The culture of India has been shaped by the long history of India, its unique geography and the absorption of customs, traditions and ideas from some of its neighbors as well as by preserving its ancient heritages, from the Indus Valley Civilization onward. India's great diversity of cultural practices, languages, customs, and traditions are examples of this unique co-mingling over the past five millennea. India is also the birth place of several religious systems such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, some of which have had a great influence also in other parts of the world. From the thirteenth century onwards, following the Islamic conquests and the subsequent European colonialization, the culture of India was influenced by Turkish, Persian, Arabic and English cultures. The various religions and traditions of India that were created by these amalgamations have influenced South East Asia and some other parts of the world. For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... The History of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent from 3300 to 1700 BCE. This Bronze Age civilization was followed by the Iron Age Vedic period, which witnessed the rise of major kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... Buddhism is a Dharmic religion and philosophy[1] with between 230 to 500 million adherents worldwide. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ), founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world. ... The Turkic people are any of various peoples whose members speak languages in the Turkic family of languages. ... Motto: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ« 1 Independence, freedom, Islamic Republic Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Â² Capital (and largest city) Tehran Official languages Persian, Constitutional status for regional languages such as Azeri and Kurdish [1] Demonym Iranian Government Islamic Republic  -  Supreme Leader  -  President... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A tradition is a story or a custom that is memorized and passed down from generation to generation, originally without the need for a writing system. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...

Language

Language families in South Asia

The great number of languages in India have added to the diverse cultures and traditions at both regional and national levels. 216 languages are spoken by a group of more than 10,000 people; however there are many others which are spoken by fewer than 10,000 people. All together, there are 415 living languages in India. The Constitution of India has stipulated the usage of Hindi and English to be the two official languages of communication for the Union Government. Individual state's own internal communications are done in the state's language. The two major linguistic families in India are those of the Indo-Aryan languages and the Dravidian languages, the former being largely confined to northern, western, central and eastern India and the latter to southern India. The next largest language family in India is the Austro-Asiatic language group, which contains the Munda languages of central and eastern India, the Khasian languages of northeastern India, and the Nicobarese languages of the Nicobar Islands. The fourth largest language family in India is the Tibeto-Burman languages, which are themselves a subgroup of the larger Sino-Tibetan language family. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 549 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (637 × 695 pixel, file size: 49 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) South Asian Language Families, translated from Image:Südasien Sprachfamilien. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 549 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (637 × 695 pixel, file size: 49 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) South Asian Language Families, translated from Image:Südasien Sprachfamilien. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Judiciary Supreme Court of India Chief Justice of India High Courts District Courts Elections Political Parties Local & State Govt. ... India is subdivided into 28 states, 6 union territories and a national capital territory. ... The Constitution of India envisages Hindi as the primary official language advocated by the Union government, with English as the subsidiary official language. ... The Indo-Aryan languages (within the context of Indo-European studies also Indic[1]) are a branch of the Indo-European language family. ... For other uses, see Dravidian (disambiguation). ... Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... A map of West India. ... The geography of India is extremely diverse, with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts, plains, hills and plateaus. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and South-East Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and... South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ... Austro-Asiatic languages The Austro-Asiatic languages are a large language family of Southeast Asia, and also scattered throughout India and Bangladesh. ... Munda Languages are spoken in north east India. ... Nicobarese is an isolated group of six closely related Mon-Khmer languages spoken in the Nicobar Islands of India. ... Map of Nicobar Islands The Nicobar Islands are an island chain in the eastern Indian Ocean, and are part of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. ... The Tibeto-Burman family of languages (often considered a sub-group of the Sino-Tibetan language family) is spoken in various central and south Asian countries, including Myanmar (Burma), northern Thailand, and parts of Western China (Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai (Amdo), Gansu, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan), Nepal, Bhutan, India (Himachal... The Sino-Tibetan languages form a putative language family composed of Chinese and the Tibeto-Burman languages, including some 250 languages of East Asia. ...

Literature

History

Main article: Indian literature

The earliest literary traditions were oral and have been passed down as such. Later, though, they were transcribed. Many of them derive from Hindu tradition and are represented by texts in Sanskrit such as the Vedas, the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Other are in Sangam literature from the beginning of the Common Era, and in Kannada such as the writings Prabhrita (650 CE) and Chudamani (Crest Jewel- 650 CE or earlier; a 96,000 verse commentary on logic)^[1][2][3]. Furthermore, many Buddhist sutras and Jain works are in Prakrit languages like Pali (c. 250 BCE) and Ardhamagadhi, and later on in Sanskrit. All these represent some of India's oldest literary traditions. Indian literature is generally acknowledged, but not wholly established, as the oldest in the world. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Veda redirects here. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years 200 BCE and 300 CE.[1][2] This collection contains 2381 poems written by 473 poets, some 102 of whom are anonymous authors[3]. The period during which these poems were written is commonly referred to... “Kannada” redirects here. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Sutras may refer too: Sutra, a concept regarding Hinduism Sutras (album), an album by 1960s rock musician Donovan ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... Prakrit (also spelt Pracrit) (Sanskrit: , original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual, i. ... Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ...

Rabindranath Tagore became Asia's first Nobel laureate when he won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature

Kannada writer Shivarama Karanth, winner of Jnanpith, Sahitya Academy, Swedish Academy, Padma Bhushan, Tulsi Samman, Sangeet Natak Academy

During the period of the Delhi sultanate (after 1200 CE) and in the subsequent Mughal era, Islamic culture has influenced medieval Indian literature.^[clarify] This was especially due to the increased influence of Persian, including the work of famous poets such as Amir Khusro. Image File history File links Tagore3. ... Image File history File links Tagore3. ... (Bengali: , IPA: ) (7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941), also known by the sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali poet, Brahmo Samaj philosopher, visual artist, playwright, novelist, and composer whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ... René-François-Armand Prudhomme (1839–1907), a French poet and essayist, was the first person to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1901, in special recognition of his poetic composition, which gives evidence of lofty idealism, artistic perfection and a rare combination of the qualities of both heart... Image File history File links Shivaramakaranth. ... Image File history File links Shivaramakaranth. ... For other uses, see Karanth (disambiguation). ... Jnanpith Award (pronounced Gyanpeeth Award) is the highest literary honour presented by the Government of India. ... The Sahitya Akademi is an Indian organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. ... This article is about Svenska Akademien. ... The Padma Bhushan is an Indian civilian decoration established on January 2, 1954 by the President of India. ... The Sangeet Natak Akademi (DevanāgarÄ«: संगीत नाटक अकादेमी or, The National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the first national level academy of art set up by the Government of India. ... Mughal Empire at its greatest extent in 1700 Capital Lahore, Delhi, Agra , Kabul, Lucknow and Bhopal Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai; later also Urdu) Government Absolute Monarchy , Unitary Government with a federal structure Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Farsi redirects here. ... Abul Hasan YamÄ«n al-DÄ«n Khusrow (Persian: , Devanagari: अबुल हसन यमीनुददीन ख़ुसरो) (1253-1325 CE), better known as AmÄ«r Khusrow DehlawÄ«, was the greatest Persian-writing poet of medieval India one of the iconic figures in the cultural history of the Indian subcontinent. ...

