Vedic and Pur

• The vast Vedic literature can be analyzed on its own terms by considering its
• various layers. The Vedic books, such as the Sam. hit as and the Br ahman.
• as (in particular, the Aitareya and the Satapatha), mention names of kings in an incidental fashion. But they do at times provide the genealogies of r.s.is. The Vedic books have been preserved with astonishing accuracy and a tradition has preserved the names of the authors of hymns or verses when a hymn has multiple authors. But not all the famous kings of the R.
• gvedic age are lauded in the hymns.

On the other hand, the bards (s utas) of the Pur an. as and the epics have
preserved genealogies of kings and other people. \As seen by good people in
the ancient times, the s uta's duty was to preserve the genealogies of gods,r.s.
is and glorious kings and the traditions of great men." (V ayu P. 1. 31-2)
According to the epics and the Pur an. as (e.g. Mah abh arata 1.63.2417, V ayu
P. 60. 11-12) the arranger of the Vedas was Par a sara's son Kr.s.n.a Dvaip  ayana Vy asa who lived at the time of the Bh arata battle. The most famous historical event mentioned in the R. gveda is \the Battle of the Ten Kings", (da sar aj~na), mentioned in four hymns of the seventh book of the R.gveda (18, 19, 33, 83). The battle took place between Sud as, the Tr.tsu king, and a confederacy of ten people that include Pakthas, Bh al anas, Alinas, Sivas, and Vis. an. ins. One of the hymns of the R. gveda (10.98) is, according to the indices, composed by Dev api, and this hymn mentions Santanu, Bh s.ma's father.

This appears to be the youngest hymn in the R. gveda, and thus the reference is supportive of the Indian tradition. The Yajurveda does not mention anyone later than Dhr.tar as.t. ra, and the Atharvaveda mentions a Par ks.it ruling over the Kurus. There is no mention in the Vedic Sam. hit as of any of the Pur an. ic kings who came much after the Bh arata battle.
.
Although the Pur an. as have su ered extensive revisions, the core Pur an. a
can be dated to Vedic times. Atharvaveda 11.7.24 mentions Pur an. a along
with the three other Vedas. Satapatha Br ahman.
a 11.5.6.8 refers speci cally to the itih asa-pur an. a and 13.4.3.13 refers to the recitation of the Pur an. a. There is a similar reference in the Ch andogya Upanis.ad 3.4.1.

According to the Vis.n.u Pur an. a, the original Pur an. a was transmitted to
Romahars.an.a byVy asa. Romahars.an. a taught it to his six disciples, including his son Ugra sravas. At that time the Pur an. a consisted of 4,000 verses. The oldest three Pur an. as|the V ayu, the Matsya, and the Brahm an.d.
a|are supposed to have been narrated in the reign of Adhis makr.s.n.a, the great-great grandson of Par ks.it. The V ayu Pur an. a was rst narrated to a gathering of r.s. is, performing their twelve-year sacri ce in the Naimis.a forest on the banks of the river Dr.s. advat .

A Pur an. a is supposed to have ve distinguishing marks: sarga (primary
creation of the universe), pratisarga (secondary creation), vam. sa (genealogy), manvantar an. i (the reigns of Manus in di erent yugas), and vam. s anucarita (history). Within this framework, the bards have found t to add new episodes, but king lists have always remained an important component of
the books. Over the centuries, the Pur an. as have become enlarged with additional material and reworking of old material. The Vis.n. u Pur an.a gives
genealogies of the various dynasties of which that of the Aiks. v akus is the
most complete, giving ninety-three generations from the mythical Manu to
Br.hadbala of the Bh arata battle. The dynasty of the P urus is assigned ftythree
generations for the same period. Clearly, the lists are not complete,
and in fact the Pur an. ic tradition itself claims that the lists are incomplete
(e.g. Matsya Pur an. a 49.72). This is true even of the Iks. v aku line, which
is the longest (e.g. V ayu Pur an. a 88.213). It appears therefore that some
other system of reckoning must have also been used, because we nd it is
still possible to obtain a consistent list by the use of internal synchronisms
and through cross-validation with independent sources.

The Vedic genealogies of r.s. is can be found in the Satapatha Br ahman. a
(10.6.5.9) and Br. had aran. yaka Upanis. ad (2.6; 4.6; 6.5), but such lists are
not characteristic of the Vedic books. However, the Anukraman. s provide
invaluable references to the composers of the hymns. The Vedic books do
not present history in any systematic fashion. Nevertheless, the isolated
references to kings and r.s. is can be compared usefully with the independent
references in the Pur an. as to obtain a chronological framework for the events
of the Vedic era. The famous kings of the epics and the Pur an. as were M andh atr., Hari scandra, Sagara, Bhag ratha, Da saratha, and R ama of Ayodhya; Sa sabindu and Arjuna K artav rya of the Y adavas; Dus.yanta, Bharata, Ajam d. ha, Kuru and Santanu of the Pauravas; Jahnu and G adhi of K anyakubja; Divod asa and Pratardana of K a s ; Vasu Caidya of Cedi and Magadha; Marutta Av ks.ita and Tr.n. abindu of the Vai s ala kingdom; and U s nara and Sivi of the Anavas. Of those that are mentioned in the R. gveda are Bharata (RV 6.14.4), Santanu (RV 10.98.1), Ajam d.ha (RV 4.44.6), M andh atr. (RV 1.112.13, 8.39.8, 8.40.12) and R ama (RV 10.93.14). FurthermoreR.
gveda 10.34 is attributed toM andh atr., 10.179.1 is attributed to Sivi, and 10.179.2 is attributed to Pratardana. Of the kings lauded in theR. gveda, Vadhrya sva, Divod asa, Sr.~njaya, Sud as, Sahadeva and Somaka appear as kings in the North Pa~nc ala genealogy, but there is no description of their exploits. On the other hand, other R. gvedic kings such as Abhy avartin C ayama na, S rutarvan A rks.a, Pla yogi A san_ ga and Svanaya Bh avya are unknown in the epics and the Pur an. as. That Sud as, the most famous king of the R .gveda, should just be a name in the Pur an. as can be explained in two ways. First, this king lived long before the compilation of the genealogies and second, the focus of his exploits was far from the region where the Pur an. ic genealogies were organized. The Pur an. as themselves claim that the s utas were originally from the eastern regions of Magadha and An upa, and this was far from the locale of the Sud as battle in north Punjab .

