INDIAN TRADITION INDIAN TRADITION AND CULTUREAND CULTUREChild Guidance CentreChild Guidance Centre

Hyderabad, 2010Hyderabad, 2010

A NAMASTE TO ALL!A NAMASTE TO ALL! NamaḥNamaḥ, to , to bow tete, "to you.", "to you."

namo: stu tenamo: stu te "let there be a "let there be a

salutation to you”salutation to you”

GARLANDINGGARLANDING

There are basically There are basically two reasons behind two reasons behind the garlanding the garlanding tradition of India. tradition of India. Firstly, it showcases Firstly, it showcases one's happiness at one's happiness at receiving the receiving the particular guest and particular guest and secondly, it is a form secondly, it is a form of publicly of publicly acknowledging the acknowledging the guest's importance.guest's importance.

The National FlagThe National Flag The flag's saffron color The flag's saffron color

symbolizes courage and symbolizes courage and sacrificesacrifice

white stands for peace and white stands for peace and truth,truth,

and green is for faith and and green is for faith and chivalry, chivalry,

blue represents the color of blue represents the color of the sky and the ocean. the sky and the ocean.

The 24 spokes of the wheel The 24 spokes of the wheel ((Ashoka Chakra)Ashoka Chakra), correspond , correspond with the 24 hours of the day, with the 24 hours of the day, implying that there is life in implying that there is life in movement and death in movement and death in stagnation.stagnation.

There are 28 states and 7 Union Territories in IndiaThere are 28 states and 7 Union Territories in India

Total population: 1.06 billion people Total population: 1.06 billion people 72% in Rural areas72% in Rural areas Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%, Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%,

Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi 2.5% ( AC TO 2000 ss report)2.5% ( AC TO 2000 ss report)

41.6% of the total Indian population 41.6% of the total Indian population in India are Below Poverty Line.in India are Below Poverty Line.

75% of the poor are in rural areas, 75% of the poor are in rural areas, most of them are daily wagers, self-most of them are daily wagers, self-employed householders , and employed householders , and landless labourers.landless labourers.

1,652 mother tongues (languages) in 1,652 mother tongues (languages) in India. National Language is HindiIndia. National Language is Hindi

Official languages are English and HindiOfficial languages are English and Hindi There are four Major Castes in India the There are four Major Castes in India the

Brahmins (teachers, scholars and Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests) , the Kshatriyas (kings, warriors priests) , the Kshatriyas (kings, warriors and administrators) , the Shudras and administrators) , the Shudras (service providers, laborers) and (service providers, laborers) and Vyshyas (agriculturists and traders) Vyshyas (agriculturists and traders) which have evolved to 1000 more which have evolved to 1000 more castes and sub castes. castes and sub castes.

The National TreeThe National Tree Indian fig tree, whose Indian fig tree, whose

branches root themselves branches root themselves like new trees over a large like new trees over a large area. area.

The roots then give rise to The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches.more trunks and branches.

This tree is considered This tree is considered immortal and is an integral immortal and is an integral part of the myths and part of the myths and legends of India. legends of India.

Even today, the banyan Even today, the banyan tree is the focal point of tree is the focal point of village life and the village village life and the village council meets under the council meets under the shade of this tree.shade of this tree.

The National FlowerThe National Flower It is a sacred flower It is a sacred flower

and occupies a and occupies a unique position in the unique position in the art and mythology of art and mythology of ancient India and has ancient India and has been an auspicious been an auspicious symbol of Indian symbol of Indian culture since time culture since time immemorial.immemorial.

The National Animal-TigerThe National Animal-Tiger

The National BirdThe National Bird

The National FruitThe National Fruit

Dining EtiquetteDining Etiquette Indian cuisine relishes in its flavors and spices. Indian cuisine relishes in its flavors and spices. Much Indian food is eaten with the fingers. Much Indian food is eaten with the fingers. The guest of honour is served first, followed by the The guest of honour is served first, followed by the

men, and the children are served last. men, and the children are served last. Women typically serve the men and eat later. Women typically serve the men and eat later. You may be asked to wash your hands before and after You may be asked to wash your hands before and after

sitting down to a meal.sitting down to a meal. Always use your right hand to eat, whether you are Always use your right hand to eat, whether you are

using utensils or your fingers.using utensils or your fingers. Take off your shoes before entering the house. Take off your shoes before entering the house.

