indian culture.docx

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Culture of IndiaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part ofa serieson the

Culture of India

History

People

Languages

Mythology and folklore[show]

Cuisine

Festivals

Religion

Art[show]

Literature[show]

Music and performing arts[show]

Media[show]
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Sport

Monuments[show]

Symbols[show]

India portal

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The culture of Indiarefers to the way of life of the people ofIndia.

India'slanguages,religions,dance,music,architecture,food,and customs differ from place to place within the

country. The Indian culture, often labelled as an amalgamation of several cultures, spans across theIndian

subcontinentand has been influenced by a history that is several millennia old.[1][2]

Many elements of India's

diverse cultures, such asIndian religions,yoga,andIndian cuisine,have had a profound impact across the

world.

Contents

[hide]

1 Religions

2 Perceptions of Indian culture

3 Family structure and marriage

o 3.1 Arranged Marriage

o 3.2 Wedding rituals

4 Greetings

5 Festivals

6 Names and language

7 Animals

8 Cuisine

9 Clothing

10 Languages and literature
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o 10.1 History

o 10.2 Epics

11 Performing arts

o 11.1 Dance

o 11.2 Drama and theatre

o 11.3 Music

12 Visual arts

o 12.1 Painting

o 12.2 Sculpture

o 12.3 Architecture

13 Sports and Martial arts

o 13.1 Sports

o 13.2 Indian martial arts

14 Popular media

o 14.1 Television

o 14.2 Cinema

15 See also

16 References

17 Further reading

18 External links

Religions[edit]

Aartiritual inHindu worship
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Close-up of a statue depictingMaitreyaat the Thikse Monastery inLadakh,India. Dharmic religions, such

asHinduismandBuddhism,are indigenous to India.[3]

Main article:Religion in India

India is the birthplace ofHinduism,Buddhism,JainismandSikhism,collectively known as Indian

religions.[4]

Indian religions, also known as Dharmic religions are a major form of world religions along

withAbrahamicone. Today, Hinduism and Buddhism are the world's third and fourth-largest religions

respectively, with over 2 billion followers altogether,[5][6][7]

and possibly as many as 2.5 or 2.6 billion

followers.[5][8]

Indiais one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies

and cultures. Religion still plays a central and definitive role in the life of many of its people.

According to a 2001 census of India, the religion of 80% of the people is Hinduism.Islamis practised by around

13% of all Indians.[9]The country had over 23 million Christians, over 19 million Sikhs, about 8 million Buddhists

and about 4 million Jains.[10]

Sikhism, Jainism and especially Buddhism are influential not only in India but across the

world.Christianity,Zoroastrianism,Judaism,and theBah' Faithare also influential but their numbers are

smaller.Atheismandagnosticsalso have visible influence in India, along with a self-ascribed tolerance to other

people.

The Hindu religion has many schools, each with their own unique views.[11]For example, according

toYogavasistha,a spiritual text of the Advaita school of Hindu religion, the values of the liberated (Hindi:

), self-actualised human being, may be summarised as follows:[12][13][14]"Pleasures do not delight him;

pains do not distress. Although engaged in worldly actions, he has no attachment to any object. He is busy

outwardly, yet calm inwardly. He feels free from restrictions of scriptures, customs, age, caste or creed. He is

happy, but his happiness does not depend on anything else. He does not feel needy, proud, agitated, troubled,
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depressed or elated. He is full of compassion and forgiveness even to those who mean him harm. He does the

right thing, regardless of the pressures. He is patient, perseverant, and without any impurity in his heart. He is

free of delusions, he does not crave for anything. His sense of freedom comes from his spirit of inquiry. The

fruits of his inquiry are his strength, intellect, efficiency and punctuality. He keeps company of wise and

enlightened persons. He is content."

There is significant historical discourse in India on the notion, relevance, and the existence and non-existence

of God.Dharmakirti,for example, in the 7th century wrote inPramanavarttikam:[15][16]

|

||

Believing that the Veda are standard (holy or divine), believing in a Creator for the world,

Bathing in holy waters for gainingpunya,having pride (vanity) about one's job function,

Performing penance to absolve sins,Are the five symptoms of having lost one's sanity.

Perceptions of Indian culture[edit]

Main article:Stereotypes of South Asians

India's diversity has inspired many writers to pen their perceptions of the country's culture. These writings paint

a complex and often conflicting picture of the culture of India.