During the period of English colonial rule, modern literature exemplified by the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Subramania Barathi, Kuvempu, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Munshi Premchand, Muhammad Iqbal, Devaki Nandan Khatri became prominent. In contemporary India, writers like Girish Karnad, Agyeya, Nirmal Verma, Kamleshwar, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Indira Goswami, Mahasweta Devi, Amrita Pritam, Arundhati Roy, Maasti Venkatesh Ayengar, Qurratulain Hyder and Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, to name but a few, have been the recipients of critical acclaim. Anthem God Save The King-Emperor The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy... (Bengali: , IPA: ) (7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941), also known by the sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali poet, Brahmo Samaj philosopher, visual artist, playwright, novelist, and composer whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ... Subramanya Bharathi 1882 - 1921 Subramanya Bharathi (Tamil: ) (December 11, 1882 - September 11, 1921) was a Tamil poet from Tamil Nadu, India, freedom fighter and reformer. ... Kuvempu - (ಕುವೆಂಪು) is the pen name of a well-known Kannada writer/poet of the 20th century, Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa (29 December 1904 - 1994). ... Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (26 June 1838 - 8 April 1894) (Bengali: Bôngkim Chôndro Chôţţopaddhae) (Chattopadhyay in the original Bengali; Chatterjee as spelt by the British) was a Bengali Indian poet, novelist, essayist and journalist, most famous as the author of Vande Mataram or Bande Mataram... Michael Madhusudan Dutt (Datta), (Bengali: Maikel Modhushudôn Dôtto) (1824-1873), born Madhusudan Dutt, is a famous 19th century Bengali poet and dramatist. ... Premchand redirects here. ... Sir Muhammad Iqbāl (Urdu/Persian: ‎ ) (November 9, 1877 – April 21, 1938) was an Indian Muslim poet, philosopher and politician, whose poetry in Persian and Urdu is regarded as among the greatest in modern times. ... Devaki Nandan Khatri was the first author of the mystery novels in Hindi. ... Girish Karnad (Kannada:ಗಿರೀಶ್ ಕಾರ್ನಾಡ್) (born [[1938 May 19, 1938]]), is a contemporary writer, playwright, actor and movie director in Kannada language. ... S. H. Vatsyayan (सच्‍चिदानन्‍द हीरानन्‍द वात्‍स्‍यायन) (1911–1987), (Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana), was popularly known by his pen-name Ajneya or Agyeya, was a pioneer of modern trends not only in the realm of poetry, but also fiction, criticism and journalism. ... Nirmal Verma (निर्मल वर्मा) (1929-25 October 2005) together with Mohan Rakesh, Bhisham Sahni, Kamleshwar, Amarkant and others, is the founder of the Nai Kahani (new short story) in Hindi literature. ... Kamleshwar (कमलेश्वर) (full name Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena) (January 6, 1932 - January 27, 2007), a prominent Hindi writer of the 20th century, was born in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ... Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (b. ... Mamoni Raisom Goswami (1942-), also Indira Goswami, is a well know writer from Assam. ... Mahasweta Devi (born 1926 in Dacca now known as Bangladesh) is an Indian writer. ... Amrita Pritam (August 31, 1919 – October 31, 2005) (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) was a Punjabi poet and writer who migrated to India 1947, when the former British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. ... Suzanna Arundhati Roy[1] (born November 24, 1961) is an Indian novelist, writer and activist. ... Maasti Venkatesh Ayengar (June 6, 1891 - June 6, 1986) was a famous Kannada writer, and a Jnanpith (1983) awardee. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Qurratulain Haider. ... [[ == thakazhi siva sankara pilla was a famous novelist in malayalam literature. ...

Poetry

Main article: Indian poetry

India has strong traditions of poetry ever since the Rigveda, as well as prose compositions. Poetry is often closely related to musical traditions, and much of poetry can be attributed to religious movements. Writers and philosophers were often also skilled poets. In modern times, poetry has served as an important non-violent tool of nationalism during the Indian freedom movement. A famous modern example of this tradition can be found in such figures as Rabindranath Tagore and K. S. Narasimhaswamy in modern times and poets such as Basava (vachanas) , Kabir and Purandaradasa (padas and devaranamas) in medieval times, as well as the epics of ancient times. Two examples of poetry from Tagore's Gitanjali serve as the national anthems of both India and Bangladesh. Indian poetry, and Indian literature in general, has a long history dating back to Vedic times. ... Rig veda is the oldest text in the world. ... Dr. K. S. Narasimhaswamy (KSN, affectionately known as K. S. Na) (January 26, 1915-December 27, 2003) was a famous poet of Kannada language. ... Basava (also known as Basaveshwara (Kannada:ಬಸವೇಶ್ವರ) or Basavanna(ಬಸವಣ್ಣ) 1134–1196) was a philosopher and a social reformer. ... The vachanas are a body of work, and a form of writing, in Kannada. ... A painting of Kabir Kabīr (also Kabīra) (Hindi: कबीर, Gurmukhī: ਕਬੀਰ, Urdu: ) (1440—1518[1]) (born in 1398 according to some accounts[1][2]) was a mystic poet or poet sants of India, whose literature has greatly influenced the Bhakti as well as Sufi movements of India. ... Sri Purandara Dasa (1494-1564) (the follower (dasa) of Lord Purandara Vittala [Lord Vishnu in one of his many avatars. ...

Epics

Main article: Indian epic poetry

The Ramayana and Mahabharata are the oldest preserved and still well-known epics of India; some of their versions have been adopted as the epics of Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In addition, there are five epics in the classical Tamil language -they being Silappadhikaram, Manimegalai, Jeevaga-chintamani, Valayaapathi, Kundalakesi. Other regional variations of them as well as unrelated epics include the Tamil Kamba Ramayanam, in Kannada, the Pampa Bharata by Adikavi Pampa, Torave Ramayana by Kumara Valmiki and Karnata Bharata KathaManjari by Kumaravyasa, Hindi Ramacharitamanasa, Malayalam Adhyathmaramayanam. The ancient Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, laid the cornerstone for much of Hindu religion. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... Cilappatikaram (The Ankle Bracelet - initial c pronounced like the first syllable of chat) also spelled as Cilappadhikaram or Silappadhigaram, is one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil Literature. ... Manimekalai is one of the masterpieces of Tamil literature and belongs to The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature. ... Jeevaga-chintamani (transliterated with innumerable variations) is a classical Tamil language epic poem. ... Kundalakesi (குண்டலகேசி) is a fragmentary Tamil epic. ... Kamba Ramayanam is a Tamil epic that was written by Kamban during the 9th century. ... Pampa (Kannada: ಪಂಪ) born in 902 C.E., also known as Adikavi Pampa, is one of the greatest Kannada poets of all time. ... Kumara Vyasa is one of the most famous poets in the Kannada language, spoken in the state of Karnataka, India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sri Ramacharit Manas. ... Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan Malayalam തുഞ്ചത്തു് എഴുത്തച്ഛന്‍ (commonly known as Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan) is considered as the Father of the Malayalam language. ...

Performing arts

Music

Main article: Music of India

The music of India includes multiples varieties of religious, folk, popular, pop, and classical music. The oldest preserved examples of Indian music are the melodies of the Samaveda that are still sung in certain Vedic Shrauta sacrifices. India's classical music tradition is heavily influenced by Hindu texts. It includes Carnatic and Hindustani music and is noted for the use of several Raga, has a history spanning millennia, and, developed over several eras, remains instrumental to the religious inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. Alongside distinctly subcontinental forms, there are some similarities with other types of Oriental music. Timeline and Samples Genres Classical (Carnatic and Hindustani) - Folk - Rock - Pop - Hip hop Awards Bollywood Music Awards - Punjabi Music Awards Charts Festivals Sangeet Natak Akademi – Thyagaraja Aradhana – Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Media Sruti, The Music Magazine National anthem Jana Gana Mana, also national song Vande Mataram Music of the states Andaman... Folk song redirects here. ... For the music genre, see Pop music. ... This article is about the genre of popular music. ... Shruti (what is heard) is a canon of Hindu scriptures. ... The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas. ... Carnatic music, also known as is one of the two styles of Indian classical music, the other being Hindustani music. ... Hindustani (हिन्‍दुस्‍थानी) classical music is an Indian classical music tradition originating in the North of the Indian subcontinent circa the 13th and 14th centuries CE. Developing a strong and diverse tradition over several centuries, it has contemporary traditions established primarily in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. ... Raga (rāg /राग (Hindi), raga (anglicised from rāgaḥ/रागः (Sanskrit)) or rāgam /ராகம் (Tamil)) are the melodic modes used in Indian classical music. ...