The Pur an. ic genealogies all begin with the mythical Manu Vaivasvata. He
had several o spring of whom his daughter Il a bore a son named Pur uravas
Aila; their further successors represent the Aila or Lunar branch of the Vedic
people. Manu's chief son Iks. v aku became the king of Madhyade sa with the capital at Ayodhy a. The Aiks. v akus are the Solar dynasty. Amongst the Ailas, Pur uravas was succeeded by Ayu; he in turn was succeeded by the famous king Nahus.a, whose son and successor was Yay ati. The kingdom expanded a great deal during his reign, and Yay ati divided up this state amongst his sons Yadu, Turvasu, Druhyu, Anu, and P uru.

Indian Family Value System

Values can be defined as certain attitudes and beliefs that a person follows in his conduct. Those standards as per which an individual judges his own actions, whether he is right or wrong can be called as values. Value system comprises of all those beliefs and viewpoints that the parents pass on their next generation, they further pass it on to their offspring and so, the legacy goes on and on. Now let us come to the 'Indian Family Value System' - what is it and how does it influence individuals. In the Indian culture, there are certain rules and regulations that each and every child is taught right from his childhood.

Examples of Indian family values are - a young person should always touch the feet of his elders; he should never speak in a high or rude tone to those who are older to him; he should always give respect to elders and refer to them as 'aap'; he should not consume alcohol and tobacco or smoke cigarettes; he should respect women; he should always speak truth and try to engage in non-violent behavior; and so on. Most of the values that the parents impart to their children in India, as a part of the family value system, are similar in nature. 


However, there may be some variations too, depending upon different families. For instance, in some houses, girls are not allowed top wear skirts after they reach certain age, while in others, they can wear anything, as long as it is decent and not body-revealing. Even these variations are quite trivial, as the basic essence behind them remains, more or les, the same. Most of the values that the Indian parents believe in imparting to their children do not appeal to the outside world. But then, it is these beliefs that make India the wonderful country that it is today.


Some other values that are part of India's cultural heritage are:
Living peacefully and respecting each other's rights.
Never ever compromising on integrity for the purpose of prosperity.
Maintain strong bonds with the family members as well as relatives.
Being hospitable to everyone who comes to your home, irrespective of his caste, creed, financial position or status.
Treating guest as God i.e. 'Atithi Devo Bhava'.
Remembering and bowing to God first thing in the morning.
Indulging in yoga and meditation.
Always taking the advice of elders in case of any important decision.

Kajal

In India, Kajal is a form of eye makeup, which has been in vogue since the ancient times. It's the womenfolk of India who mostly apply kohl to darken their lower eyelid. However, it is also applied in case of children's and earlier, even the Indian men used to wear kajal. Kajal accrues the word Kohl, which is also at times spelt as Kol, Kehal or Kohal. Traditionally, it was prepared at home by females, as protection against eye ailments.

However, today, it is easily available in almost all the shops. Infact, the concept of applying Kajal has become more of a fashion trend in urban India in the recent times. Those people who prepare Kajal at home make it out of soot and other ingredients. In old times, people believed that kajal or Kohl provided relief from the sun's glare. Another perception pertaining Kajal was that it wards off bad luck or vibes.


As such, many women even today apply the Kajal as a small dot on the forehead of their toddlers as well as in their eyes. It is also applied at the nape of a child's neck, where it is not visible. Some people believe this will strengthen the child's eyesight. Applying Kajal is a strong tradition practiced by inhabitants of almost all the regions in India.


Method of preparing Kajal at home
Kajal preparation begins with dipping a clean, white, thin muslin cloth about four by four inches square in a sandalwood paste. The cloth is then dried in shade. After the sun is down, a wick is made out of the cloth and then used to light a mud lamp filled with castor oil. A brass vessel is positioned over the fire, leaving enough gap for the oxygen to aid the burning of the lamp. This is left burning overnight. Next morning, one or two drops of pure ghee or castor oil is added to the soot on the brass vessel and stored it in a clean dry box

Holy Bathing

Indians are very religious and God fearing people. As such, in the normal day-to-day life, you will find many people engaging themselves in some or other religious acts, like visiting the temple, watering the holy Tulsi plant, feeding the cow, etc. Apart from upholding the Indian tradition, other reasons behind their passionate devoutness could be selfless love or fear of God or a mix of both. While there are varied religious activities which Indians observe, perhaps the one considered most sacred is bathing in the waters of holy rivers.

