resented his son Prahlada from worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempted to kill his son but failed each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika, who was said to be immune to fire, took the boy in her lap and sat on a huge pyre. However, the prince Prahlada emerged unscathed, while his aunt burnt to death.
For Indian Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr is the chief Festival. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year is observed by Muslims as a sacred month, during which they fast everyday from dawn to sunset. The Eid-ul-Fitr festival marks the end of the month of Ramadan and is celebrated as an especially joyful event.
Christmas is celebrated by Christians throughout India. In some northern Indian villages, groups of Christians sing native Christmas carols to the accompaniment of musical instruments.
The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, is celebrated with great joy, as is the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, a Sikh religious leader.
Independence Day (August 15) is observed by people all over the country with a sense of national pride, but Republic Day (January 26) celebrations in New Delhi, the capital are most impressive.
