The composite culture of India

The composite culture of India.

Introduction

Indian culture has by far earned a lot of dignity and respect worldwide. Our culture is a diversified one, still we have unity in our presentation and outlook. Such a presentation is the facet of India and we Indians bear the credit of carrying this heavy task of maintaining the cultural unity so far in our country. India is a place where we find every religion, culture and dialect has equal respect and prestige.

Importance of Indian Culture

Indian culture has a special significance. It’s presence in the country increases the pride and prestige of the nation throughout the world. Not just within India, but Indian culture has its spell spread all over the world. Many of the foreigners get attracted to our culture and prefer getting settled in our nation. This is another uniqueness of our culture and tradition that we have a welcoming heart. Our gates are open for anyone and everyone who wants to get incorporated into our living and lifestyle. The compositeness of our culture gives a variety of choice for the outsiders to start on with a research work. Our culture is so vast that it could hardly be explained into words.

The Composite Culture of India

The composite culture of India has a captive nature. It has a magnetic property which attracts lot many people. The inquisitiveness increases the more the person tries to get into the knowledge of India culture and traditions. Our country has immense diversity in lifestyle, traditions, customs, outlook, religion, region, caste and much more. People across the world are in a great surprise to understand the unity in our thinking and affection for the motherland with such a vivid and varied lifestyle among the citizens. This is what, is the beauty of the composite culture of India.

• Religion

India is said to be country of unity in diversity, where people of several religions (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi….) live together. Each religion preaches its followers to live a peaceful & fruitful life, to pray to god, to have a clean heart, to not harm anyone, to do charity, to contribute to the society. They are a part of Indian value system; they provide direction to the way of living.

• Marriage and Family Structure

It is one of the few countries where marriages are arranged by parents rather than the more popular western culture of live-in relationships, co-habiting, and love marriages. Whilst there is a trend of increasing love marriages in India as well, but still most are arranged. There is still vast existence of joint families where new generation takes care of the old generation and the elders spend time with their grand-children helping them grow with knowledge of the value and ethics of past. It is a boon to have your parents and grandparents with you even when you have grown up and taken responsibility of your life, as many a times you will realise that they have faced the challenges you face and would face in future; their knowledge and experience will in most cases be relevant and helpful. At the least there is a different confidence when one knows that when things go wrong, you have you elders to take care or support.

• Clothing - The evidence of dignity in outlook

While western culture is corrupting and finding its way in to the modern Indians, our traditional way of dressing is still prevalent and most people post their university age knowingly or unknowingly follow it. It is not surprising that many westerners adore Indian way of dressing and you may be surprised that some of them can wear a saree orsuit as good as an Indian. In short, the Indian way of clothing is to cover your body sufficient to not show off what is not required or not considered decent in public. It does have a charm to it.

• Indian Cuisine - The diverse taste and flavour

As in case of religion India have several regions (states) and each state has a different flavour which is delightful in its own way. There are too many to mention or count but the same dish has a different taste in different state and different dishes obviously have a difference. Indian Cuisine has both taste and nutrition and one can spend a decade trying to taste all of them, but the list will not exhaust. To name but a few Mumbai’s bhel puri & batata pao, Hydrabad’s biryani, Delhi’s chat, Rajasthan’s daal baati choorma, Mathura’s peda, Agra’s petha, Goa’s sea food and the list goes on. There are countless spices which are used uniquely with each dish which will turn on your taste buds.

• Dialect – a bouquet of unique flower collection

There are as many or more languages than the number of states in the nation, and each language is unique in its own way. Hindi is the national language, but each individual has affinity to his/ her mother tongue. Though having so many dialects, still our people respect and reciprocate the same humbleness to each other even without the knowledge of other’s languages.

• Music and Art – the soul of India

Indian music and dance forms also have a great charm. Indian states have their own dance patterns which is unique to the state viz. kuchipudi, bhangra, bharatnatyam etc. Similarly we have taste for all sorts of music forms ranging from Hindustani, classical, soft light music, high beats to the western music forms. People have a liking and respect for all forms of music forms.

Again, we have great artists in our nation. The art doesn’t limit itself to the paintings, but the sculptures, the various sorts of paintings, the craftsmen and many more. Our people have a sound knowledge of the art and craft work and an appreciable delivering hand and potential.

• Heritage – a portrait of the Indian civilization

Our heritage across the nation is the evidence of our culture and civilization even prior to the era of kings. The heritage of India is well maintained and government takes every possible step to preserve this as a National Treasure. The Indian Heritage attracts many tourists even from abroad.

• Festivals and celebrations – the colourful saga.

A country with several religions and regions, India has the advantage of celebrating all the different festivals for each of these. Mostly these festivals are celebrated by all irrespective of religion like Holi – a festival of colour, Dipawali – festival of lights, Id, Ramzan, Christmas, Easter, Budh Poornima, Guru Purab and many more. Each festival is celebrated with same delight, pomp and show. The happiness is not limited to people of a single religion, but all other take equal part in the delight and merry. We can hardly find any other country where people of different religion enjoying the festive mood for the festivals of other religions as well.

Challenges in Maintaining the Rhythm of Composite Culture

Though we share our composite culture and unity in diversity with much pride, but it is equally challenging to maintain the calmness and integrity across such a big nation, where people of diversified outlook and thinking mingle at a single nodal point. Our government has undoubtedly made much efforts in satisfying the ego and requirements of people from all the sects of the society. So far we have delivered very well and kept up the prestige of being a Big United Nation with integrity.

Conclusion

It is a cheerful topic to summarize our smarter outlook and unified thinking. Though we do have many issues coming up every now and then, still our hearts speak united the rhythm of Indians and this term in itself bind us with an invisible cord. This cord of understanding, trust, love, care and affection is definitely unbreakable and this unity will remain in our heart and soul for ever. Our composite culture will always prevail and we will always project ourselves with same pride and prestige.