According to industry consultant Eugene M. Makar, for example, traditional Indian culture is defined by a

relatively strict social hierarchy. He also mentions that from an early age, children are reminded of their rolesand places in society.

[17]This is reinforced, Makar notes, by the way many believe gods and spirits have an

integral and functional role in determining their life. Several differences such as religion divide the culture.

However, a far more powerful division isthe traditional Hindu bifurcation into non-polluting and polluting

occupations.Strict social taboos have governed these groups for thousands of years, claims Makar. In recent

years, particularly in cities, some of these lines have blurred and sometimes even disappeared. He writes

important family relations extend as far asgotra,the mainly patrilinear lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at

birth. In rural areas & sometimes in urban areas as well, it is common that three or four generations of the

family live under the same roof. Thepatriarchoften resolves family issues.[17]

Others have a different perception of Indian culture. According to an interview withC.K. Prahaladby Des

Dearlove, author of many best selling business books, modern India is a country of very diverse cultures with

many languages, religions and traditions. Children begin by coping and learning to accept and assimilate in this

diversity. Prahalad - who was born in India and grew up there - claimed, in the interview, that Indians, like

everyone else in the world, want to be treated as unique, as individuals, want to express themselves and seek

innovation.[18]

In another report, Nancy Lockwood ofSociety for Human Resource Management,the world's
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largest human resources association with members in 140 countries, writes that in the past two decades or so,

social change in India is in dramatic contrast to the expectations from traditional Indian culture. These changes

have led to Indian families giving education opportunities to girls, accepting women working outside home,

pursuing a career, and opening the possibility for women to attain managerial roles in corporate India.

Lockwood claims that change is slow, yet the scale of cultural change can be sensed from the fact that of

India's 397 million workers, 124 million are now women. The issues in India with women empowerment are

similar to those elsewhere in the world.[19]

According toAmartya Sen,the India born Nobel Laureate in Economics, the culture of modern India is a

complex blend of its historical traditions, influences from the effects of colonialism over centuries and current

Western culture - both collaterally and dialectically. Sen observes that external images of India in the West

often tend to emphasise the difference - real or imagined - between India and the West.[20]

There is a

considerable inclination in the Western countries to distance and highlight the differences in Indian culture from

the mainstream of Western traditions, rather than discover and show similarities. Western writers and media

usually misses, in important ways, crucial aspects of Indian culture and traditions. The deep-seated

heterogeneity of Indian traditions, in different parts of India, is neglected in these homogenised description of

India. The perceptions of Indian culture, by those who weren't born and raised in India, tend to be one of at

least three categories, writes Sen:

Exoticist approach: it concentrates on the wondrous aspects of the culture of India. The focus of this

approach of understanding Indian culture is to present the different, the strange and as Hegel put it, "a

country that has existed for millennia in the imaginations of the Europeans."

Magisterial approach: it assumes a sense of superiority and guardianship necessary to deal with India, a

country that James Mill's imperialist history thought of as grotesquely primitive culture. While great many

British observers did not agree with such views of India, and some non-British ones did, it is an approach

that contributes to some confusion about the culture of India.

Curatorial approach: it attempts to observe, classify and record the diversity of Indian culture in different

parts of India. The curators do not look only for the strange, are not weighed by political priorities, and tend

to be more free from stereotypes. The curatorial approach, nevertheless, have an inclination to see Indian

culture as more special and extraordinarily interesting than it actually may be.

The curatorial approach, one inspired by systematic curiosity for the cultural diversity of India within India, is

mostly absent.

Susan Bayly, in her book, observes that there is considerable dispute in India and Orientalist scholars on

perceived Indian culture. She acknowledges that many dispute claims of pervasiveness of caste and strict

social hierarchy in modern India. Bayly notes that much of the Indian subcontinent was populated by people for
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whom the formal distinctions of caste and strict social hierarchies were of only limited importance in their

lifestyles.[21]

According to Rosser, an American sociologist, Americans of South Asian origins feel the Western perception of

the culture of India has numerous stereotypes. Rosser notes that the discourse in much of the United States

about the culture of India is rarely devoted to independent India. People quickly make sweeping and flawed

metaphysical assumptions about its religion and culture, but are far more circumspect when evaluating civil

society and political culture in modern India. It is as if the value of South Asia resides only in its ancient

contributions to human knowledge whereas its pathetic attempts to modernise or develop are to be winked at

and patronised.[22]