Purandaradasa is considered the "father of carnatic music" (Karnataka sangeeta pitamaha).^[4][5][6] He concluded his songs with a salutation to Lord Purandara Vittala and is believed to have composed as many as 375,000-450,000^{[citation needed]} songs in the Kannada language. However, only about 1000 are known today.^[7][4] Sri Purandara Dasa (1494-1564) (the follower (dasa) of Lord Purandara Vittala [Lord Vishnu in one of his many avatars. ... “Kannada” redirects here. ...

Dance

Main article: Indian dance

Indian dance too has diverse folk and classical forms. Among the well-known folk dances are the bhangra of the Punjab, the bihu of Assam, the chhau of Jharkhand and Orissa and the ghoomar of Rajasthan. Eight dance forms, many with narrative forms and mythological elements, have been accorded classical dance status by India's National Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama. These are: bharatanatyam of the state of Tamil Nadu, kathak of Uttar Pradesh, kathakali and mohiniattam of Kerala, kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, manipuri of Manipur, odissi of the state of Orissa and the sattriya of Assam.^[8] Classical Indian dance India offers a number of Classical Indian dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. ... Classical Indian dance Dance in India has its origins in antiquity and continues in both classical and modern styles into the present. ... Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances, and are performed to express joy. ... Bhangra (Punjabi: , IPA: ) is a lively form of music and dance that originated in India. ... This article is about the geographical region. ... Bihu is the most important (non-religious) festival of the Assamese culture and of the state of Assam which is situated in the northeastern region of India. ... , Assam  ) (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm [É”xÉ”m]) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Guwahati. ... CHAU is a television station. ... , Jharkhand   (Hindi: झारखंड, Bengali: ঝাড়খণ্ড,IPA: ) is a state in eastern India. ... , Orissa   (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶା), is a state situated on the east coast of India. ... Ghoomar is a traditional womens folk dance of Rajasthan, India which was developed by the Bhil tribe and was adopted by the Rajputs. ... , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... Indian classical dance is performed in different styles. ... Koodiyattam maestro Guru Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār receiving Sangeet Natak Academy Award from Dr.S Radhakrishnan - the President of India(1964). ... Bharatanatyam[1] is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu[2][3][4][5][6], a state in Southern India. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Stamp issued in honour of Kathak Kathak is one of the classical dance forms of India (originally from North India), and the national dance of Pakistan. ... , Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: , IPA:  , translation: Northern Province), [often referred to as U.P.], located in central-south Asia and northern India, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ... Kathakali (IPA: [kat̪ʰakaÉ­i], Malayalam:�·ഥ�·ളി , Sanskrit:�·थ�·ळि) is a form of Indian dance-drama. ... Mohiniaattam (മൊഹിനിയാട്ടം) (also spelled as mohiniattam or mohiniyattam) is a traditional South Indian dance form from Kerala, India. ... -1... Kuchipudi (కుచిపుడి) (pronounced as Koochipoodi--Hams Mash (talk) 02:04, 23 March 2008 (UTC)) is a Classical Indian dance form from Andhra Pradesh, a state of South India. ... Andhra redirects here. ... Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. ... , Manipur   (Meiteilon: মনিপুর in Eastern Nagari script, mnipur in Meitei Mayek) is a state in northeastern India making its capital in the city of Imphal. ... // Odissi dancer Monalisa Ghosh in front of the Sun temple in Konark Whatever mention Odissi has in caves and treatises, the living tradition of the Odissi dance form has been kept up by the Maharis and the Gotipuas. ... , Orissa   (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶା), is a state situated on the east coast of India. ... image of Sattriya dance Sattriya dance or Sattriya Nritya is one among the eight principal classical dance traditions of India. ... , Assam  ) (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm [É”xÉ”m]) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Guwahati. ...

Martial arts

Kalarippayattu or Kalari for short is one of the world's oldest martial art. It is preserved in texts such as the Mallapurana. Kalari and other later formed martial arts have been assumed by some to have traveled to China, like Buddhism, and eventually developing into Kung-fu. Other later martial arts are Gatka,Pehlwani,and Malla-yuddha. There have been many great practitioners of Indian martial Arts including Bodhidharma who supposedly brought Indian martial arts to China. Kalarippayattu (IPA: [kaɭaɾipːajatɨ̆], Malayalam: കളരിപയറ്റ്) is a Dravidian martial art practised in Kerala and contiguous parts of neighboring Tamil Nadu of Southern India. ... Kalari Puttara The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Gatka (Punjabi: , ) is a traditional Sikh martial art. ... Pehlwani Modern wrestling, or Pehlwani , is a synthesis of an indigenous Aryan form of wrestling that dates back at least to the 5th century BC [1] and a Persian form of wrestling brought into South Asia by the Mughals. ... Mallayuddha (literally wrestling combat)[1] is the martial art of classical Indian wrestling. ...

Drama and theatre

Main article: Theatre in India

Natyacarya Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana in Bhasa's Abhiṣeka Nataka Kutiyattam- one of the oldest surviving drama tradition of the world

Guru (late) Māni Mādhava Chākyār- Rasa-abhinaya maestro. Winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award,Padma Shri,Kerala Sahitya Academy Award,Tulsi Samman etc and Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi,Govt. of India Emeritus Fellowship,Kalidasa Academy etc.

