The unique culture of India has several specific customs and traditions. We all refer to India as a home to an end number of religions and languages. Every outsider finds it intriguing that how the people of India value and respect its rich heritage. Not only Indians but also the foreigners admire the unique culture of India and are keen to know why it is still prevalent.
In the words of the famous American author Mark Twain, the representation of the unique tradition of India is expressed as:
“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great-grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”
Interesting Facts About the Unique Culture of India
India is a large sub-continent with a huge population, beautiful landscapes, breathtaking sights, and an extremely rich culture. It is famous for its people, traditions, lifestyle, festivals, and customs. From ancient times, thousands of people visit India either for business or sightseeing and take a lot of memories with them.
India and its unique culture hold a very special place in the hearts of people throughout the world. The prominent attributes of the unique culture of India that makes it special are as follows:
The Namaste : Unique Culture of India
Namaste! This is the way people greet each other in every corner of India. They bow down with their palms folded right in front of their chests, as they utter the word ‘Namaste’. This is not a mere gesture for greeting others but has a specific meaning. The word ‘Namaste’ translates as ‘I bow to the divine in you’ and has its roots in the ancient scriptures of India. Surprisingly, Namaste is not only a tradition on the Indian subcontinent and is in use in yoga practices and meditation around the globe.
Festivals
Somebody has rightly said that it is always festive in India. As people practice a variety of religions in India, they’ve endless festivals associated with them. These festivals mark on or the other special occasions mentioned in the ancient scriptures. The Hindus celebrate Holi, Diwali, Dusshera, Durga Puja, and a lot of other famous festivals of India. The Sikhs celebrate Gupurab, Christians have Christmas Day, Muslims have Eid, and so on. And surprisingly, all the famous festivals of India are National holidays in the Indian calendars.
People of India
The people of India have good vibes. They have happy faces and laugh a lot and always pass a smile whenever they’re around visitors. This is a way of showing that they are welcome and should feel comfortable. It’s not a show-off but real and genuine behavior. This is something one feels everywhere around him whether it’s in local transportation, or at the tourist spots. The people are friendly and very welcoming, they easily mingle with everybody they meet. And this is what makes India and its people unique.
Dance forms : Unique Culture of India
India is known for its unity in diversity and its dance forms are no exception. Different kinds of dance forms originated in India are categorized as folk and classical dance. Every dance form represents the culture of the region from where it got its origin. The eight dance forms which are also Indian Classical dances and have a mention in the Natyashastra are:
- Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu
- Kathakali from Kerela
- Kathak from North, West and Central India
- Mohiniyattam from Kerela
- Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh
- Odissi from Odhisa
- Manipuri from Manipur
- Sattriya from Assam
The Holy Cow
In the unique culture of India, we consider the cow as a Goddess, and thus it is sacred and pious. People believe that a cow is a deity and they worship it in one form or the other. Moreover, cow slaughter is a ban in most of the states of India by law. The cow has auspicious significance in the culture and tradition of India. Even the Vedic scriptures emphasize the need to care and protect cows.
The temples
India is the home to an end number of temples of different deities. People go there with a deep belief that their troubles would come to an end. It is a custom to take off the footwears outside the sacred place before going in. However, it is not just a custom but a scientific reason behind it. Most of the temples are situated along the magnetic field lines of the earth which helps in maximizing the amount of positive energy inside the place. Additionally, the copper plate on which the idols are placed is buried deep inside the earth and thus absorbs more energy and radiates it in the atmosphere. Eventually, we feel relaxed and full of positivity when we visit a temple.
Arranged Marriage
The custom of arranged marriage is prevalent in India and is a favorite for all the Indian families. This tradition traces its roots back to the time when the kings organized Swayamwar for their daughters to find a suitable match. Many princes would come and prove their wit and strength by performing certain specified tasks. The one who would win the heart of the princess would get a chance to marry her or else she would decide if she finds the man suitable for her or not. And from then, this trend became popular in India where a girl finds a suitable match for her and marries him with the support of her family.
Atithi Devo Bhavah
In the unique culture of India, the saying ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah’ holds great importance. The saying translates to ‘a guest is equivalent to a deity’ and thus we should respect and welcome our guests. The Vedic scriptures have the saying engraved in them and it is being followed as a custom for ages. Even today, we treat every guest as our God and serve them with respect and gratitude.
Because of all these attributes, people all over the world appreciate the unique culture of India. And surprisingly, many other countries have accepted and adopted many different traditional practices of India. India is famous for its unity in diversity since ages and this will continue for years to come.