There are many sacred rivers in India, like the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, and so on. But the one considered the holiest is the Ganga, personified as a Goddess in the Indian mythology. The river is also mentioned in the Rig Veda, one of the earliest Hindu scriptures. According to Hindu beliefs, a holy dip in the Ganges on certain festivals, by any person, will lead to the forgiveness of all his/her sins and also help in attaining salvation. Many others believe that taking a holy dip in the sacred waters of Ganga, anytime, will have the same effect. 

As such, Indians - old and young, come to participate or bathe in the sacred rivers during certain holy bathing festivals like the Kumbh Mela and Chhat Puja. Often, people also immerse the ashes of their kin in the Ganga waters so that their soul may rest peacefully in heaven. Apart from these spiritual baths, many also carry the water of the sacred rivers home, in copper pots, as it is considered to be very auspicious. Those on the verge of dying are usually given drops of this holy water to drink in order to free them of all their sins. 

Any talk of holy or spiritual bathing in India will remain incomplete without the mention of the Kumbh Mela. It is a Hindu bathing festival or pilgrimage which occurs once in every 12 years at four fixed located in India - Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik and is attended by millions of people on a single day. Said to have been initiated by King Harshvardhana of Ujjain, the precise dates of the Kumbh Mela are astronomically determined, based upon precise calculations of the positions of the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter

Sindoor

Traditional authentic Kumkum of India is made by grinding the dried turmeric to a powder. A few drops of lime are then added to this yellow powder, which changes its hue to a bright red. Kumkum is considered to be very auspicious by Indians and thus, used for various purposes on special occasions like wedding and festivals. People, however, use both red and the original yellow powders depending upon what they need the Kumkum for. Kumkum holds a great degree of significance in India, especially for married women.

When an Indian woman wears a little red Kumkum in the parting of her hair just above the forehead, it conveys the meaning that she is married. In this case, the Indian vermillion or kumkum is referred to as Sindoor or Sindur. Whenever a female visits someone's house, it is customary for the elder ladies of that family to offer or apply a little kumkum on her forehead. In south India, whenever married women visit temples they dip their finger in yellow turmeric powder and apply a dot on their necks.


Sindoor is not just used by the womenfolk of India. Even men, boys, girls and little children apply a dot of this powder on their forehead when they visit a temple or attend some religious function. However, for married Indian woman, it's is almost compulsory to apply Kumkum in the parting of their hair everyday. As per Hindu customs, she is supposed to cease wearing Sindur only after the demise of her husband.


In earlier times, women preferred to prepare Kumkum at home. Now, most of them buy the readymade Sindur from the market. Depending on what brand of Kumkum you are buying, the cost of one small box of Sindur varies from Rs. 5 to 20. A traditional component of the sindoor is powdered red lead and other ingredients are alum and turmeric. Another custom followed by married Hindu ladies of the country is to wear a bindi on their forehead. At times women apply a kumkum dot instead of the bindi.

Namaste

Namaste

   

The moment you step into India, in all probability, the first word you will get to hear will be Namaste! Namaste, also said as Namaskar by the natives, is a traditional Indian style of greeting or parting phrase as well as a gesture. Derived from the Sanskrit language, the literal definition/meaning of the word Namaste is "I bow to you". If you want to dig deeper to know what does Namaste mean, you can it break up into two Sanskrit words - Namas (meaning - to bow) and Te (meaning - to you). Thus, its real connotation is 'I bow to you out of respect'. 


Namaste happens to be both a formal and an informal form of greeting in India and you can say this to anyone irrespective of age. Normally when you say Namaskar to anybody, you press both your palms together with all the fingers pointing upwards in front of your chest. At the same time, you also bow your head slightly, looking at the person you are saying Namaste to. Even if you simply perform the Namaste gesture with your hands without actually saying the word, it will mean the same thing. 

Though saying Namaste to others in daily lives is a part of the Indian protocol, yet many believe it also has religious / spiritual connotation. According to this school of thought, when you greet Namaste, you actually seek to recognize a common divinity within the other person. Interestingly, Namaste can be said in different ways, depending crucially on the person you are saying it to. For instance, when you greet your friend or peer, the traditional style Namaste will suffice.


On the other hand, when it's a person greeting Namaste to another person of a higher status, this gesture will get intensified. To indicate genuine and deep respect for the other person, you place the hands in front of the forehead. Whereas, you have to pay reverence to God or a holy person then, this feeling can be transmitted through the Namaste gesture by holding / placing the pressed hands above the head. Some natives prostrate on the ground in this posture to show their deep respect and love to God. 


The symbolism of the two palms touching each other is of great significance. It is the joining together of two extremities - the feet of the Divine, with the head of the devotee. Yet another theory associates the Namaste greeting with a particular mudra or posture in yoga. However, Namaste being a polite gesture of love and respect can be said to anybody. But traditionally, it's a Hindu gesture and people of this community greet each other this way only.