Indian drama and theatre has a long history alongside its music and dance. Kalidasa's plays like Shakuntala and Meghadoota are some of the older plays, following those of Bhasa. One of the oldest surviving theatre tradition of the world is the 2000 year old Kutiyattam of Kerala. It strictly follows the Natya Shastra. The dramas of Bhasa are very popular in this art form. Nātyāchārya (late) Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār- the unrivaled maestro of this art form and Abhinaya, revived the age old drama tradition from extinction. He was known for mastery of Rasa Abhinaya. He started to perform the Kalidasa plays like Abhijñānaśākuntala, Vikramorvaśīya and Mālavikāgnimitra ; Bhasa's Swapnavāsavadatta and Pancharātra; Harsha's Nagananda in Kutiyattam form. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1168x1766, 295 KB)[edit] Summary Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana at the age of 89! It was one of his last performance (Thripunithura). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1168x1766, 295 KB)[edit] Summary Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana at the age of 89! It was one of his last performance (Thripunithura). ... Nātyāchārya VidÅ«shakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār (1899 - 1990) - The Doyen of Kutiyattam and Abhinaya Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( Māni Mādhava Chākyār, Sanskrit:मािण माधव चाक्यार्, Malayalam:മാണി മാധവ ചാക്യാര്) (15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana (Devanagari: रावण, Telugu: రావణాసురుడు IAST ; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Categories: Wikipedia cleanup | Literature stubs ... Kuttiyattam is a form of theatre in the South Indian state of Kerala. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 543 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 1906 pixel, file size: 258 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The picture has been digitally modified. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 543 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 1906 pixel, file size: 258 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The picture has been digitally modified. ... Nātyāchārya VidÅ«shakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār ( 1899 - 1990 ) Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( Māni Mādhava Chākyār ) ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest... This article should be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Abhinaya or Abhinayam (Sanskrit: अिभनयम्) is the Sanskrit word for Acting. ... -1... Padma Shri (also spelt Padma Shree, Padmashree, Padma Sree and Padma Sri) is an award given by the Government of India generally to Indian citizens to recognize their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Social Service and public life. ... Kerala Sahitya Akademi or Academy for Malayalam literature is an autonomous body which was established to promote Malayalam language and literary heritage and situated in Thrissur. ... Kalidas (कालिदास) is considered one of Indias greatest Sanskrit poets and dramatists. ... The Recognition of Sakuntala is a play in Sanskrit written by Kalidasa. ... The Meghaduuta (which translates literally as cloud-messenger) is a lyrical poem written by Kalidasa, considered to be one of the greatest Sanskrit poets. ... Kuttiyattam is a form of theatre in the South Indian state of Kerala. ... -1... The Natya Shastra or Nātyaśāstra is the principal work of dramatic theory in the Sanskrit drama of classical India. ... Categories: Wikipedia cleanup | Literature stubs ... Padma Shri (also spelt Padma Shree, Padmashree, Padma Sree and Padma Sri) is an award given by the Government of India generally to Indian citizens to recognize their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Social Service and public life. ... Nātyāchārya VidÅ«shakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār ( 1899 - 1990 ) Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( Māni Mādhava Chākyār ) ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest... Abhinaya or Abhinayam (Sanskrit: अिभनयम्) is the Sanskrit word for Acting. ... The Recognition of Sakuntala is a Sanskrit play by Kalidasa. ... This play by Kalidasa is about the love story between Pururava and Urvashi. ... Malavikaagnimitra (Malavika and Agnimitra) tells the story of the love of Agnimitra of Vidisha, king of the Shungas, for the beautiful handmaiden of his chief queen. ... King Udayana in Kudiyattam (2000 year old surviving Sanskrit drama tradition of Kerala) Choreography: Guru Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār Artist: Mani Damodara Chakyar Swapnavāsavadatta (The dream of Vasavadatta) is a Sanskrit play written by the ancient Indian poet Bhasa. ... Harsha or Harshavardhana (606-648) was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India as paramount monarch for over forty years. ... Nagananda (Joy of the Serpents) is a Sanskrit play attributed to king Harsha (606 C.E. - 648 C.E.). Nagananda is one of the best Sanskrit dramas in five acts dealing with the popular story of Jimutavahanas self-sacrifice to save the Nagas. ...

The tradition of folk theatre is alive in nearly all of the linguistic regions of the country.^{[citation needed]} In addition, there is a rich tradition of puppet theatre in rural India, going back to at least the second century BCE. (It is mentioned in Patanjali's commentary on Panini). Group Theatre is also thriving in the cities, initiated by the likes of Gubbi Veeranna^[9] Utpal Dutt, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, K. V. Subbanna and still maintained by groups like Nandikar, Ninasam and Prithvi Theatre. Natakaratna Gubbi Veeranna was a doyen of early Kannada theatre and the founder of the famous Gubbi Veeranna theatre company. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (1914 - 1987) was an Indian film director, scenarist and journalist. ... Subbanna redirects here. ... Nandikars logo designed by Satyajit Ray. ... K V Subbanna, founder of Ninasam Ninasam (Kannada:ನೀನಾಸಂ) is a cultural organisation located in the village of Heggodu in Sagar Taluk of the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. ... Prithvi is one of Mumbais best known theatres, that belongs to the Kapoors, one of the influential actor/director families in Bollywood. ...

Visual arts

Main article: Indian art

A miniature, Kishengarh, Jaipur, Rajasthan Indian cave art at Bhimbetka The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history, religions and philosophies which place art production and patronage in social and cultural contexts. ...

Painting

Main article: Indian painting

The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings of pre-historic times, the petroglyphs as found in places like Bhimbetka, some of which go back to the Stone Age. Ancient texts outline theories of darragh and anecdotal accounts suggesting that it was common for households to paint their doorways or indoor rooms where guests resided. Radha. ... Prehistory (Greek words προ = before and ιστορία = history) is the period of human history prior to the advent of writing (which marks the beginning of recorded history). ... For other uses, see Petroglyph (disambiguation). ... Bhimbetka is a place in Madhya Pradesh where the earliest known traces of human life in India were found. ...

Cave paintings from Ajanta, Bagh, Ellora and Sittanavasal and temple paintings testify to a love of naturalism. Most early and medieval art in India is Hindu, Buddhist or Jain. A freshly made coloured flour design (Rangoli) is still a common sight outside the doorstep of many (mostly South Indian) Indian homes. Ajanta takes the name after the village Ajinţhā in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra(N. lat. ... District Bagh was carved out of District Poonch in 1988. ... Kailasanatha Temple Ellora is an ancient village 30 km from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra famous for its magnificent rock cut architecture comprising of Buddhist, Hindu and Jaina cave temples and monasteries built between the 6th and 10th century A.D. These structures were excavated... Sittanavasal is a 6th Century AD rock-cut temple complex in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu. ... Rangoli in Singapore Rangoli outside a home in Mumbai, India Rangoli is one of the most popular art forms in India. ...

Madhubani painting, Mysore painting, Rajput painting, Tanjore painting, Mughal painting are some notable Genres of Indian Art; while Raja Ravi Varma, Nandalal Bose, Geeta Vadhera,Jamini Roy and B.Venkatappa^[10] are some modern painters. Among the present day artists, Atul Dodiya, Bose Krishnamacnahri, Devajyoti Ray and Shibu Natesan represent a new era of Indian art where global art shows direct amalgamation with Indian classical styles. These recent artists have acquired international recognition. Devajyoti Ray's paintings have been acquired by the National Fine Arts Museum in Cuba and so have been the works of some of the new generation artists. Madhubani painting is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar state, India. ... A Mysore Painting depicting Goddess Laxmi Mysore painting is an important form of classical South Indian painting that originated in the town of Mysore in Karnataka. ... an 18th century Rajput painting. ... A Tanjore Painting depicting Goddess Saraswati A rare Tanjore style painting from the late 19th century depicting the ten Sikh Gurus with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana. ... Mughal painting, a particular style of Indian painting, generally confined to illustrations on the book and done in miniatures, and which emerged, developed and took shape during the period of the Mughal Empire 16th -19th centuries). ... Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was an Indian King and painter who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. ... The paintings of Nandalal Bose are considered among Indias best modern paintings by many critics. ... // Geeta was educated at the Delhi School of Arts and started her assignment with the Government owned Cottage Industries, where she worked on commercial assignments. ... Jamini Roy (1887-1972) was an Indian painter from Kolkata (Calcutta in West Bengal). ...

Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, Mysore Palace has on display several good Indian paintings. The Jehangir Art Gallery is Mumbai’s most famous art gallery and a tourist attraction. ... , Bombay redirects here. ... Palace of Mysore The Palace of Mysore is a palace situated in the city of Mysore, southern India. ...

Sculpture

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Main article: Sculpture in India

Sculpture in Khajuraho

The first sculptures in India date back to the Indus Valley civilization, where stone and bronze figures have been discovered. Later, as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism developed further, India produced some extremely intricate bronzes as well as temple carvings. Some huge shrines, such as the one at Ellora were not constructed by using blocks but carved out of solid rock. A sculpture of Siddhārtha Gautama the founder of Buddhism The first sculptures in India date back to the Indus Valley civilization, where stone and bronze carvings have been discovered. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1792x1200, 239 KB) Sumario Khajuraho Temple, India Templo de Khajuraho, India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1792x1200, 239 KB) Sumario Khajuraho Temple, India Templo de Khajuraho, India. ... Khajuraho (Hindi खजुराहो) is a village in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of Delhi, the capital city of India. ... Sculptor redirects here. ... Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Buddhism is a Dharmic religion and philosophy[1] with between 230 to 500 million adherents worldwide. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... This article is about the metal alloy. ... Jain cave in Ellora Ellora is an ancient village 30 km (18. ...

