Indian folklore and culture

The four major traditional rituals have traveled all over the world, and it is an unchanging truth to do as the Romans do when you enter. Indians have four major traditional rituals, the separation is birth, funeral, marriage and Puja rituals. In addition, when traveling in India, you must know India's 10 special habits and 6 taboos to ensure that you have a good time and have a safe journey.

born

In India, boys are traditionally favored over girls, because when a daughter gets married, parents must prepare a rich dowry. Without a dowry, a daughter cannot get married. And this is indeed a huge burden for poor families.

If Indians give birth to a daughter, they will clap their hands to indicate that they are empty-handed. But if you give birth to a son, it will be a big difference. The family will immediately ring the gong to celebrate, implying that when the son marries a wife in the future, he can bring a loud dowry.

The way Indians celebrate the birth and safe growth of children is to go to the temple to perform the "Puja Ceremony", sing prayers, and then hold a dinner with relatives and friends.

After Indian children are born, their parents find people to divine them in the city. Most of the children's names are named after heroes or gods. The child's birth date is particularly valued because it can determine the child's future marriage partner.

funeral

When Hindus died, the city held a cremation ceremony in Hetan. After the death of a Hindu, the family would wrap the body in yellow or white silk cloth, then place it on two bamboo stretchers and carry it to the Hetan cremation site in a parade.

Traditionally, the task of transporting the deceased to the crematorium should be carried out by family members, but now most people are handled by special personnel. In India, those who specialize in funeral matters are regarded as untouchables with the lowest caste status.

Generally, the funeral ceremony is very simple, but wealthy families may invite musicians to play in front of them and march in a majestic manner. Before cremation, the eldest son of the deceased had to walk around the body three times with an oil lamp. When the cremation pyre was lit, the eldest son of the deceased had to shave his hair, leaving only a handful of it on the back of his head, and then go to the river to bathe and purify himself. After the cremation, the ashes of the deceased will be swept into the river, indicating that the soul has been released from its body.

wedding

Indian weddings are a representative of social status and the most important ceremony in their lives. When young people in India reach marriageable age, their parents in cities look for people with the same social class, language, region, background, and astrology.

Wedding ceremonies in India are quite cumbersome. Before marriage, parents of both parties will discuss dowry matters through the priest who acts as matchmakers. The woman must agree to the amount of dowry proposed by the man and woman before both parties can choose an auspicious day and start preparing for the wedding. The day before the wedding, the bride must follow the traditional makeup method, starting to apply oil, bath, change clothes, comb her hair, apply eyeliner, apply lip sand, and apply red on her feet, dot red tika on her forehead, and dot black moles on her chin. Then use vegetable dyes to paint Hana patterns on her hands and feet, then sprinkle perfume, wear jewelry and hair accessories, and finally dye her teeth black, chew betel nut nut, and apply lipstick to be completed.

On the wedding day, the bridegroom rode a white horse to the bride's house. At this time, a fire altar had been set up at the woman's house, and relatives and friends from both sides circled the fire altar to pray amid the auspicious mantra recited by the priest. After that, the bride, surrounded by her female partner, walked to the fire altar, and the priest tied the bride's sari and the groom's scarf together to represent the long and lasting marriage.

The Indian wedding dinner is held at the bride's home. A couple sits at the wedding reception to receive blessings from relatives and friends. The groom spent the night at the bride's house on the evening of the wedding and took the bride home the next day.

Puja Ceremony Puja)

Puja is a Hindu ritual to worship gods. The Puja ritual must be performed by a priest. During the ceremony, believers will decorate the statue and carry it out of the temple to celebrate, and present gifts such as flowers, coconuts, Tika powder, etc. Finally, the priest held an oil lamp and performed "Alati arati" in front of the statue.

During the journey of "Arati", believers gently covered the lamp in the priest's hand with their hands, and then touched it on their own eyes, indicating that they had accepted the power given by the gods.

Usually after the Puja ceremony, believers can be given some sacrificed flowers, tika powder or water, called "Borasada Prasada". Therefore, in India, whenever you see Indians coming out of temples to worship, they will almost always have red or white powder coated on their foreheads.

traditional costumes

In India, the religious beliefs, race, class, region, etc. of local people can be seen through different costumes and costumes.

