Fact is that Indian culture is very interesting.Food,wedding traditions,cuisines,clothing and festivals all make India an interesting country. Blended with bottomless emotions and magnificent colors, there are many facts interesting about the Indian culture, but here are Five Most Interesting Things/Facts which make India’s tradition and culture the memento of its legacy.

1 Clothing

IndianBanarasiSarees

Indian women carry ‘sum and substance’ of delicacy in graceful Banarasi Sari of North, colorful Kanjivaram Sari of South, Tie-dye art reflecting Sambalpuri Sari of East and Hand woven silk Paithani Sari of West, a sophistically draped ‘around six yard cloth’ complementing their historic accessories like nose rings, ear rings, toe-rings, bangles, bindi, etc making it a hallmark of the Indian culture. Certainly, men too possess a simple yet super cool wardrobe of their traditional outfit. Like North Indians wear Kurta Pajama/Dhoti whereas, South Indians, Sarong, a white or a colorful dhoti with typical batik pattern. In East, for Assamese, Gamosa, a white rectangular piece of cloth with red border is everything and ‘easy going’ typical Gujarati and Rajasthani men are sorted with the best block prints Kurta and Dhoti with Turbine, wrapped around head. But don’t take it as a surprise, if you see West Indian girls wearing Patiala Salwar of Punjab or boys wearing Sherwani (long coat) and pajama for special occasions in wedding. It’s India, my friend!

2 Sundry Dance Forms

Gair-Ghoomer dance of Rajatshan

Drenched with indigenous scent of culture, if Rajasthani Ghoomer and Kathputli dance are like a booster of emotions, then, Madhya Pradesh’s Matki Dance would agape your mouths with its art of balancing earthen pots on heads. I bet, if you could stop your best foot tapping forward on the thumps of Dhol Cholam of Manipur and on Dhol and Tasha beats of Goa’s Dhalo and Lamp Dance. Besides, Punjab’s ‘Bhaangra’ is enough alone to bring the house down once hit with Chimta, Tabla and Dhol. In between, have you ever been Kashmir? NO? Guess, it’s high time to see Kashmiri Dumhal dance, performed by men folk in long colorful robes and conical caps, making a circle, spectacular in itself under the cold sky. Well, the list doesn’t ends here, as there are innumerable dance styles practiced across the country.

3 Food

South Indian Masala Dosa

How about starting your day, sitting on the coast and enjoying Kerala’s typical less spicy snacks like Potato Upperi or Masala dosa (a thin plain cooked sheet of rice and urad daal batter with vegetable stuffing) on a plantain leaf? Non-Vegetarian! For you, we have spicy Mughlai Boti Kabab, an extra-ordinary combination of beef, pepper, papaya etc, goes perfect with Naan (made of white flour). No matter where you go, the spices of Punjab will fetch you for the lunch, anyhow. Bravo! I would say if, after having Sarso da Saag, (spinach and garlic cloves with quite a good amount of ghee) and ‘Makke di Roti’ (made of Corn flour) with ‘Lassi’ (sweet beaten curd), your bellies crave for supper, then ‘sweet and sour’ Mumbai’s Bhelpuri would rock. And, Gluttons! If still a possibility lingers, then how about a Gujarat’s dry fruit sweet, ‘Mohan Thal’?

4Wedding

Miscellaneous ceremonies in Muslim Weddings

Be it north or south or east or west, weddings are a grand affair and the best season in India when stars auspiciously gather with heavenly blessings to tie knots of hearts forever. As per the Hindu tradition, the groom wears magnificent Sherwani and a floral veil called Sehra and waits for his bride, who dresses up in gorgeous traditional lehenga and jewellery, for Jaimala (garlands exchange ceremony). Digressing to Muslims’ traditions, the most striking ceremony is the Nikahnaama, a document which they sign in respect of Muslim law. Unlike Sikhs’ lively marriages in which Bride’s maternal uncle and aunt put ‘Chuda’, a red set of bangles on bride’s hand and groom wears Kangna covered with a piece of cloth to keep him safe from an evil sight, Karnataka, Bengal and other South East states rituals are quite different yet fascinating.

5 Festivals

Onam Festival of Kerala

Where on one hand, Bengalis celebrate ‘Durga Pooja’ expressing their reverence for Goddess Durga-Goddess of Power by playing Dhak (drums) during aarti, people of Kerala on the other, celebrate Onam, marking the harvesting season with full gusto, dance and music. Id-Ul-Fitr among Muslims and Diwali in Hindu religion involves exchange of gifts and prayers in recognizance of their Gods. Whereas, Himachal Pradesh’s flower festival Phulia is zealously enjoyed for 4 days, when men return back to their home collecting flowers from a particular mountain. Isn’t that amazing? And yes, if you are travelling in west in January then don’t even think of missing the kite festival, which stupendously paints the sky by taking the world under hustling confetti.

In a nutshell, go anywhere or take any turn, you can’t hold back loving Indian culture.