Indian AttiresIndian Attires

Ethnic WearEthnic Wear

Wedding AttiresWedding Attires

Indian traditionIndian tradition The uniqueness of Indian culture lies in The uniqueness of Indian culture lies in

its strong social system and family its strong social system and family values .values .

The elders are considered the driving The elders are considered the driving force and so are respected and loved .force and so are respected and loved .

The guests are considered as gods and The guests are considered as gods and are treated with respect and love, even are treated with respect and love, even if by foregoing some of the personal if by foregoing some of the personal pleasures. pleasures.

TOUCHING FEETTOUCHING FEET

Name ProtocolName Protocol Younger never uses the proper name of Younger never uses the proper name of

their elders. (eg: Anna, Akka etc.)their elders. (eg: Anna, Akka etc.) Only people of the same age will address Only people of the same age will address

each other by first name. each other by first name. A Hindu wife never speaks the name of her A Hindu wife never speaks the name of her

husband .husband . CAUTION WITH FOOTWEAR: It is very CAUTION WITH FOOTWEAR: It is very

important to apologize immediately if one important to apologize immediately if one touches someone with his or her shoe or touches someone with his or her shoe or sandal sandal

DISPLAYING AFFECTION: Married Hindu DISPLAYING AFFECTION: Married Hindu couples do not hug, hold hands or kiss in couples do not hug, hold hands or kiss in public. Even embracing at airports and public. Even embracing at airports and train stations is considered not wise. Men, train stations is considered not wise. Men, however, frequently walk hand in hand.however, frequently walk hand in hand.

MODESTY: Interaction in public between MODESTY: Interaction in public between men and women is much more restrained men and women is much more restrained in Hindu culture than in Western culture. in Hindu culture than in Western culture. In Hindu culture, for the most part, men In Hindu culture, for the most part, men socialize with men, and women with socialize with men, and women with women. Men never touch women in public women. Men never touch women in public unless the lady is very elderly or infirm.unless the lady is very elderly or infirm.

WOMANLY RESERVE: In mixed company WOMANLY RESERVE: In mixed company especially in the presence of strangers, a especially in the presence of strangers, a Hindu woman will keep modestly in the Hindu woman will keep modestly in the background and not participate freely in background and not participate freely in conversation. This, of course, does not conversation. This, of course, does not apply to situations among family and close apply to situations among family and close associates.associates.

SERVING AT MEALS: At meals women SERVING AT MEALS: At meals women follow the custom of serving the men first follow the custom of serving the men first before enjoying their own meal.before enjoying their own meal.

CHAPERONING: It is customary for a woman to CHAPERONING: It is customary for a woman to always be accompanied when she leaves the always be accompanied when she leaves the home. Living alone, too, is unusual.home. Living alone, too, is unusual.

WOMEN IN PUBLIC: Generally it is improper for WOMEN IN PUBLIC: Generally it is improper for women to speak with strangers on the street women to speak with strangers on the street and especially to strike up a casual and especially to strike up a casual conversation.conversation.

HOME VISITS: Close friends can visit one HOME VISITS: Close friends can visit one another anytime without being announced or another anytime without being announced or making arrangements first. When they drop making arrangements first. When they drop in, at least a refreshing drink is always served.in, at least a refreshing drink is always served.

WIFE HOME ALONE: If the lady of the house is WIFE HOME ALONE: If the lady of the house is in home alone and a male visitor comes to see in home alone and a male visitor comes to see her husband, it is not proper for her to invite her husband, it is not proper for her to invite him in, nor for him to expect to enter. Rather, him in, nor for him to expect to enter. Rather, he will leave a message and depart.he will leave a message and depart.

Family Systems in IndiaFamily Systems in India Bondage of love and affection is Bondage of love and affection is

abundantly found in Indian family abundantly found in Indian family system. system.

Parents do not let their child to live Parents do not let their child to live independent life until they get a independent life until they get a marriage match. marriage match.

Culture and tradition of India does not Culture and tradition of India does not support love-marriages and the divorce support love-marriages and the divorce between a husband and a wife .between a husband and a wife .

The Dowry SystemThe Dowry System Class (Upper, Middle, Low)Class (Upper, Middle, Low) Purdah systemPurdah system TribesTribes Transport(Bullock, Tonga etc)Transport(Bullock, Tonga etc)

THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH VERY MUCH