Sculptures produced in the northwest, in stucco, schist, or clay, display a very strong blend of Indian and Classical Hellenistic or possibly even Greco-Roman influence. The pink sandstone sculptures of Mathura evolved almost simultaneously. During the Gupta period (4th to 6th century) sculpture reached a very high standard in execution and delicacy in modeling. These styles and others elsewhere in India evolved leading to classical Indian art that contributing to Buddhist and Hindu sculpture throughout Southeast Central and East Asia. Stucco is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water which is applied wet, and hardens when it dries. ... Schist The schists form a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. ... For other uses, see Clay (disambiguation). ... The term Hellenistic (established by the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen) in the history of the ancient world is used to refer to the shift from a culture dominated by ethnic Greeks, however scattered geographically, to a culture dominated by Greek-speakers of whatever ethnicity, and from the political dominance... The Greco-Roman period of history refers to the culture of the peoples who were incorporated into the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. ... This article is about the geological formation. ... Mathura   (Hindi: मथुरा) is a holy city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... Silver coin of the Gupta King Kumara Gupta I (414-455). ...

Architecture

Main article: Indian architecture

The Ellora temples were not constructed, but in fact carved out of solid rock

Indian architecture encompasses a multitude of expressions over space and time, constantly absorbing new ideas. The result is an evolving range of architectural production that nonetheless retains a certain amount of continuity across history. Some of its earliest production are found in the Indus Valley Civilization (2600-1900 BCE) which is characterised by well planned cities and houses. Religion and kingship do not seem to have played an important role in the planning and layout of these towns. Indian architecture encompasses a wide variety of geographically and historically spread structures, and was transformed by the long history of the entire South Asian subcontinent. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x853, 310 KB) Description: Ellora caves. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x853, 310 KB) Description: Ellora caves. ... Kailasanatha Temple Ellora is an ancient village 30 km from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra famous for its magnificent rock cut architecture comprising of Buddhist, Hindu and Jaina cave temples and monasteries built between the 6th and 10th century A.D. These structures were excavated...

Temple at Somanathapura, Karnataka - example of Hoysala architecture

During the period of the Maurya and Gupta empires and their successors, several Buddhist architectural complexes, such as the caves of Ajanta and Ellora and the monumental Sanchi Stupa were built. Later on, South India produced several Hindu temples like Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura, Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur, the Sun Temple, Konark, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, and the Buddha stupa (Chinna Lanja dibba and Vikramarka kota dibba) at Bhattiprolu. Angkor Wat, Borobudur and other Buddhist and Hindu temples indicate strong Indian influence on South East Asian architecture, as they are built in styles almost identical to traditional Indian religious buildings. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1993 KB) Summary Photograph taken by me (Dineshkannambadi) in June, 2006 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1993 KB) Summary Photograph taken by me (Dineshkannambadi) in June, 2006 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version... Profile of a Hoysala temple at Somanathapura Hoysala architecture (Kannada: ) is the distinctive building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire, in the region known today as Karnataka, India, between the 11th and 14th centuries. ... Chandragupta Maurya (ruled 322–298 BC), known to the Greeks as Sandracottus, was the first emperor of the Mauryan empire. ... The Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II (ruled 375-415) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in the world. ... Ajanta takes the name after the village AjinÅ£hā in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra(N. lat. ... Jain cave in Ellora Ellora is an ancient village 30 km (18. ... , Sanchi is a small village in India, located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and Vidisha in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. ... The Great Stupa at Sanchi. ... Chennakesava Temple The Chennakesava Temple sits on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, 220 km from Bangalore, in Karnataka, India. ... Belur (Kannada:ಬೇಲೂರು) was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire. ... Siva and Parvathi - Hoysaleswara temple Hoysaleswara temple is in Halebidu 16 kms from Belur, 31 kms from Hassan and 149 kms from Mysore in the state of Karnataka in India. ... Halebidu (Kannada ಹಳೆಬೀಡು) is located in Hassan District, Karnataka, India. ... Entrance Porch, trikuta vimana This article is about Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura. ... The entrance of the temple, illustrating the various relief bands Somanathapura (also known as Somnathpur) is a town located in Mysore district, Karnataka, India. ... The Brihadisvara temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. ... , Tanjore redirects here. ... Konark Egyptian Sun Temples of the 5th Dynasty ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. ... Srirangam (Tamil: ஸ்ரீரங்கம்), also known as Thiruvarangam, is an island town in the district of Tiruchirapalli ( also known shortly as Trichy or Tiruchi) in South India. ... Siddhartha and Gautama redirect here. ... The Great Stupa at Sanchi. ... Bhattiprolu is a small village in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh State in Southern India. ... The main entrance to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the Naga causeway Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) (Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត), is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ...

Oval-roofed sacred dairy of the Toda people of the Nilgiris, whose sacred rituals and extempore music were important both in the creation of Social Anthropology a century ago,^[11] and of Ethnomusicology in the 1980s.^[12]

With the advent of Islamic influence from the west, Indian architecture was adapted to allow the traditions of the new religion. Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Gol Gumbaz, Qutub Minar, Red Fort of Delhi are creations of this era, and are often used as the stereotypical symbols of India. The colonial rule of the British Empire saw the development of Indo-Saracenic style, and mixing of several other styles, such as European Gothic. The Victoria Memorial or the Victoria Terminus are notable examples. Recent creations such as the Lotus Temple, and the various modern urban developments of India, are notable. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 648 KB) The hut of a Toda Tribe of Nilgiris, India. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 648 KB) The hut of a Toda Tribe of Nilgiris, India. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... This article cites its sources but does not provide page references. ... Social anthropology is the branch of anthropology that studies how currently living human beings behave in social groups. ... Ethnomusicology, formerly comparative musicology, is cultural musicology or the study of music in its cultural context. ... View across Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: ) was the political capital of Indias Mughal Empire under Akbars reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water. ... For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation). ... Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah II (1627-57). ... At 72. ... The Delhi Fort, also known as the Red Fort, is one of the popular tourist destinations in Delhi. ... Government Museum in Chennai. ... Facade of the Victoria Memorial The Victoria Memorial, located in Kolkata, India is a memorial of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom who also carried the title of Empress of India. ... Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Hindi: छत्रपती शिवाजी अंतक), formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or Bombay VT) is an historic railway station which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. ... There are currently seven Baháí Houses of Worship around the world, although Baháí communities own many properties where they plan for Houses of Worship to be constructed as the Baháí community grows and develops. ...

The traditional system of Vaastu Shastra serves as India's version of Feng Shui, influencing town planning, architecture, and ergonomics. It is unclear which system is older, but they contain certain similarities. Feng Shui is more commonly used throughout the world. Though Vastu is conceptually similar to Feng Shui in that it also tries to harmonize the flow of energy, (also called life-force or Prana in Sanskrit and Chi/Ki in Chinese/Japanese), through the house, it differs in the details, such as the exact directions in which various objects, rooms, materials, etc. are to be placed. Vaastu Shastra (Vaastu- physical environment and Shastra- knowledge/ text/ principles. ... Fēng Shuǐ (風水 – literally, wind and water pronounced fung shuway), which may be more than 3000 years old, is the ancient practice of placement to achieve harmony with the environment. ... Fēng Shuǐ (風水 – literally, wind and water pronounced fung shuway), which may be more than 3000 years old, is the ancient practice of placement to achieve harmony with the environment. ... Fēng Shuǐ (風水 – literally, wind and water pronounced fung shuway), which may be more than 3000 years old, is the ancient practice of placement to achieve harmony with the environment. ... Prana (, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word meaning breath and refers to a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy in natural processes of the universe. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... For other uses, see QI (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see QI (disambiguation). ...