Men wear headscarves

Most Indian men wear a headscarf, which is called Turban. There are various wrapping methods for headscarves, among which the Sikh male headscarf has a specific style.

According to tradition, Sikhs have to grow hair, beard, and wear headscarves since childhood. The style of children's headscarf is relatively simple, with only black cloth tied into a bun shape. The style of headscarf for adults is quite complex. First, you must use black elastic band to tie your hair into a bun, and then wrap it into a headscarf with a cloth about 3 meters long, a world custom network. The style is that the two sides face each other into a regular shape. Sikh headscarves are colorful, and some people even match them with the color of their clothes.

Most Indian men wear a loose long-necked gown (Tunic) paired with narrow-legged trousers (Dhoti). For men in Rajasthan, the trousers are wrapped in a white piece of cloth. The cloth towel on their heads has many changes in patterns and bright color.

Women wear saris

The traditional dress of Indian women is Sari, which refers to a piece of cloth more than 15 yards long and wraps around the body in a wrap when worn. Indian women are good at using skills such as tying, wrapping, tying, wrapping, entangling, draping, etc. to make sari different changes on their bodies.

Rajasthan women's saris are shorter and are only covered on their heads, but they are colorful and inlaid with gold and silver embroidery. Rajasthan women's tops are a bit like China impatiens without a collar, and the lower part is a long skirt with piping to reach the ground.

How to dress a sari

The traditional costumes of Indian women are wrapped in a piece of cloth 3 meters long, which is called Sari. There are many changes in the way Indian saris are dressed. Different races, regions, and beliefs will have many different colors, textures and ways of dressing. When Indian women wear a sari, their blouse is a short-sleeved tight-fitting dress that exposes the navel (Choli) and a ground-reaching straight petticoat (Ghagra).

The most basic way to wear a sari can be divided into the following steps:

1. First pull on the left end of the sari and tuck it into the right petticoat.

2. Wrap the sari cloth around the lower circumference from right to left for about three or four times.

3. Then fold the sari into four folds at the front right and tuck it into the skirt.

4. Then put the remaining cloth piece around the right armpit from the left rear and put it over the left shoulder.

5. Finally, put the sari directly on your shoulders or on your head.

Indian culture

The known history of India dates back to 2000 BC, beginning with the wave of Aryans first settled in northern India. It is likely that there has been a fierce conflict between immigrants and local residents. But it is clear that the spirit of assimilation and endurance of the great India, which has persisted to this day, prevailed. Over the next thousand years, the Aryans spread throughout India, creating most of the early classical Sanskrit texts such as the Brahma Sutra, the Vedas, the Upanishads and the two epic poems, Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Then, in about 550 BC, Sakyamuni's Buddhism spread to all parts of Asia. Alexander the Great invaded northern India in the 4th century BC. In 321 BC, Chandragupta. Mauritius established his dynasty in the city of Patra Pura, now the capital of Bihar, and the golden age of India began. Later, a series of dynasties appeared in northern and southern India, the most famous of which was the Peacock Dynasty. King Ashoka, the emperor of the Peacock Dynasty, spread the gospel of Buddha to all directions. To the south, starting from 200 BC, the Churo Dynasty and the Pandian Dynasty rose. Temple architecture in the south was greatly developed, and arts such as sculpture, music, poetry, and dance reached their peak.

In 711 AD, Mohammed Binkashin occupied Sindh Province, marking the first foray into India for Muslim adventurers. 1206 Kudub. D. Aybak established the first slave dynasty in Delhi, and the famous world cultural heritage site Kudubuta was named after him. The Sufi saints who promoted mystical faith and peace long before the heavily armed invaders arrived in this land. In 1526 Babur established the Mughal Dynasty. Prior to this, Portugal adventurer Vasque Gama landed in Garikut.

From 1526 until the death of Emperor Orangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Dynasty established the most powerful empire in the contemporary world, ruling India for nearly 180 years. Except for Sivaji, the Malata warrior who came from Mount Saheyadi, no other princes and nobles dared to challenge the power of Aurangzeb. Sivaji himself was crowned king and praised as the king of the people. Sivaji's successor, Paishvas, was the last Indian monarch to die under the powerful power of the British East India Company.