Rosser conducted numerous interviews and summarised the comments. The study reports a

stark contrast between Western perceptions of the culture of India, versus the direct experience of the

interviewed people. For example:

"The presentation of South Asians is a standard pedagogic approach which runs quickly from the "Cradle of

Civilisation"contrasting the Indus Valley with Egypt and Mesopotamiaon past the Aryans, who were somehow our

ancestorsto the poverty stricken, superstitious, polytheistic, caste ridden Hindu way of life. . . and then somehow

magically culminates with a eulogy of Mahatma Gandhi. A typical textbook trope presents the standard Ancient India

Meets the Age of Expansion Approach with a colour photo of the Taj Mahal. There may be a side bar on ahimsa or a

chart of connecting circles graphically explaining samsara and reincarnation, or illustrations of the four stages of life

or the Four Noble Truths. Amid the dearth of real information there may be found an entire page dedicated to a deity

such as Indra or Varuna, who admittedly are rather obscure vis--vis the beliefs of most modern Hindus."

A South Asian in America[22]

Family structure and marriage[edit]

Main articles:Arranged marriage in IndiaandWomen in India

A bride during a traditionalHindu wedding ceremonyinPunjab.

For generations, India has had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system. It is a system under which

extended members of a familyparents, children, the childrens spouses and their offspring, etc.live
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together. Usually, the oldest male member is the head in the joint Indian family system. He makes all important

decisions and rules, and other family members abide by them. [23]

In a 1966 study, Orenstein and Micklin analysed India's population data and family structure. Their studies

suggest that Indian household sizes had remained similar over the 1911 to 1951 period. Thereafter, with

urbanisation and economic development, India has witnessed a break up of traditional joint family into more

nuclear-like families.[24][25]

Sinha, in his book, after summarising the numerous sociological studies done on Indian family, notes that over

the last 60 years, the cultural trend in most parts of India has been an accelerated change from joint family to

nuclear families, much like population trends in other parts of the world. The traditional large joint family in

India, in the 1990s, accounted for a small percent of Indian households, and on average had lower per capita

household income. He finds that joint family still persists in some areas and in certain conditions, in part due to

cultural traditions and in part due to practical factors.[24]

Youth in lower socio-economic classes are more

inclined to spend time with their families than their peers due to differing ideologies in rural and urban

parenting.[26]

Arranged Marriage[edit]

A bride in India.

For centuries,arranged marriageshave been the tradition in Indian society. Even today, the majority of Indians

have their marriages planned by their parents and other respected family-members. In the past, the age of

marriage was young, especially in Rajasthan, but this is rising with modernisation and there are now laws

which govern the age of marriage.[27]

In most marriages the bride's family provide a dowry to the bridegroom. Traditionally, the dowry was

considered a woman's share of the family wealth, since a daughter had no legal claim on her natal family's real

estate. It also typically included portable valuables such as jewellery and household goods that a bride could

control throughout her life.[28]

Historically, in most families the inheritance of family estates passed down the

male line. Since 1956, Indian laws treat males and females as equal in matters of inheritance without a legal
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will.[29]

Indians are increasingly using a legal will for inheritance and property succession, with about 20 percent

using a legal will by 2004.[30]

In India, the divorce rate is low 1% compared with about 40% in the United States.[31][32]These statistics do

not reflect a complete picture, though. There is a dearth of scientific surveys or studies on Indian marriages

where the perspectives of both husbands and wives were solicited in-depth. Sample surveys suggest the

issues with marriages in India are similar to trends observed elsewhere in the world. The divorce rates are

rising in India. Urban divorce rates are much higher. Women initiate about 80 percent of divorces in India.[33]

"Opinion is divided over what the phenomenon means: for traditionalists the rising numbers portend

the breakdown of society while, for some modernists, they speak of a healthy new empowerment for

women."[34]

Recent studies suggest that Indian culture is trending away from traditional arranged

marriages.Banerjeeet al. surveyed 41,554 households across 33states and union territories in Indiain

2005. They find that the marriage trends in India are similar to trends observed over last 40 years in China,

Japan and other nations.[35]

The study found that fewer marriages are purely arranged without consent and

that the majority of surveyed Indian marriages are arranged with consent. The percentage of self-arranged

marriages (called love marriages in India) were also increasing, particularly in the urban parts of India. A

2006 article reported that between 10 and 20 percent of marriages in urban India were self-arranged.[36]

Wedding rituals[edit]

A Hindu wedding ritual in progress. The bride and the groom are seated together, receiving instructions from the

priest. The sacred square fire container (yajnakund) is behind the priest.