Indian architecture has influenced eastern and southeastern Asia, due to the spread of Buddhism. A number of Indian architectural features such as the temple mound or stupa, temple spire or sikhara, temple tower or pagoda and temple gate or torana, have become famous symbols of Asian culture, used extensively in East Asia and South East Asia. The central spire is also sometimes called a vimanam. The southern temple gate, or gopuram is noted for its intricacy and majesty. The Great Stupa at Sanchi. ... The Sikhara of the Raghunath Temple at Jammu, India is built in the Nagar style of temple architecture. ... Myanmars Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most recognizable and revered pagodas in the Buddhist World A pagoda at Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia For other uses, see Pagoda (disambiguation). ... A torana is an element of Hindu and Buddhist architecture. ... This article is about the geographical region. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... The Sikhara of the Raghunath Temple at Jammu, India is built in the Nagar style of temple architecture. ... Gopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam Gopuram, a prominent feature of the Hindu temple architecture of South India, is the rising tower at the entrance of a temple. ...

Recreation and sports

Main article: Sports in India

In the area of recreation and sports India had evolved a number of games. The modern eastern martial arts originated as ancient games and martial arts in India, and it is believed by some that these games were transmitted to foreign countries, where they were further adapted and modernized. A few games introduced during the British Raj have grown quite popular in India, field hockey, football (soccer) and especially cricket. Unlike other countries, India is not a major sporting power. ... Anthem God Save The King-Emperor The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men, women and children in many countries around the world. ... Soccer redirects here. ... This article is about the sport. ...

Although field hockey is India's official national sport, cricket is by far the most popular sport not only in India, but the entire subcontinent, thriving recreationally and professionally. Cricket has even been used recently as a forum for diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. The two nations' cricket teams face off annually and such contests are quite impassioned on both sides. Traditional indigenous sports include kabaddi and gilli-danda, which are played in most parts of the country. Indoor and outdoor games like Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Playing cards, Polo, Carrom, Badminton are popular. Chess was invented in India. Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... Kabaddi (sometimes written Kabbadi or Kabadi) (Telugu: , Punjabi: , Marathi: , Hindi: ,Urdu: ; IPA: ) is a team sport originally from the Indian subcontinent. ... Gilli िगल्ली -danda डन्डा is a game popular across the length and breadth of India and Pakistan. ... This article is about the Western board game. ... For other uses, see Snakes and ladders (disambiguation). ... Some typical modern playing cards. ... For other uses, see Polo (disambiguation). ... For the games with billiard balls, see Carom billiards, or Cue sport more generally. ... This article is about the sport. ...

Clothing

Traditional Indian clothes for women are the sari or the salwar kameez. For men, it is the Dhoti, Lungi or Kurta. India is a fast booming country, even though many old traditions remain, modern day clothing has become more popular than old. Bombay, or also known as Mumbai has become one of India's fashion capitals. Designers such as Manish Malhotra, Hemany Trivedi or Rohit Bal have been caught of eye for their wonderful designs and color from Italian designers such as Donatella Versace, Valentino and the American designer Tommy Hilfiger. In some village parts of India, traditional clothing will be most worn. Delhi, Bombay, Ahmedabad, Pune, are all places for on going shoppers. Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... For the city, see Sari, Iran. ... Salwar kameez, from Max Tilkes Oriental Costume, 1922 Salwar kameez (also spelled shalwar kameez and shalwar qamiz) is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. ... This article concerns how a man differs from women. ... Similar to sarongs, dhotis are commonly worn with western-style oxford shirts by the men of South India. ... A boy in a village of Narail, Bangladesh wearing a lungi with single knot. ... A kurta (or sometimes kurti, for women) is a traditional piece of clothing worn in Afghanistan, northern India, and Pakistan. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Manish Malhotra is Indias leading fashion designer. ... Donatella Versace (born May 2, 1955) is an affluent Italian fashion designer, like her famous brother, Gianni Versace, the founder of the Versace clothing empire. ... Valentino is a fashion house created by Valentino Garavani, a famous fashion designer born on May 11, 1932, in the town of Voghera, Italy. ... Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (born March 24, 1951 in Elmira, New York) is a world-famous American fashion designer and creator of the eponymous Tommy Hilfiger and Tommy brands. ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... , Ahmedabad (Gujarati: , Hindi: अहमदाबाद ) is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of 56 lakhs (5. ... For the sport which developed into badminton, see Poona (sport). ...

Cuisine

A traditional North Indian thali

Main article: Cuisine of India

The multiple families of Indian cuisine are characterized by their sophisticated and subtle use of many spices and herbs. Each family of this cuisine is characterized by a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. Though a significant portion of Indian food is vegetarian, many traditional Indian dishes also include chicken, goat, lamb, fish, and other meats. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... A north Indian Thali Thali is an Indian meal with contents varying from one regional cuisine to another. ... The Cuisine of India is very diverse and is a result of Indias diverse population. ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the domestic species. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Meat (disambiguation). ...

Food is an important part of Indian culture, playing a role in everyday life as well as in festivals. In many families, everyday meals are sit-down affairs consisting of two to three main course dishes, varied accompaniments such as chutneys and pickles, carbohydrate staples such as rice and roti (bread), as well as desserts. Food is not just important for an Indian family by ways of eating, but it is also taken as a sort of socializing, getting together with a family of many. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article is about the condiment. ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Chapati be merged into this article or section. ... List of Indian sweets and desserts by region of origin. ...

Diversity is a defining feature of India's geography, culture, and food. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically diverse subcontinent. Generally, Indian cuisine can be split into four categories: North, South, East, and West Indian. Despite this diversity, some unifying threads emerge. Varied uses of spices are an integral part of food preparation, and are used to enhance the flavor of a dish and create unique flavors and aromas. Cuisine across India has also been influenced by various cultural groups that entered India throughout history, such as the Persians, Mughals, and European powers. Population growth, from 443 million in 1960 to 1,004 million in 2000 Map showing the population density of each district in India Map showing the population growth over the past ten years of each district in India Map showing the literacy rate of each district in India Chart showing... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... External links Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject: Spice Food Bacteria-Spice Survey Shows Why Some Cultures Like It Hot Citat: ...Garlic, onion, allspice and oregano, for example, were found to be the best all-around bacteria killers (they kill everything). ... The Persians of Iran (officially named Persia by West until 1935 while still referred to as Persia by some) are an Iranian people who speak Persian (locally named Fârsi by native speakers) and often refer to themselves as ethnic Iranians as well. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ...

Popular media

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of India

Bollywood is the informal name given to the popular Mumbai-based film industry in India. Bollywood and the other major cinematic hubs (Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu) constitute the broader Indian film industry, whose output is considered to be the largest in the world in terms of number of films produced and number of tickets sold. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of ticket sales and number of films produced annually (877 feature films and 1177 short films were released in the year 2003 alone). ... Bollywood (Hindi: , Urdu: ) is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. ... , Bombay redirects here. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Bangla redirects here. ... “Kannada” redirects here. ... Malayalam ( ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Marathi (मराठी ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western India. ... Tamil ( ; IPA: ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people, originating on the Indian subcontinent. ... Telugu redirects here. ... The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of ticket sales and number of films produced annually (877 feature films and 1177 short films were released in the year 2003 alone). ... This article is about motion pictures. ...

