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WORLD CULTURES & FOLK CUSTOMS - 7, INDIA

SIMO JELACA, Ph.D.

FOREWORD

This book summarizes information about culture and customs of different nations. Noticeable differences in customs are among Christian, Islamic and Buddhist’s nations, although in all prevails intention for nice and greatest.

It will be too much to include every country, as there are similarities among many nations of the same or close nationalities. Characteristic are Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, or as well as Germany and Austria. The similar conclusion values for Latin nations, among themselves too.

Readers will find basic information about each country, such as its location and size, population and Ethnic Make-up, Religion, Climate, Language, Etiquettes and others.

This book can equally be used for travelers, either as tourists or business people, therefore everyone will find necessary information about Etiquette of people at their homes as well as at the business.

My intention was to find as much good information as possible. How much I have succeeded readers will judge it.

Author

INDIA

CULTURE AND FOLK CUSTOMS

Facts and Statistics

Official name: Republic of India

Area: 3,287,590 square kilometers. Highest point on mainland: Kanchenjunga 8,595 meters.

Capital: New Delhi over 25 million population.

Lowest point on land: Sea level

Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern

Time zones: 3:30 P.M. = noon GMT in West; 6:30 P.M. = noon GMT in East.

Longest distances: 3,214 kilometers (1,997 miles) from north to south; 2,933 kilometers (1,822 miles) from east to west

Land boundaries: 14,103 kilometers total boundary length; Bangladesh 4,053 kilometers; Bhutan 605 kilometers; China 3,380 kilometers; Myanmar 1,463 kilometers; Nepal 1,690 kilometers; Pakistan 2,912 kilometers.

Coastline: 7,000 kilometers.

Culture

India’s culture is among the world oldest; civilization in India began about 4,500 years ago. Many sources describe it as "Sa Prathama Sanskrati Vishvavara" — the first and the supreme culture in the world. Western societies did not always see the culture of India very favorably, Societies outside of Europe or North America, or societies that did not follow the European or Western way of life, were considered primitive and culturally inferior. Essentially this included all the colonized countries and people, such as African countries, India, and the Far East.``.

However, Indians made significant advances in architecture, mathematics and medicine. Today, India is a very diverse country, with more than 1.2 billion people, making it the second most populous nation after China. Officially Mumbai has 12.5 million population. Bangalore 8.5; Hyderabad 7; and Ahmadabad about 6 millions. Different regions have their own distinct cultures. Here is a brief overview of the culture of India.

Language

India has 28 states and seven territories. There is no official language in India, Many people living in India also write in Devanagari script. In fact, it is a misconception that the majority of people in India speak Hindi. Though many people speak Hindi in India, 59 percent of India residents speak something other than Hindi. Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Urdu are some other languages spoken in the country.

English is widely used throughout the Indian subcontinent, and is the “co-official” language of the country. Indian English has a distinct flavor and inflection that differs as you travel around different parts of the country.

Religion

India is identified as the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, the third and fourth largest religions. About 84 percent of the population identifies as Hindu, There are many variations of Hinduism, and four predominant sects — Shiva, Vaishnava, Shakteya and Smart.

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 Janise.

Food

Indian cuisine is also influenced by many other countries. It is known for its large assortment of dishes and its liberal use of herbs and spices. Cooking styles vary from region to region.

The Taj Mahal was built between 1631 and 1653.

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.

Many Hindus are vegetarians, but lamb and chicken are common in main dishes for non-vegetarians, between 20 percent and 40 percent of India's population is vegetarian.

Much of Indian food is eaten with fingers or bread used as utensils. There is a wide array of breads, a leavened, oven-baked flatbread, and a fried, fluffy flatbread common in North India and eaten with chickpea curry.

Architecture and art

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.

India is well known for its film industry, which is often referred to as Bollywood. Indian dance, music and theater traditions span back more than 2000 years. The major classical dance traditions: Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam and Kathakali.

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 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. The Nehru jacket is a shorter version of a sherwani.

Customs and celebrations

The country celebrates Republic Day (Jan. 26), Independence Day (Aug. 15) and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (Oct. 2). Diwali is the largest and most important holiday to India. It is a five-day festival known as the festival of lights because of the lights lit during the celebration to symbolize the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness. Holy, the festival of colors, also called the festival of love, is popular in the spring.

Hands and Feet

There’s a whole hierarchy of the body parts in Hinduism. The head is superior to the rest of the body, and the feet are lowest on the rung.

Feet are considered dirty in India, so take off your shoes before you step into someone’s house. Don’t step on anything important and if you do, immediately express your apologies.

It’s a sign of deference to bend down and touch a respected elder’s feet in India.

The left hand is customarily used for cleaning oneself after defecation, so Indian people never eat with their left hands. Also remember never to pass on anything – money or a gift – to an Indian with your left hand. The most conservative Indians might take offense.

Indian Customs and Traditions

Faith, family and castes shape just about every aspect of Indian culture -- from birth to death -- and all the trials and parties in between. Individuals inherit their social position and stay within it throughout life.

A caste, or jati (meaning "birth"), is the level within the social system that determines who people will marry and often even what line of work they can pursue, where they can live and what they can eat. There are more than 2,000 jati and they fall within four recognized caste groups, or varnas:

• Brahmins -- priests and the most educated

• Kshatriyas -- warriors and landowners

• Vaishyas -- merchants

• Sudras -- craftsmen and workers

A fifth, unofficial group, the Panchamas were historically called the "Untouchables" and in more recent years the Dalit or "Oppressed." To be identified and included as part of a social caste, most Indians remain within family units that cross generations, from youngest to oldest, all living within the same housing quarters or complex. Men in a family line often stay with their birth families until their own fathers die and they start extended families of their own, while women will leave their homes once they marry and become part of another's extended family unit.

Most females in India leave their families at a young age and a family's caste and location have a lot to do with when a girl will be married, in 1978 the age limit by law became 18. With parental consent, however, many families follow their religious laws and cultural traditions and arrange marriages for girls before and after puberty. And while many in modern-day India embrace the practice of marrying for love and romance among two people, the most common practice is for the families to find mates for their children in an arranged marriage based on caste, religious beliefs and astrology.

Once a bride and groom are promised to one another (and often after a bridal dowry or financial exchange from the bride's family to the groom's takes place), a series of engagement parties, beauty rituals, and family meals and parties begins, leading up to a marriage celebration that lasts from three days to a week. Along with rich décor and sumptuous feasts, Indian weddings usually feature a bride in red. Believed to symbolize prosperity, luck and fertility, red bridal wear is a traditional favorite. Marriages tend to last for life and the divorce rate in India is very low, estimated at 10 percent.

Death Ceremony

After a person passes away, the cremation is done according to certain rituals. The rituals continue a few days after the death.

Greetings

The Namaste is India's traditional greeting. One presses the palms together (fingers up) below the chin and says Namaste. For superiors or to show respect, a slight bow is added.

Out of respect for women's privacy, men usually do not shake hands with or touch women in public.

Indians usually ask permission before taking leave of others.

Gestures

Excessive hand gestures or verbal articulation is considered impolite.

Particularly in the north, the right hand is used for passing objects, eating, and shaking hands, as the left is traditionally reserved for personal hygiene.

Grasping one's own ears expresses repentance or sincerity. One's feet or shoes should not touch another person, and if they do, an immediate apology is necessary. Whistling is very impolite. Women do not wink or whistle; such behavior is considered unladylike. Public displays of affection are inappropriate.

Footwear is removed before entering a temple, mosque, or Sikh shrine. When entering a Sikh shrine, all people cover their heads. Women also cover their heads in temples.

Hindu Customs and Traditions

1. When Hindu people meet each other, they greet each other by putting together the palms of both hands and to each other and saying “Namaste” or “Namastar”.

2. Before starting any good work Hindus worship Lord Ganesha and chant mantra.

3. Hindus do not wear footwear inside houses, temples, and other places. They do not enter temples after consuming alcohol.

4. They apply a spot between the eyebrows on the forehead at the time of worship.

5. They do not eat non-vegetarian food on Monday, Thursday and festival days.

6. Most marriages are of arranged type. Marrying outside the caste is considered as a bad practice.

7. Marriage is a big ceremony. It is like a prestige issue.

8. They do not kill snakes on Monday and festival days.

9. Hindus pierce the ears of babies and put golden earrings in them. Hindu women pierce their noses also.

10. A married Hindu woman wears a Mangalsutra around her neck, and toe rings, as a sign that she is married.

11. A son of Hindu people takes care of his parents in their old age. Mother, Father and Teacher are considered as next to God and are highly respected.

12. Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu incarnates from time to time to restore Dharma.

13. Generally, Hindu women and girls wear clothes which cover all the body except face, such as Sari, Lehengas,Salwar Kameez and Ghagra.

14. A married Hindu woman considers her husband as God, and husband considers her as his half body.

15. Hindu people tie black dolls over the front door of the house to stop bad powers from entering the house.

16. Hindu people have miniature idols of deities. They clean and worship them every day. The idols or pictures of Hindu deities are kept so that they do not face the South. It is believed that hell is located in the south and paradise in the North.

    
    

It will be continued

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