Ancient Indian Literature

Ancient Indian Literature - An Overview

Indian literature is considered one of the oldest in the world. The Ancient Indian Literature dates back to the Vedic Age. The oldest literary work of India is the Rig Veda. It also happens to be the worlds oldest literary work. The scriptures of ancient Indian literature are classified into two categories - The Shruti literature and The Smriti literature. Shruti literature concerns the revealed or the heard� or 'the revealed' whereas the Smriti literature concerns 'the remembered.'

Shruti literature

• The word shruti has been derived from a Sanskrit word shrut which means to hear.


• In the ancient times, the great sages used to do tapasya and sadhana and could hear the divine truths. These divine truths were presented in the Vedas and Upanishads.


• The Vedas and Upanishads are a part of the Shruti literature.


• Shruti literature is inviolable and veritable.
• 
  

Smriti literature

• Based on Shruti literature, the Smriti literature incorporated in its texts the knowledge which was acquired through tradition or experience.


• The Manu-Smriti, shastras and several other smritis are a part of the Smriti literature.


• The Smriti literature mainly contains guidelines for moral obligations, ethics, customs and social codes.


• Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are a part of the Smriti literature.


• Time and place can influence modifications in the Smriti literature.

History of Indian Literature

• The number of officially recognized languages in India is 22 in number. This huge variety of languages has made a significant contribution in the ancient Indian literature.


• India was one of the first places in the world to start the writing system and this began in around the 2500 BC. This was the Harappan writing. After the invasion of the Aryans around 1500 BC, the system of writing by the Harappans was forgotten and for the next 1000 years no one in India had the knowledge of writing.


• It was only around the 500 BC when people in India took to writing again and this marked one of the important episodes in the history of ancient Indian literature. It is believed that the Persians writing could have had some influence in the Indian writing at that time. However, the Persian script was not used and alphabetic writing was used. This writing was what we know as Sanskrit.


• Around 300 BC Ramayana was composed followed by Mahabharata. A portion of the Mahabharata is Bhagavad Gita.


• It was about the same time traditional stories were collected and written down by people. This collection of stories came to known as Jataka tales which were moral based.

Works on Ancient Indian Literature:-

Some of the notable ancient Indian literary works are:

• Vedas
• Ramayana and Mahabharata
• Vaastu Shastra
• Arthashastra
• Recognition of Shakuntala
• Raamcharitmaanas
• Sangam poetry
• Prabhrita and Chudaman

Modern Indian Music

Modern Indian Music is something very interesting to note and listen to. Modern Indian Music, needless to say has been influenced by a number of factors. The influence of the past lingers on with an attempt to leap into a more melodious tomorrow. As per many researches and observation it has been noted that the changes in the existing scenario in music and the incoming of a new kind of music started sometime in the 1970s. Modern Indian Music has seen evolution of a number of genres, some among them are remixes, bollywood music, fusion, indi-pop etc.

Ancient Indian Clothes and Accessories

The rich cultural tradition of India gets reflected not only in its performing arts, literature, language and customs but also in the way people dress up themselves. Indian fashion has witnessed a great modification since the ancient period. The basics of Indian clothing remaining same, great western influences are seen in modern Indian dress designs. As far as the Ancient Indian clothes and accessories are concerned, dresses were not stitched together. Cotton clothes were mostly preferred. But affluent people also used silk clothing materials.

Ancient Indian Clothes and Accessories for Women

The women of ancient India mostly preferred sari. Both cotton and silk saris were in use. Saris were usually 5 to 9 yards in length. The women wore sari as a skirt with its upper portion around the shoulder. At times, sari was also tucked between the legs. This pattern of wearing sari has remained the same till date. Wearing of blouses with sari were also common in ancient India. The blouses were just fastened with a knot at the back. The Persian influences introduced the fashion of wearing Salwar Kameez came into existence. The women of ancient India also loved to wear a variety of accessories. Ancient India often associated Gold with luck. Thus, wearing of gold jewelry was very common in the ancient days. The ladies also used to decorate their hair. Make-up in the ancient days were not complete without the following cosmetics:

• Kajal
• Sindur
• Bindi
• Mehendi

Bindi and sindur were worn by the married ladies as the sign of marriage.

Ancient Indian Clothes and Accessories for Men

In Ancient India, men were comfortable in dhotis and kurtas. White dhotis were mostly preferred. Along with dhoti, men also decked up themselves in turbans. Like women, men of ancient India wore gold ornaments.

Ancient Indian Food

Ancient Indian Food: An Overview


People in ancient India subsisted on food that was conveniently available from Nature. The nomads preferred fruits, fist, wild berries and meat as their main food. With the arrival of civilization, the Indians took up agriculture as their occupation, and used grains, pulses and other agricultural products as their main food items. Most of the ancient people consume rice as their staple food. Other ancient Indian food included meat, vegetables, fruits and cooked lentils. Apart from rice and vegetables, the ancient Indians also preferred wheat products as their staple food. They made breads or 'chapattis' from wheat.


Ancient Indian Food: Dairy Products


As far as the ancient Indian cuisines are concerned, milk and other dairy products are preferred by the Indians since ancient times. Curd, made from milk, was eaten with rice. People even stopped eating beef during Gupta Period ( About 650 AD), and began worshiping cows as mother.

More facts on Ancient Indian Food


Ancient India was also influenced by the food habits of the neighboring countries. Eating of Chicken was not common in India. Our country adopted the concept of cooking chicken from Thailand. The concept of cooking chicken came from Thailand while the art of mutton cooking came from West Asia. The food habit of ancient Indians did not changed with the Aryan invasion of the country.