Weddings are festive occasions in India with extensive decorations, colors, music, dance, costumes and

rituals that depend on the religion of the bride and the groom, as well as their preferences.[37]

The nation

celebrates about 10 million weddings per year,[38]

of which over 80% areHindu weddings.

While there are many festival-related rituals in Hinduism, vivaha(wedding) is the most extensive personal

ritual an adult Hindu undertakes in his or her life.[39][40]

Typical Hindu families spend significant effort and

financial resources to prepare and celebrate weddings. The rituals and process of a Hindu wedding vary
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depending on region of India, local adaptations, resources of the family and preferences of the bride and

the groom. Nevertheless, there are a fewkey ritualscommon inHindu weddings-

Kanyadaan, Panigrahana, and Saptapadi; these are respectively, gifting away of daughter by the father,

voluntarily holding hand near the fire to signify impending union, and taking seven steps before fire with

each step including a set of mutual vows. After the seventh step and vows ofSaptapadi,the couple is

legally husband and wife.[40][41][42]

Indian Sikh weddings and Jain weddings have similar rituals as Hindus,

but with some key differences. The rituals are sometimes called by different names as well; for example,

the steps ritual in front of fire is calledLaava Phereby Sikhs instead of Saptapadi.

Indian Muslims celebrate a traditionalIslamic weddingfollowing customs similar to those practiced in the

Middle East. The rituals include Nikah, payment of financial dower called Mahrby the groom to the bride,

signing of marriage contract, and a reception.[43]

IndianChristian weddingsfollow customs similar to those

practiced in the Christian countries in the West.

Greetings[edit]

Pressing hands together with a smile to greet Namaste - a common cultural practice in India.

Namaste(Hindi), Namaskar (Marathi)or Namaskara(Kannada)

or Namaskaram(Telugu,Malayalam), Vanakkam(Tamil),Nomoshkaar(Bengali),Nomoskar(Assamese)is

a common spoken greeting or salutation, though becoming considered old-fashioned by some. Namaskar

is considered a slightly more formal version than Namaste but both express deep respect. It is commonly

used in India andNepalbyHindus,Jains and Buddhists, and many continue to use this outside the (Indian

subcontinent). In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal

communication. However, the same hands folded gesture is made usually wordlessly upon departure.

Taken literally, it means "I bow to you". The word is derived fromSanskrit(namah): tobow,obeisance,

reverentialsalutation,andrespect,and (te): "to you". As explained by an Indian scholar, in literal terms

Namaste refers to 'Godliness in me bows to Godliness in you' or 'Divinity in me, salutes divinity in you'. In

most Indian families, younger men and women are taught to seek the blessing of their elders by

reverentially bowing to their elders. This custom is known asPranma.
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Other greetings include "Ami Aschi"(inBengali),"Jai Shri Krishna", "Ram Ram", andSat Shri

Akal(Punjabi,used by followers ofSikhism),Jai Jinendra,a common greeting used across theJain

communityand "Nama Shivaya", "Jai ambe", "Jai Sri Ram" etc.

These traditional forms of greeting are no longer used in the world of business and in India's urban

environment. The handshake is the common form of greeting between men and men and also between

women and women; the handshake is often long and soft. Men should greet Indian women with a slight

nod unless the woman offers her hand for a short shake.[44]

Festivals[edit]

With India's cultural diversity, the country has more festivals than there are days in a year. With little lamps and lot of

care,Karthigaifestival celebrates the bond between sisters and brothers in south India. In other parts of India, Bhaiya-

DhujandRaakhiis celebrated. Sisters wish their brothers happiness and feed them sweets, while brothers give gifts

and promise to protect their sisters.

RadhaandgopikascelebratingHoli,known as the "festival of colours".
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Atug of war,at Pushkar Fair inRajasthan.