As a result, India is full of countless historical monuments. Ancient stupas, some ancient stupas that retain the ashes of Buddha, Ashoka pillars engraved with decrees, bronze plaques and stone tablets are scattered throughout the subcontinent. Maharashtra and other places have the exquisitely carved Ajanta Grottoes, Arola Grottoes, Alevanta Grottoes, majestic temples with different architectural styles that are well preserved in the southeast and northwest, the castles and manors of Rajasstan, Delhi's magnificent Red Fort, historical monuments, the spectacular Fatpur Sikri Palace, the magnificent and beautiful Taj Mahal... countless places of interest. Once tourists are attracted to deified India, they will not be able to see enough of them.

Modern India is a vibrant country, and in terms of transparent democracy, it is the largest country in the world, and should be proud of it. Among the independent third world countries after World War II, few countries have defended their democracy as faithfully as India. There is no denying that there are still poor people and slums in Indian cities and towns. However, with the development of science and industrial technology in India, the people's living standards will improve accordingly, and by the 21st century, they will inevitably reach a medium standard of living. India's emerging information technology engineers and information companies have won the respect of the world. Its GDP growth rate is second only to China. The Indian people are determined to rise in the modern world, and India's pulse beats with the youthful vitality of the people.

The most impressive thing about India on tourists is its diversity. This diversity arouses great curiosity and interest among tourists and makes them eager to learn about the land of India and its people. There is no doubt that ancient merchants and marauders who came all the way here in search of wealth would fall in love with the land and see it as their final destination and settlement on the subcontinent rather than a supply station. The ethnic, language, religion, worship, culture, geographical characteristics and climate of this magical land are difficult to compare with by other countries. But India's stunning diversity creates a subtle bond that unites the entire country in an incredibly lasting manner. India's first Prime Minister Nehru believed that this unity in the amazing diversity of culture and nation was a major feature of India. This is India's unique uniqueness in the world. This unity in diversity will always make Indians proud.

India ranks seventh in the world in land area and has a population of 1.1 billion, ranking second only to its neighbor China. Guests who had just landed on this land were surprised to find that people on this subcontinent have different skin colors, large differences in height and height, and have distinctive anthropological and sociological characteristics. From the Aryans, Indo-Europeans to the Mediterranean Dravidian, almost all races on earth have skin colors. There are also Mongolians, primitive Australia, blacks and Western Brazisefals. If you travel from north to south, the skin of northern Indians is whiter, and the farther south, the skin of people is darker. This is just a general division. Whether in the south or the west, even within the same family, everyone's skin color, hair and eyes vary. India ranks first in the world in the number of cattle, with a total of 20 million according to recent statistics.

India's languages are equally diverse. There are about 2000 species in India, 55 of which have their own writing and literature. Nineteen well-developed languages with huge literary treasures have been recognized as official languages of India. Every religion in India has its followers on the subcontinent. The vast majority of people in India believe in India, accounting for 85%, followed by Muslims, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, etc. All different religions live in harmony. The entire Indian subcontinent is dotted with countless beautiful temples, majestic churches, grand mosques, Buddhist temples with strong incense, synagogues and Zoroastrian temples. Mumbai, the commercial metropolis of western India, can be said to be a microcosm of India's religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity. In addition to the temples and churches of the above religions, there are also famous Armenian churches, Shenxuan Temple and Datong Temple in the city.

If you go to Bombay, Chennai, and especially Calcutta, traces of centuries of civilization will emerge one after another. As you come out of the cool air-conditioned computer-managed cafe and walk onto Calcutta's Diamond Port Avenue, you will naturally encounter primitive families living on the trail, where people cook with firewood, leisurely showers, and laundry. Walking on the opposite road, rickshaws, oxcarts and pedestrians crowded along the road with mountains of computer boxes or vegetables. You can hire a tricycle or two-wheeler to go to the wealthy areas around you. City buses roar, luxury cheap cars rush past you, or you can hop on a long tram line. The modern plane roared into the distance overhead, and the underground train roared away.