Besides the commercial films, India has also produced many critically acclaimed cinema-makers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, K. Vishwanath, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Kasaravalli, Shekhar Kapoor, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Shankar Nag, Girish Karnad, G. V. Iyer, etc. (See Indian film directors). In fact, with the opening up of the economy in the recent years and consequent exposure to world cinema, audience tastes have been changing. Indian commercial movies have also started following authentic, real world themes with a lower amount of melodrama & some do not even contain songs. In addition, multiplexes have mushroomed in most cities, changing the revenue patterns & allowing film makers greater liberty & scope for executing bold & innovative ideas which would not have been possible even a decade ago. Satyajit Ray (Bengali:  ) (May 2, 1921–April 23, 1992) was a Bengali Indian filmmaker and polymath. ... Ritwik Ghatak (Bengali: , Rittik Ghotok) (November 4, 1925 – February 6, 1976) was a Bengali Indian writer and filmmaker. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Adoor Gopalakrishnan standing next to his portrait Adoor Gopalakrishnan (b. ... Eminent Kannada film-maker Girish Kasaravalli started his career with Ghatashraddha in 1977. ... Shekhar Kapur, born 6 December 1945 in British India (in an area which became part of Pakistan) is a renowned filmmaker from India. ... Hrishikesh Mukherjee is one of the most famous Indian film directors. ... Ashutosh Gowariker is an Indian film director and actor. ... Shankar Nag(ಶಂಕರ್ ನಾಗ್), originally known as Shankar Nagarakatte (ಶಂಕರ್ ನಾಗರಕಟ್ಟೆ), along with his elder brother Anant Nag (ಅನಂತ್ ನಾಗ್) was a popular actor and director of Kannada cinema. ... Girish Karnad (Kannada:ಗಿರೀಶ್ ಕಾರ್ನಾಡ್) (born [[1938 May 19, 1938]]), is a contemporary writer, playwright, actor and movie director in Kannada language. ... Ganapathi Venkatrama Iyer (also known as G V Iyer) was a well known Indian film director. ... India has many regional film centres: Bollywood, the largest, in Mumbai, producing films in the Hindi language; Kolkata, for films in Bengali; Chennai, for films in Tamil, etc. ...

Television

Main article: Television in India

Indian television started off in 1959 in New Delhi with tests for educational telecasts.^[13] Indian small screen programming started off in the mid 1970s. At that time there was only one national channel Doordarshan, which was government owned. 1982 saw revolution in TV programming in India, with the New Delhi Asian games, India saw the colour version of TV, that year. The Ramayana and Mahabharat were some among the popular television series produced. By the late 1980s more and more people started to own television sets. Though there was a single channel, television programming had reached saturation. Hence the government opened up another channel which had part national programming and part regional. This channel was known as DD 2 later DD Metro. Both channels were broadcasted terrestrially. A huge industry by itself, the Indian silver screen has thousands of programmes in all the states of India. ... Doordarshan (sometimes DoorDarshan; ) is a Public broadcast Terrestrial television channel run by Prasar Bharati, a board nominated by the Government of India. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is the great religious, philosophical and mythological epic of India. ...

In 1991, the government liberated its markets, opening them up to cable television. Since then, there has been a spurt in the number of channels available. Today, Indian silver screen is a huge industry by itself, and has thousands of programmes in all the states of India. The small screen has produced numerous celebrities of their own kind some even attaining national fame for themselves. TV soaps are extremely popular with housewives as well as working women, and even men of all kinds. Some small time actors have made it big in Bollywood. Indian TV has evolved to be similar to Western TV, including stations such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and MTV India. Cable TV redirects here. ...

See also: List of Indian television stations

This is a list of Indian television stations: // Doordarshan is Indias state owned television broadcaster, usually referred to as DD. The network comprises the following channels: DD National DD News DD Sports DD India DD Bharati DD Lok Sabha DD Rajya Sabha DD Urdu DD Bangla DD Chandana DD...

Radio

Radio broadcasting began in India in 1927, with two privately owned transmitters at Bombay and Calcutta. These were nationalised in 1930 and operated under the name "Indian Broadcasting Service" until 1936, when it was renamed All India Radio (AIR). Although officially renamed again to Akashwani in 1957, it is still popularly known as All India Radio. All India Radio is a division of Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India), an autonomous corporation of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster.Indian women are effected by daily serials.Since the turn of the 20th century, radio frequencies in India have been aggressively opened up to broadcasters on the FM and AM bands, although such service has been mostly limited to the metropolitan areas. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and many others have many private FM channels to broadcast popular Hindi and English music, although they are still not allowed to broadcast news like Akashwani does. Recently World Space launched the country's first satellite radio service. Antenna tower of Crystal Palace transmitter, London A transmitter is an electronic device which, usually with the aid of an antenna, propagates an electromagnetic signal such as radio, television, or other telecommunications. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... For the electronica band, see All India Radio (band). ... Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) was established on November 23, 1997 following a demand that the electronic media in India should be made free from the Government control and given autonomy in their functioning. ... Judiciary Supreme Court of India Chief Justice of India High Courts District Courts Elections Political Parties Local & State Govt. ... Doordarshan (sometimes DoorDarshan; ) is a Public broadcast Terrestrial television channel run by Prasar Bharati, a board nominated by the Government of India. ...

See also: All India Radio

For the electronica band, see All India Radio (band). ...

Religion and philosophy

Philosophy

Main article: Indian philosophy

Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara with the Four Disciples

Indian philosophy throughout the ages has had a tremendous impact on world thought, especially in the east. Following the Vedic period, various schools of philosophy, such as the many sects of Buddhism and Hinduism, have developed over the past 2500 years. However, India has also produced some of the oldest and most influential secular traditions of logic, rationalism, science, mathematics, materialism, atheism, agnosticism, etc., which are often overlooked due to the popular conception that India was and is a 'mystical' country. The term Indian philosophy may refer to any of several traditions of philosophical thought, including: Hindu philosophy Buddhist philosophy Jain philosophy Sikh philosophy Carvaka atheist philosophy Lokayata materialist philosophy Tantric religious philosophy Bhakti religious philosophy Sufi religious philosophy Ahmadi religious philosophy Political and military philosophy such as that of Chanakya... Adi Sankara File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Adi Sankara File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Adi Shankara (Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍, Devanāgarī: , , IPA: ); c. ... Vedic may refer to: Ancient India the Vedic civilization the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indo-Aryan texts Vedic Sanskrit, their language (see also Vedic meter, Vedic accent, Vedic chant and Shrauta) the historical Vedic religion traditional Hindu culture: Vedic astrology the Ayurveda (Vedic medicine) Ancient Vedic weights and measures modern... Buddhism is a Dharmic religion and philosophy[1] with between 230 to 500 million adherents worldwide. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Logic (from Classical Greek λόγος logos; meaning word, thought, idea, argument, account, reason, or principle) is the study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration. ... In epistemology and in its broadest sense, rationalism is any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification (Lacey 286). ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... For other meanings of mathematics or uses of math and maths, see Mathematics (disambiguation) and Math (disambiguation). ... In philosophy, materialism is that form of physicalism which holds that the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter; that fundamentally, all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions; that matter is the only substance. ... Atheist redirects here. ... Agnosticism (Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge; after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims — particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of God, gods, deities, or even ultimate reality — is unknown or, depending on the form of agnosticism, inherently unknowable. ...