Main article:Festivals in India

India, being a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various

religions. The threenational holidays in India,theIndependence Day,theRepublic Dayand theGandhi

Jayanti,are celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm across India. In addition, manyIndian statesand regions

have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular religious

festivals include the Hindu festivals ofNavratri,Diwali,Maha Shivratri,Ganesh Chaturthi,Durga

puja,Holi,Ugadi,Rakshabandhan,andDussehra.Severalharvest festivalssuch

asSankranthi,Pongal,Raja sankaranti swinging festival,andOnam,"Nuakhai"are also fairly popular.

Certain festivals in India are celebrated by multiple religions. Notable examples include Diwali, which is

celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, andBuddh Purnima,celebrated by Buddhists. Sikh Festivals, suchasGuru Nanak Jayanti,Baisakhiare celebrated with full fanfare by Sikhs and Hindu. Adding colours to the

culture of India, theDree Festivalis one of the tribal festivals of India celebrated by the Apatanis of the Ziro

valley ofArunachal Pradesh,which is the easternmost state of India.

Islam in Indiais the second largest religion with over 135 millionMuslims-(followers of Islam), The Islamic

festivals which are observed and are declared public holiday in India are;Eid ul Fitr,Eid ul Adha-(Bakr

Eid),Milad un Nabi,MuharramandShab-e-Barat.[45]

Some of the Indian states have declared regional

holiday's for the particular regional popular festivals; such asArba'een,Jumu'ah-tul-WidaandShab-e-

Qadar.

Christianity is India's third largest religion. With over 23 million Christians, of which 17 million are Roman

Catholics, India is home to many Christian festivals. The country celebratesChristmasandGood Fridayas

public holidays.[45]

Regional fairs are also common and festive in India. For example, Pushkar fair is one of the world's largest

markets and Sonepur mela is the largest livestock fair in Asia.[46]

Names and language[edit]

Main article:Languages of India

Indian namesare based on a variety of systems andnaming conventions,which vary from region to

region. Names are also influenced by religion and caste and may come from the Indian epics.

Animals[edit]
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ikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fridayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fridayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_conventionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_conventionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_conventionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tug_of_war,_at_Pushkar_Fair,_Rajasthan.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naming_conventionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_India&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fridayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Qadarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Qadarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumu%27ah-tul-Widahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arba%27eenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India#cite_note-ph10-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shab-e-Barathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_of_Muharramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milad_un_Nabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Adhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Fitrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dree_Festivalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesakhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuakhaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Parbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Pongalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankranthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_festivalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_Pujahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshabandhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_pujahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga_pujahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivratrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(India)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_holidays_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivals_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tug_of_war


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Cows depicted in the decorated goppuram of theKapaleeshwarar templeinChennai.

See also:Wildlife of India,Animal husbandry in India,andCattle in religion

The varied and richwildlife of Indiahas had a profound impact on the region's popular culture. Common

name for wilderness in India isJunglewhich was adopted by the Britishcolonialiststo the English

language. The word has been also made famous inThe Jungle BookbyRudyard Kipling.India's wildlife

has been the subject of numerous other tales and fables such as thePanchatantraand theJataka tales.[47]

In Hinduism, the cow is regarded as a symbol ofahimsa(non-violence),mother goddessand bringer of

good fortune and wealth.[48]For this reason, cows are revered in Hindu culture and feeding a cow is seen

as an act of worship.[49]

As of January 2012, cow remains a divisive topic in India. Several states of India have passed laws to

protect cows, while many states have no restrictions on the production and consumption of beef. Somegroups oppose the butchering of cows, while other Indian groups are vehement that what kind of meat one

eats ought to be a matter of personal choice in a democracy.Madhya Pradeshenacted a law in January

2012, namely the Gau-Vansh Vadh Pratishedh (Sanshodhan) Act, which makes cow slaughter a serious

offence. Gujarat, a western state of India, has the Animal Preservation Act, enacted in October 2011, that

prohibits killing of cows along with buying, selling and transport of beef. In contrast, Odisha and Andhra

Pradesh allow butchering of cattle with a fit-for-slaughter certificate. In the states of West Bengal and

Kerala, consumption of beef is not deemed an offence. Contrary to stereotypes, a sizeable number of

Hindus eat beef, and many argue that their scriptures, such as vedic texts, do not prohibit its consumption.

