Indian culture

India

Its culture

and tradition

Structure

• Introduction

• Language

• Clothing

• Recreation and sports

• Festivals

• Music

• Dance

• Literature

• Architecture

• Paintings

• Theatre

• Media

Introduction

• Diverse cultures» Different religions

» Different food

» Different languages

» Different social habits and characeristics

• Reasons» its vast geography

» immigrants and invaders

Language

• Many different languages

• You can divide them into

linguistic families

Language

• 415 living languages

• Two official languages of communication:

– Hindi and English

• There are “official languages“ at the state

and center but no one “national language“

• 14 official regional languages

Clothing

For Women:

1. the salwar kameez

2. the sari

For men:

1. The dhoti

2. the lungi

3. the kurta

Recreation and sports

• Martial arts originated in India

• Quite popular are: field hockey, soccer and

cricket

• Indigenous sports are kabaddi and gilli-

danda

• Popular indoor and outdoor games are

Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Playing cards,

Polo, Carrom and Badminton

Festivals• India is called the land of festivals and fairs

• There are many different festivals because of

the varied religions

• One festival that doesn't depend on the religion:

– Independence Day

Music

• Variety of folk, popular, pop, classical music

• Based and influenced by Hindu texts

• Was developed over many eras

• Remains instrumental to religious inspiration,

cultural expression and pure entertainment

• Ethnic groups, Persian, Arabic and English music

had an impact on it

Instruments

• Various string and wind instruments are

usual (Sitar)

• Several kinds of drums

and cymbals

Dance

• A lot of classical dances

• Every dance represents a different culture

and ethos of a region or group

• Often based on Hindu traditions at religious

events

Well-known folk dances:

• bhangra of the Punjab

• bihu of the Assam

• kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh

Literature

• Oldest tradition in the world

• Earliest works were orally transmitted and later

written down

• Literature in 22 officially recognised languages

• Hindu literary traditions dominate

• Today´s authors write in Indian and English

Architecture

• 300BC: the beginning can be traced back to

the advent of Buddhism

Caves of Ajanta

Kesava Temple

• Several Hindu temples in South India

• Islamic influence in 8th century

Taj Mahal

• Colonialism of Britain effects architecture

Victoria Memorial

Paintings

• Earliest painting were rock paintings

• Temple paintings testified to a love of

naturalism and God

Rangoli in front of the doorstep

Also important:

Madhubani Paintings

Rajput Paintings

Tanjore Paintings

Present day artists amalgamate global art with

Indian classical styles

eg. Devajyoti Ray

Indian-Theatre

• about cultures and traditions of

India

• Old and varied art form

• India, as a colony of the British

Empire, used theatre as one of

its instruments in protest

• Presently threatened by TV,

cinema and a lack of finance

Media

• Broadcasting in India flourished since 1992

• India's cable TV market ist one of the

world's largest

• Private radio: relative newcomer

• Lively press

• Internet use has soared

That was:

India

A diverse country and a diverse culture

Presented byAnke Hülsand

Kathrin Dirks