Indian Culture

1. India
Its culture
and tradition

2. Structure
• Introduction
• Language
• Clothing
• Recreation and sports
• Festivals
• Music
• