Introduction
Indian culture has earned wide dignity and respect in the world. The Indian culture is unique and diversified since the beginning and has developed and assumed the current form through lots of ups and downs. This is the incredible facet of India that earns the credit from across the world. India boasts of its maximum religions, cultures and dialects, geographical varieties, by keeping in healthy and equal balance, respect and prestige by means of its magical unity.
Indian culture has a special flavour and grandeur, which maximises and encourages the pride of the nation. India has also succeeded in spreading its culture almost across the world. Foreigners are often captivated by its grand diverse culture. Some of them prefer even to settle in India. This is another speciality of our culture and tradition. Indians are always liberal and exercise broader sense and outlook, so they have kept their gates open for all who want come and settle and share their ways of living and lifestyle, of course with equal respect and freedom. The composite characteristic of our culture is its own identity which gives an open choice to the outsiders to begin their journey from here. Naturally, it is a matter of fact that it captivates foreigners. The inquisitive of a person makes him more inclined to get into the knowledge of India culture and traditions and its diversity in lifestyle, customs, traditions, region, outlook, caste and much more.
Religion
In India, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, etc. all coexist together in peace and progress. They freely practise their religious rituals, clothing and even eat the food as per their choice. All religions preach their followers to live a peaceful and successful life; to convey their prayer to their respective or all existing forms of God; to be secular at heart; to not attack anyone in anyway; and above all to contribute to betterment of the society. They are thus an integral part of Indian values.
Marriage and Family Patterns
Arranging marriages too are the integral part of Indian culture. It is also rare in the world. Customs like cohabiting, live-in relationships, and love marriages are popular in western countries. The growing trend of love marriage in India is adding flavour to this custom and increases it variety. But the arranged marriage is major and even many love marriages are fruited in arrange marriage. People have growing tendency to nuclear family. But there are still innumerable joint families. But the present generation also feels the importance of joint family and are some of them inclined to retain the custom because there are wide scope to take care of the old generation; passing time with the elders as well as grandchildren sharing and helping them to be aware of the world as well as grow with knowledge on moral values and ethics. In reality, it is a boon to be in a joint family. In the hard time one can have lots of well wishers and guide and support from within the family and encouragement for moving ahead with confidence.
The Dignity in Clothing
Indian traditional way of dressing is still prevalent though vulnerable to western culture. It is the fact that many westerners appreciate Indian dressing style and some even can wear a saree or suit as an original Indian does. In a word, Indian clothing style is intended to cover the body sufficiently in order to hide the unnecessary parts of our body that are against the custom of decency in public. It has a significant side while westerners think it savage and are prone to show their shame as the parts of attraction in public.
Indian Cuisine with Various Tastes and Flavours
Since the beginning, India has been the breeding ground of many diverse groups of people. Evidently, it has diversity in cuisine too. There are varieties of dishes with different taste and flavour in different states. The cuisine has taste and nutrition as well as tradition. Some of the most popular ones are bhel puri and batata pao of Mumbai; Delhi’s chat; biryani of Hyderabad; daal baati choorma of Rajasthan, peda of Mathura; Agra’s petha, Goa’s seafood and so on. Moreover, India is land of spices, so the dishes do not lack a little scope of lacking taste. Various spices are blended in unique manners in each dish to enrich the best-in-class taste.
Dialects
India is again a land of many ethnic groups, castes, creed and sub-castes, besides the upper classes. Normally, there are languages as well as dialects. They are even enriched with their own dialectic flavour. People of different parts of India attract outsiders by the specialities of their dialects as they are the only source to know more about their origin and development through ages.
Music and Art
Ancient India betrays the flavour and superiority of music and dance forms. Each state practises their own folk tales, folk dances and folk songs. They are unique in their charm. Some most well-known of them are bhangra, kuchipudi, bharatnatyam, uttamthullal, etc. Music too has its various forms ranging from classical, Hindustani, soft light music, high beats to the western music forms. The world is attracted by different dance and music forms of India. India has also given birth to many great artists who have enthroned our art in the world and have left a significance impression in the world of art. The art ranges from various sorts of paintings, sculpture, the craftsmen and many more.
Heritage
Since the ancient times, our heritage has shown its evidence as the superior and enriched culture and civilisation. So, our heritage too attracts people from across the world. The governments are taking possible measures to preserve this National Treasure for the future generation.
Festivals
A land with various religions has many festivals and celebrations. Indians celebrate some days of national significance like, the Independence Day, Republic Day and birthdays of national leaders and freedom fighters. The festivals are mainly based on different religions. Hence, they are celebrated by the respective religions in their own ways. The most popular ones are Diwali (festival of lights), Holi (a festival of colour), Christmas, Easter, Eid, Ramzan, Guru Purab, Budh Poornima, and so on. Each festival has its own speciality and grandeur. The happiness is not limited to people of one religion, with the passage of time and people’s awareness on the festivals, it spreads among the other too.
Rhythmic Composite Culture
The composite culture as well as its unity in diversity is always challenging to maintain integrity, peace and communal harmony as every sect and religion has people with different outlook which very often stirs communal riots and violence. In this regard, the role of the government as well as the citizens in general, undoubtedly makes endless efforts to satisfy the ego and the demands of the people from all communities of the society.
Conclusion
Above all, the cultural compositeness of India is captivating. There is nothing in the world that only gives happiness, but sorrow. But our sole accountability is to maintain and keep a healthy balance so that we may get the brighter sides always. Hence, the Indians irrespective of religion, creed and community feel to be Indians, incorporate possible measures for the betterment, peace and progress of this enriched nation, not to be blind by narrowness of religion or community. Our composite culture needs strong bond among its people as well as for the whole world.