Indian Food During Islamic Period


During the Islamic period, pork preparations were stripped off from the ancient Indian food recipes .The Indian people stopped having pork because consumption of pork is prohibited in Koran.


However, in the later years, most of the people became vegetarians hough some still had sheep chicken and goat. Among the vegetarian food, the following were most common in ancient India:


Rice accompanied with vegetables and curd
Flabreads accompanied with vegetables

Fascinating Journey Kerela

¤ A Fascinating Journey

The Kerala backwaters are one of the most favoured tourist attractions. The calm and serene blue backwaters of Kerala provide with an unforgettable travel experience. 'God's Own Country', Kerala, has a very long and complex structure of this waterbody called backwaters. The state of Kerala is very green and vacation in the lap of this greenery can be best enjoyed cruising slowly across the backwaters on a houseboat or a canoe. The backwaters ride leaves a forever lasting impression in the minds of the visitor. The backwaters labyrinth is a structure in the form of lagoons, lakes and estuaries. The houseboats provide with all the comforts during your holidays in Kerala.

¤ The Unique Water Structure

The labyrinth :
The blue backwaters of Kerala are formed by crisscrossings of the 44 rivers flowing across the state. A network of the canals, lakes, lagoons and deltas of these 44 rivers along with the sea water makes the Kerala backwaters. The main mode of transport on these backwaters is through houseboats. The complex backwaters stretch for as long as 1900 Km but only 900 Km of this is open for navigation.

Travel Highway :
The backwaters connects the remote villages and the cities of Kerala. The backwaters have been known to be existent centuries ago. It used to be the means of transport. Trading among the villages was done through the backwaters. Still it is the source of livelihood of many villagers. The fish caught from its waters, the paddy, coconut and other crops harvested along its banks, the boats they build and use to transport them across the complicated backwaters in Kerala, are all a part of their traditional way of life.

Ecology :
This amazing waterbody supports a very unique ecology. The water animals and birds are found in plenty around the water. The backwaters Many rare species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles are present here. The backwaters are surrounded by palm trees, pandanus shrubs, leafy plants and bushes, giving an enticing look.

¤ Backwater Cruise

Backwater Cruise are quite popular amongst the tourists who come to India from all parts of the world. The cruise is held on Kettuvallams, which are nothing but large houseboats made up of wood. These houseboats sail along the shallow, palm fringed lakes and narrow canals. The boats have one or two rooms with a small sitting room. The number of crew member in these Kettuvallams are less. The food here is local Kerala cuisine and is served hot to its visitors.

Kerala backwater cruise is one of the fascinating ways of covering the vegetation and watching Kerala's life from the banks. For most of the journey. Kerala Boat Cruise is just a perfect way of being in a home away from home.


¤ Kettuvallams 

Kettuvallams are stitched boats which sails on the dynamic Kerala backwater. Kettuvallams of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. The wood which is used in the construction of the Kettuvallams are 'Anhili'. They are traditional houseboat and are undoubeteldy the best way to experience the Kerala culture. The material which is used in the making of the Kettuvallams are local and eco friendly bamboo poles., coconut fiber roped, bamboo mats, coir carpets. etc.


¤ Backwater Destination in Kerala

Alappuzha
Alleppey or Allppuzuha is one of the major backwater destination of India. It is a good network of canals and are a part of the Vembanand lake. This backwater is awe spring and beautiful. This backwater destination lies on the close the land where coir is made.

Kumarakom 
This is another backwater destination found on the Vembanand Lake. The beauty of Kumarakom backwaters have also influenced the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Kollam
Popularly known as the Swapnadesham by many of her faithful admirer, Kollam is a centre of Cashew trade. All you have to do is to hire a boat and then set out for exploration.

Kozhikode
Situated on the northern part of Kerala, Kozhikode is an unexplored destination of backwater regions. Kozhikode backwater is ideal for the cruise and one wish to view old world tranquality over here.

Kochi 
Kochi forms a famous backwater destination in Kerala and is often referred as the ' Queen of Arabian Sea'. Kochi is one of the finest natural harbors in the world and so, has been a popular trading center for many centuries

Why Indian Food Is Not Just 'CURRY'

Why Indian Food Is Not Just 'CURRY'

Indian cuisine is probably the most diverse cuisine in the world but sadly the perception is that Indian food is just “curry”. The antiquated heritage of Indian cuisine goes back thousands of years and boasts of an assorted menu of cuisines and not just one cuisine. This includes a whopping 300 ways of cooking a potato. While “Indian food" is synonymous with ‘curry, naan bread and pappadoms’, there is certainly more to it. Today’s era of cultural understanding requires a better awareness of authentic Indian food which is more than just curry!!!

For many a folks, Indian food means just “curry & spices” as if all Indians just munch curry every day. The ‘curry-muncher‘tag for Indians is just too stereotypical.  It’s like saying the Japanese are sushi-munchers and Italians are pasta-munchers. It is unfortunate that the image of Indian food has got pigeon-holed into a masala dabba. This perception is so engrained that every time the Indian opens a lunch box, he/she gets asked ‘Is it curry?’ 

So what is Curry? Curry is generally referred as a spiced gravy-based side dish which is based on a standard curry powder. Go to a grocery store and you will find atleast 30 odd different types of the so-called ‘curry powder’. The assumption that all curries are made of a standard ‘curry powder’ is far from the truth. 