In southern Indian state Kerala, for instance, beef accounts for nearly half of all meat consumed by all

communities, including Hindus. Sociologists theorise that the widespread consumption of cow meat in

India is because it is a far cheaper source of animal protein for the poor than lamb or chicken, which retail

at double the price. For these reasons, India's beef consumption post-independence in 1947 has

witnessed a much faster growth than any other kind of meat; currently, India is one of the five largest

producer and consumer of cattle livestock meat in the world. While states such as Madhya Pradesh are
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passing local laws to prevent cruelty to cows, other Indians are arguing "If the real objective is to prevent

cruelty to animals, then why single out the cow when hundreds of other animals are maltreated?"[50][51][52]

Cuisine[edit]

Main article:Indian cuisine

Indian cuisineis diverse, ranging from very spicy to very mild, varying with seasons in each region. These reflect

thelocal agriculture,regional climate,culinary innovations and cultural diversity. Food in India is sometimes served

inthali- a plate with rice, bread and a selection of sides. Above are thali samples.
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Nimmatnama-i Nasiruddin-Shahi (Book of Recipes), written about 1500 AD, documents the fine art of making Kheer, a

milk based dessert of India: Select the cows carefully; to get quality milk, pay attention to what the cows eat; feed them

sugar canes; use this milk to make the best Kheer.

Kheeris a traditional Indian sweet dish.

Food is an integral part of every human culture. Chang notes that the importance of food in understanding

human culture lies in its infinite variability - a variability that is not essential for species survival. For

survival needs, people everywhere could eat the same and some simple food.[53]

But human cultures, over

the ages, experiment, innovate and develop sophisticated cuisines. Cuisines become more than a source

of nutrients, they reflect human knowledge, culture, art and expression of love.

Indian food is as diverse as India. Indian cuisines use numerous ingredients, deploy a wide range of food

preparation styles, cooking techniques and culinary presentation. From salads to sauces, from vegetarian

to meat, from spices to sensuous, from breads to desserts, Indian cuisine is invariably complex. Harold

McGee, a favourite of many Michelin-starred chefs, writes "for sheer inventiveness with milk itself as the

primary ingredient, no country on earth can match India."[54]

"I travel to India at least three to four times a year. Its always inspirational. There is so much to learn

from India because each and every state is a country by itself and each has its own cuisine. There are

lots of things to learn about the different cuisines - it just amazes me. I keep my mind open and like to

explore different places and pick up different influences as I go along. I dont actually think that there is

a single state in India that I havent visited. [...] Indian food is a cosmopolitan cuisine that hasso many

ingredients. I dont think any cuisine in the world has got so many influences the way that Indian food
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has. It is a very rich cuisine and is very varied. Every region in the world has their own sense of how

Indian food should be perceived. "

Atul Kochhar,The first Indian to receive twoMichelin stars[55]

"...it takes me back to the first Christmas I can remember, when the grandmother I hadnt yet met, whowas Indian and lived in England, sent me a box. For me it still carries the taste of strangeness and

confusion and wonder."

Harold McGee,author ofOn Food and Cooking[56]

Some Indiandessertsfrom hundreds of varieties. In certain parts of India, these are called mithaior sweets. Sugar

and desserts have a long history in India: by about 500 BCE, people in India had developed the technology to

produce sugar crystals. In the local language, these crystals were calledkhanda(), which is the source of the

word candy.[57]

According toSanjeev Kapoor,a member of Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel, Indian food

has long been an expression of world cuisine. Kapoor claims, "if you looked back in India's history and

study the food that our ancestors ate, you will notice how much attention was paid to the planning and

cooking of a meal. Great thought was given to the texture and taste of each dish.[58]One such historical

record is Mnasollsa, (Sanskrit:, The Delight of Mind), written in the 12th century. The book

describes the need to change cuisine and food with seasons, various methods of cooking, the best blend

of flavours, the feel of various foods, planning and style of dining amongst other things.[59]

India is known for its love for food and spices. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the

local produce, cultural diversity, andvaried demographicsof the country. Generally, Indian cuisine can be

split into five categories -northern,southern,eastern, western, and north-eastern. The diversity of Indiancuisine is characterised by differing use of manyspicesand herbs, a wide assortment of recipes and

cooking techniques. Though a significant portion of Indian food isvegetarian,many traditional Indian

dishes also include chicken, goat, lamb, fish, and other meats. Fish-based cuisines are common in eastern

states of India, particularlyWest Bengal.[60]
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