Like her people, India's geology, geography and terroir represent the true picture of earth's history. The world's highest and youngest Himalayas form a daunting natural barrier in northern India. It stretches for 2500 kilometers from east to west, forming an area of 500,000 square kilometers. Her most famous Western Cliff Sinking Glacier is the inexhaustible source of the ten-thousand-year-old rivers that have alluded into the rich northern, western valleys. India's holy rivers Ganges, as well as the Yamuna River, the Sindu River, and the Brahmaputra River, have given birth to the civilization of the rich land along the coast since ancient times. In the northwest, there is the oldest Araavari Mountains in the world, which have been no longer glorious or fertile for millions of years.

The Vendia Mountains and Satpura Mountains run parallel across almost the entire Indian Peninsula from east to west. Sahiadri Mountains run parallel to the west coast of India, and the irregular mountain system on the east coast is the East Gaozhi Mountains. Beautiful scenic spots are dotted in every mountain system, and modern transportation means extend in all directions. There are many ski resorts in the Himalayas, as well as safe climbing and river rafting equipment. Each mountain range has its own unique majesty and geographical characteristics. Various wild animals live in the vast forest, especially in subtropical forests. Wildlife shelters are built in the forest. Tourists can feast their eyes and watch hundreds of animals and thousands of birds.Near the coast of the Sahiadri Mountains, especially the common dry areas of Kerala, Goa and Mahashstra, the green Arabian Coast has countless beautiful gorges, fjords, creeks and lagoons. Countless tourists are eager to cultivate their temperament in a rare and beautiful peaceful environment.

India has a coastline of 7516 kilometers, and the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Bengal provide comfortable and beautiful venues and environments for sun bathing and water sports enthusiasts. Along the return coast of Kerala, traditional rowing competitions are held in many places, and grand celebrations are held at the same time, attracting countless rowing fans = enthusiasts and spectators. Walking down the snow-capped Himalayas and across the rich Punjab Plain is the desolate and hot Rajstan Desert. However, the Rajstan people used their wisdom and hard work to create a colorful world, and it is famous for it. As if to compensate for nature's parsimony, the people of Rajistan created their own beautiful world of colorful colors: exquisite textiles, men's turbans, women's flowing shawls, decorative embroidery, exquisite jewelry, as well as thatched huts, houses and princes 'mansions. It is said that every housewife and every child in Rajistan is a natural artist who makes exquisite handicrafts. Rajastan's miniature paintings attract art lovers from all over the world. The harmony of buildings and brilliant colors of the exotic cities of Rajasstan, Jaipur, Jodaipur, Udaipu and Bikaner make tourists feast their eyes.

But rich and colorful folk art, painting, folk dance, and music are not only in Rajasthan. There are various styles of folk art in the tribal areas of Ladakh Mountains, the northeastern states of Arurachal, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and Gugarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Maharashtra. Traditional rural festival gatherings, whether tribes or agricultural villages on the plains, present a typical picture of Indian rural customs. Here you can experience real music, juggling, exquisite food, songs and dances, and dizzying local handicrafts. It shows the hard work, wisdom and indomitable spirit of the Indian people. There are 700,000 villages in India, and thousands of festival gatherings are held every year. These gatherings attracted guests from all over the country and overseas tourists.

Mount Vendya and Mount Satpula are the origins of the Namada, Daputi, Godavari, Krisina, Mahanadi and Tsawari rivers. These rivers and the Brahmaputra River in the east have experienced the rise and fall of many ancient dynasties and cultures, and ancient ruins and surviving monuments can be seen everywhere on the peninsula. Tamil culture in southern India predates even the Vedic civilization in the north, and the Tamils are proud that their language is older than Sanskrit.

India is located between 8.4 and 37.6 degrees north latitude, with very different climates. While the temperature in Ladakh and Punjab in the Kashmir Valley on the Himalayas is hovering around 0 degrees and freezing, the temperature in the southern part of the peninsula is 30 degrees, and it is so hot that sweat is sweating. India's summer southwest monsoon period is from June to September every year. It is the agricultural farming season in most parts of the Indian Peninsula, but heavy rains make farming difficult. However, irrigation systems from south to north can accommodate this unfavorable factor. India, an innovative spirit, has overcome the ravages of the monsoon with hard work and wisdom. India, which used to encounter famine years, exports grain and fruit while feeding three times the population at the time of independence in 1947.