Ask an Indian in India where you can have curry and in all likelihood, he/she would give you a blank look as this strange word ‘curry’ is not found in Indian vocabulary. In fact only NRIs are familiar with this stereotyped word. The closest word is ‘kari’ in Tamil. The general perception of Indian food comes from the takeaway curry in Indian restaurants or food courts. But what is not known is that these popular takeaway foods are generally the ones reserved for special occasions. 

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Anyway, here is a diversity test on Indian food. How many of us know about the ‘Idiappam’ and ‘Puttu’ from South India or the Maharashtrian ‘Bhaakhar vadi’, ‘Ussal Vadaa’ and ‘Pitla’ or the Bengali ‘Macher Jol’ or ‘Bangla Kichudi’. Tried the Gujarati ‘Ponk’ or ‘Jowar Kichu’? How about a Kashmiri ‘Kahwa’ or the Garhwali ‘Fanna’? What about the Kumouni ‘Mandua ki Roti’, the Konkani ‘Garadudde Paayas’, the Odiya ‘Jahni Posta’ or the Himachali ‘Channa Madra’? Because India is such a diverse country, even we Indians might not know some of these recipes. “Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are” once said the renowned French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. Not sure how Brillat-Savarin would have fared in this test.

Indian cuisine is plausibly the most varied food­ culture in the world that even within a state, there are different cuisines and food combinations. For example: in the stage of Gujarat, we have different cuisines that of Kathiawād, Kutch and Saurashtra. This is so complex that it’s difficult to define Indian cuisine. In fact, Indian cuisine is a misnomer as there is no such thing as one Indian cuisine. Watch India’s culinary journey in Vinod Dua’s popular TV show “Zaika India ka” on NDTV India to get an idea of the complex regional Indian smorgasbord.

While the popular Chicken tikka masalas and the Nana breads have traveled far and wide into the food courts around the world, the authentic Indian and regional cuisine is still unexplored by the masses. Just take the āloo (potato) recipes from India. Though it is well known that India has some 300 different ways to cook a potato, how many āloo recipes could one think of? 

The cookery website of India’s best selling cookery author and Chef Tarla Dalāl has some 4000+ Indian recipes. This website has 900+ āloo based recipes like Duma āloo, āloo bhajia, āloo bhaji, āloo bonda, āloo capsicum, āloo chaat, āloo chana chat, āloo gobi masala, āloo kachori, āloo ki puri, āloo ki sabzi, āloo ki tikki, āloo methi, āloo mutter, āloo pakora etc where āloo is either the ‘hero’ or the ‘supporting actor’. Add to that a few hundred complementary chutney recipes. The Indian menu card is actually a menu book with so many appetizers, breakfast items, main course meals, tiffin items, snacks, pickles, pāpads, salads, sweets, desserts, drinks that this food heritage is incomparable. Just a cursory look at any Indian sweets tells us that India has sweets that could be made of milk (rosogulla), wheat (halwa), rice (kheer) cereals & lentils (besan laddoo), vegetables (carrot halwa) or fruits etc.

Given this depth and diversity, the menu cards in Indian restaurants hardly reflect the variety in India’s cuisine. Indian restaurant food for some reason gets restricted to North Western Indian food (the Punjabi/Mughlai type) and that too cooked to suit the local taste. Obviously there's more to Indian cuisine than just Punjabi cooking.

What an overseas Indian family eats at home is rarely the same flavour and taste to what is available in Indian restaurants. The locals’ only exposure to Indian food is through Indian restaurants and most people don't have enough interaction with Indian families to see what is eaten on a daily basis.

Moreover, when one goes to these Indian food joints, one gets asked a surprising question “How would you like it – Mild, Medium or Hot? By the way some even give a fourth option i.e. the “Extreme! Bring it on” option. Go to a regular dhaaba in Punjab or a restaurant in Chennai and ask for “mild” food, the guy will respond with a ‘whaaat?’ and a strange look reserved specially for a desi NRI. 

Moreover Indian Cuisine is not just about diverse food preparations but the serving traditions also play an important part. Remember the ‘shaadi ka khaana’ and the way each item is served sequentially in right portions. Traditionally served, every food item comes in one thāli (big plate). So we have a North Indian thāli, South Indian thāli, Rajasthani thāli, Punjabi thāli, Mārwāri thāli Gujarati thāli, Maharashtrian thāli etc. 

The art of cookery has been so perfected in the 10,000 year old continuous Indian civilisation that besides the flavour they also have excellent health value. Many recipes that are based on Ayurvedic principles not only satisfy the taste buds but also take care of the physical well-being. The goodness in the masalas used widely in Indian cooking is well-documented and the subject of regular research.

So, Indian food is not just one type of food. Served authentically in the right portion size, it can be the right food for the right climate for the right body type.

Great Indian Foods

Great Indian Foods

Indian food is different from rest of the world not only in taste but also in cooking methods. It reflects a perfect blend of various cultures and ages. Just like Indian culture, food in India has also been influenced by various civilizations, which have contributed their share in its overall development and the present form. 

Foods of India are better known for its spiciness. Throughout India, be it North India or South India, spices are used generously in food. But one must not forget that every single spice used in Indian dishes carries some or the other nutritional as well as medicinal properties. 