Many of complex scientific and mathematical concepts, such as the idea of zero, found their way to Europe via Arab intermediaries. The most famous school of Indian atheism, is Cārvāka, considered by some to be the oldest materialistic school of thought in the world, composed around the same time as the early philosophy of Buddhism and Jainism. The period around 500 BCE is marked a huge leap in both Indian and world philosophy, with contemporaneous Greek schools emerging simultaneously. Some believe that certain Indian philosophical concepts have been introduced to Greece, while others traveled via the Persian empire to India; during and after the campaigns of Alexander the Great such mutual exchanges increased. Zero redirects here. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... (or Cārvāka Hindi चारवाक) is a system of Indian philosophy that assumed various forms of philosophical skepticism and religious indifference. ... Buddhism is a Dharmic religion and philosophy[1] with between 230 to 500 million adherents worldwide. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ...

In addition to the unbroken high emphasis placed on philosophy in India since ancient times, modern India has produced some very influential philosophers, who have written both in their native languages, and often in English. During the British colonization of India, certain secular and religious thinkers achieved a similar level of recognition across the world as ancient Indian texts; the work of some of them was translated into English, German and other languages. Swami Vivekananda traveled to America and participated in the 1893 World Parliament of Religions, impressing delegates with a groundbreaking speech that for many of them provided a first introduction to Hindu philosophy. languages redirects here. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Swami Vivekananda (Sanskrit: , Svāmi Vivekānanda) (January 12, 1863 – July 4, 1902), whose pre-monastic name was Narendranath Dutta (Bengali: , Nôrendrônath Dôt-tô), was one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Parliament of the World’s Religions. ...

Various religious thinkers such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and other members of the Indian freedom movement, created new forms of political philosophy that formed the basis of modern Indian democracy, secularism and liberalism. Today, economists such as Amartya Sen, who won Asia's first Nobel Prize in economics, continue to give India a reputation as an important contributor to world thought. “Gandhi” redirects here. ... (Bengali: , IPA: ) (7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941), also known by the sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali poet, Brahmo Samaj philosopher, visual artist, playwright, novelist, and composer whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ... Amartya Kumar Sen CH (Hon) (Bengali: Ômorto Kumar Shen) (born 3 November 1933), is an Indian economist, philosopher, and a winner of the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences (Nobel Prize for Economics) in 1998, for his contributions to welfare economics for his work on famine, human development theory... The Nobel Prize (Swedish: ) was established in Alfred Nobels will in 1895, and it was first awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace in 1901. ...

Religion

The Jama Masjid in Delhi is one of the world's largest mosques.

The Chamundeshwari Temple (1827) atop the Chamundi Hills, dedicated to Mysore's patron deity

Main articles: Religion in India and Indian religions

Indian religions, a major form of world religions next to the Abrahamic ones, include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism. Today, Hinduism and Buddhism are the world's third- and fourth-largest religions respectively, with some 1.4 billion followers. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1523x1247, 1368 KB) Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1523x1247, 1368 KB) Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India. ... The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa مسجد جھان نمہ, commonly known as Jama Masjid of Delhi is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: ) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. ... Chamundi temple The Chamundi Hills are located in India, close to the palace city of Mysore. ... An Indian Muslim couple weds on the bank of Karnatakas Tungabhadra River. ... Statue of Jain God Bahubali in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka attracts thousands of devotees. ... Statue of Jain God Bahubali in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka attracts thousands of devotees. ... An Abrahamic religion (also referred to as desert monotheism) is any religion derived from an ancient Semitic tradition attributed to Abraham, a great patriarch described in the Torah, the Bible and the Quran. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Buddhism is a Dharmic religion and philosophy[1] with between 230 to 500 million adherents worldwide. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ), founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ...

India is 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 most of its people.

The religion of more than 80.4% of the people is Hinduism. Islam is practiced by around 13.4% of all Indians.^[14] Sikhism, Jainism and especially Buddhism are influential not only in India but across the world. Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Bahá'í Faith are also influential but their numbers are smaller. Despite the strong role of religion in Indian life, atheism and agnostics also have visible influence. Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ), founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... Buddhism is a Dharmic religion and philosophy[1] with between 230 to 500 million adherents worldwide. ... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the generally recognized global religious community. ... Atheist redirects here. ... The term agnosticism and the related agnostic were coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869. ...

See also

• Indian cuisine
• Hindu wedding
• Mass media in India
• South Indian culture

Not to be confused with Native American cuisine. ... A Hindu marriage ceremony from a Rajput wedding North Indian wedding ceremonies are traditionally conducted at least partially in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted. ... Mass media in India is that part of the Indian media which aims to reach a wide audience. ... South Indian culture refers to the culture of the four southern most states of India, namely Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. ...

References

India portal

Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... PDF is an abbreviation with several meanings: Portable Document Format Post-doctoral fellowship Probability density function There also is an electronic design automation company named PDF Solutions. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Indian Govt. Site devoted to preserving manuscripts and making them available
• Indian traditions and world culture Essays, debates, multimedia illustrations, etc., in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Romani.

Articles

• "Nothing to Go Back To - The Fate of the Widows of Vrindavan, India" WNN - Women News Network Nov 5, 2007
• Treasure House of India's Art and Culture
• IndianCultureOnline.com - Indian Culture Photos+Detail Information
• Culture Coverage
• An Introduction to Indian Culture

Books

• Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. [1955] (2002). A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-560686-8. 
• Narasimhacharya, R [1988] (1988). History of Kannada Literature. New Delhi, Madras: Asian Educational Services. ISBN ISBN 81-206-0303-6. 
• Rice, B.L. [1897] (2001). Mysore Gazatteer Compiled for Government-vol 1. New Delhi, Madras: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0977-8. 
• Kamath, Suryanath U. [1980] (2001). A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 809-5179. OCLC 7796041. 
• Varma, Pavan K. Being Indian: Inside the Real India. (ISBN 0-434-01391-9)
• Tully, Mark. No Full Stops in India. (ISBN 0-14-010480-1)
• Naipaul, V.S. India: A Million Mutinies Now. (ISBN 0-7493-9920-1)
• Grihault, Nicki. India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette. (ISBN 1-85733-305-5)
• Manjari Uil, Foreign Infuence on Indian Culture (c.600 BC to AD 320), (ISBN 81-88629-60-X)

v • d • e Life in India Arts and entertainment · Cinema · Citizenship · Climate · Cuisine · Culture · Demographics · Economy · Education · Flag · Foreign relations · Geography · Government · History · Holidays · Languages · Law · Literacy · Military · Politics · Religion · Sports · Transport This is a list of countries spanning more than one continent. ... Arts and entertainment in India have a rich and ancient history. ... Indian citizenship/nationality law: The Constitution of India provides for a single citizenship for the entire country. ... The Cuisine of India is very diverse and is a result of Indias diverse population. ... Population growth, from 443 million in 1960 to 1,004 million in 2000 Map showing the population density of each district in India Map showing the population growth over the past ten years of each district in India Map showing the literacy rate of each district in India Chart showing... Indian National Flag Flag ratio: 2:3 The National Flag of India was adopted in its present form during an ad hoc meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before Indias independence from the British on 15 August, 1947. ... The Republic of India, the second most populous country and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is considered as a major power and a potential superpower. ... The History of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent from 3300 to 1700 BCE. This Bronze Age civilization was followed by the Iron Age Vedic period, which witnessed the rise of major kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with :Indian festivals. ... Indian Law is largely derived from English common law. ... Literacy is an indispensable means for effective social and economic participation, contributing to human development and poverty reduction, says UNESCO. [3] The Right to Education is a fundamental human right. ... The military of India, officially known as the Indian armed forces, is the primary military organisation responsible for the territorial security and defense of India. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Unlike other countries, India is not a major sporting power. ...