North Indian Food

Food in the north India, to begin with, Kashmiri cuisines reflect strong Central Asian influences. In Kashmir, mostly all the dishes are prepared around the main course of rice found abundantly in the beautiful valley. Another delicious item cooked here is the 'Saag' that is prepared with a green leafy vegetable known as the 'Hak'. 

But on the other hand states like the Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh show high consumption of chapatis as staple food. Again, these chapatis are prepared with a variety of flours such as wheat, rice, maida, besan etc. Besides chapatis other closely related breads baked in these regions include Tandoori, Rumaali and Naan etc. However in the northern region impact of Mughlai food is quite obvious. 

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West Indian Food

In western India, the desert cuisine is famous for its unique taste and varieties of food. Rajasthan and Gujarat are the states that represent the desseert flavor of Indian food. Here an immense variety of dals and achars (pickles/preserves) is used that simply substitutes the relative lack of fresh vegetables in these areas. 

In the states like Maharashtra, the food is usually a mix of both north as well as south cooking styles. Here people use both the rice and the wheat with same interest. Along the coastline of Mumbai a wide variety of fishes is available. Some of the delicious preparations include dishes like the Bombay Prawn and Pomfret. 

In Goa, that is further down towards south, one can notice Portuguese influence in the cooking style as well as in the dishes. Some of the major dishes of this regiun are the sweet and sour Vindaloo, duck baffad, sorpotel and egg molie etc. 

 East Indian Food     

In the eastern India, the Bengali and Assamese styles of cooking are noticeable. The staple food of Bengalis is the yummy combination of rice and fish. Usually the Bengalis love eating varieties of fishes.

A special way of preparing the delicacy known as 'Hilsa' is by wrapping it in the pumpkin leaf and then cooking it. Another unusual ingredient that is commonly used in the Bengali cooking is the 'Bamboo Shoot'. Various sweets prepared in this region, by using milk include the 'Roshogollas', 'Sandesh', 'Cham-cham' and many more. 

South Indian Food

In the southern India, the states make great use of spices, fishes and coconuts, as most of them have coastal kitchens. In the foods of Tamil Nadu use of tamarind is frequently made in order to impart sourness to the dishes. It simply distinguishes the Tamil Food from other cuisines. 

The cooking style of Andhra Pradesh is supposed to make excessive use of chilies, which is obviously to improve the taste of the dishes. 

In Kerala, some of the delicious dishes are thelamb stew and appams, Malabar fried prawns, Idlis, Dosas, fish molie and rice puttu. Another famous item of this region is the sweetened coconut milk. Yet another dish is Puttu, which is glutinous rice powder steamed like a pudding in a bamboo shoot. 

History Of Indian Culture

The History of India's culture: Ancient civilization in India reveals marvelous facts about our heritage. It is a eye opener as to how kingdoms ruled and how people went about life in a logical way. Though medieval, it is actually amazing to find how people transacted and went about building dams and tended to the chief occupation which was agriculture. Dance and rituals were always a part of Indian culture and this was the chief mode of entertainment.

Indian culture is also about respecting elders, honoring heroes and cherishing love. It is a land of aspirations, achievements and self reliance. Indian culture has a very high level of tolerance and hence the advent of so many external cultures was not restricted. Adaptation to any culture or embracing a religion was always the democratic culture. Indian history is about war heroes during Indus valley civilization and the initial time when currency was coined. Indian history talks a lot about self reliance especially in terms of food and agricultural produce. This was the great effort put in by the farmers and support received through irrigation. The modern agriculture also shows a lot of indigenous methods of preserving the produce. The Chola dynasty, the great King Emperor Ashoka and the secular era of Emperor Akbar will always be green in our memory. Several books are written on the rich Indian culture wherein the saints preserved the Vedas and scriptures.

There are shlokas and mantras i.e. chants that can evoke positive energy and revoke enthusiasm in life. The rich culture of yoga as a part of life and the goodness of ayurveda has now got an universal lifestyle approach. Our roots are strong and despite the westernization and access to technology, the distinct Indianness is still maintained whilst celebrating Diwali or observing the Shravan fast. This is also believed to be a land of Lord Rama which is Ayodhya or the birthplace of Sri Krishna is considered as Mathura. The birth of Sikh religion and the reverence felt by all Indians is still intact. Indians are extremely secular and especially in the metros there is seamless blending of Indians during Xmas and Id.
   

Attires in Indian culture : Ethnic charm is exuded in simple outfits in India. The tropical climate is well adapted to the range of muslins and cottons. The mixed variety in cotton goes from viscose, polycot and also cotton silk which has a sheen of its own. Attires are very much about the region and climate. The Himalayan costume is suited for the environment where the dress is a blanket wrap in red and black secured with a ethnic pin. The ornaments or jewelry is a festive adornment with a big red bindi to complete the outfit.

The sari happens to be the most versatile drape with its amazing styles of draping and design. The sari is the traditional dress of India which also modifies as per material, drape and style with each region. This has also gone up to international drape style followed by ranking designers on the ramp shows. The chungari sari of the south has the tie and dye pattern that finds its counterpart in the bandhi print of Gujarat. There are embroidery types that seem to be the intrinsic talent of certain regions.
The cardigans and shawls are hand-woven from the North especially the Himachal and Arunchal belt. This displays the rich handicraft culture of India. The modernization in winter wear is seen with details like pockets, zippers, blends of fabrics and easy feel wear. The gota work of Rajashtan and Punjab is skilled golden zari strips woven or fixed on to the main garment like a sari or the dupatta. The most comfortable dress is the salwar kameez that radiates Indianness and is also comfortable.

The south Indian Kerala set-saree is the beautiful print in cream and golden which can be teamed with colored blouses. The navvari sari or the nine yard drape of Mahrasthra is usually found in leaf green color that is symbolic of the newly married bride. The colors also seem to be in mauve, red or blues and the sarees happen as Narayan peth, paithani and various other Belgaum prints.
The padavai is the ghagra choli for young girls in the south that is incomplete without the gold jewelry especially the kaashi gold chain and jhumki earrings. This is also modified as ghagra choli is simple cottons for daily wear in the villages and designed as the lehenga choli in designer wear in the metros.


Values in India : Tradition in India is about values that transcend down generations automatically. These are genetic traits and simplicity is the main ingredient. Ancient culture believed in a lot of dogmas and rituals that can be termed as false beliefs and Indians are an intelligent lot to traverse these paths and modify the social requirements. Indians are highly flexible in the sense they would like to imbibe the changes dictated by western influence and yet clearly affirm their belief in traditions.

It is customary to respect elders and touch their feet as to seek their blessings. Occasions or festivals demand a lot of participation in terms of rangoli drawing, diyas and an array of yummy treats made in the authentic variety as per the caste and geography. Hindu rituals are a lot about song and dance and each family has a natural way to adjust to these formats. It is a ritual to pray to the Goddess of learning Ma Saraswathi to achieve success. Similarly business people always insist on drawing the Swastika which marks prosperity and worship the Goddess of wealth.

With the advent of technology and women emancipation there is a trend to mingle free with the western concepts of dress, belief, work and also get into a secular concept. But one can feel a distinct Indianness and most of our brethren abroad miss their homeland. Indians all over the world are known for their hospitality and high level of tolerance. Their adaptation power is high and hence they are able to scale heights in the international arena. Putting oneself on the global map, Indians are seeking new vistas of communicating their beliefs and tradition. The gift of health and well being through yoga and meditation is a great source of Vedas in the rich Hindu tradition which has actually benefited the world.

The values in India is about living life with a zest and observing the belief that there is one God prevailing despite so many religions.
Respecting elders, understanding cross culture traditions, free mingling to accommodate tolerance, staying interested in rural welfare are the values of India. The artifacts, cuisine handicrafts, attire and lifestyle of the rural folks is still followed and preserved by Indians.


Family Culture of India : Family is about joy and sharing. In India, the family culture is all about love and patience. A girl weds into a family and adjusts herself seamlessly to the rituals, routine and cuisine. Of late, one can see a lot of love marriages i.e. cross border mingling which is also being accepted by the elders in the family. Association with religious beliefs and sects is also followed by families as many families believe in a particular Guru or saint who guides them in their spiritual path. Families are also getting nuclear owing to independent lifestyle preference and also the concept where in both husband and wife is working and has demanding careers. This is quite common in metros where families are independent in their upbringing and yet love and respect the elders who reside separately. The earlier homes housed themselves together in very large families where one can actually see three or four generations put up together.

Certain families observe a matriarchal concept i.e. the groom resides in the house of the bride or also follows a tradition as per the bride’s ancestors. Generally India is patriarchal in the sense the children get the surname of the father and the wife changes her surname to follow that of the husbands. It is also a tradition in certain families that the wife changes her maiden name but again this concept is also changing. Indian families are very accommodating and willing to accept change. It is a concept to observe the karva chauth or the raksha bandhan with great aplomb. There is an occasion for gifting and seeking the blessings of elders. It is important to respect and hold certain family traditions which are unique in terms of cooking, rituals and beliefs. Families give a lot of importance to lighting the diya in the evening and also each person in family has a habit of doing the puja in his own way.

Metros are also seeing a lot of family value in celebrating birthdays and anniversaries by observing the rituals and also entertaining outdoors. The Indian culture has imbibed the right mix of western influence and yet maintaining the ethnic family tradition. There is more love in every family while blowing candles on the birthday cake and also lighting the diya to observe an Aarti for the birthday person.


Dance forms in India : Folk music and tradition is the rich heritage of modern India. Despite the advent of technology, open communication and developments in all fields, the area of fine arts still gives a proud picture of our India. Dance is a part of celebration and is the intrinsic part of Indian glory. There are folk dances which are distinct and distinguished as per the geography. This also calls for a lot of make up talents and attire which only enhances the beauty of the dance and song.

Contents

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• 1 Religions and spirituality  
• 2 Perceptions of Indian culture  
• 3 Family structure and marriage   
• 3.1 Arranged Marriage
• 4 Greetings  
• 5 Festivals  6 Names and language  7 Animals 8 Cuisine  9 Clothing  10 Languages and literature         10.1 History 10.2 Epics 11 Performing arts 11.1 Dance 11.2 Drama and theatre 11.3 Music 12 Visual arts 12.1 Painting 12.2 Sculpture 12.3 Architecture13 Sports and Martial arts 13.1 Sports 13.2 Indian martial arts 14 Popular media 14.1 Television 14.2 Cinema 15 See also 16 References 17 Further reading 18 External links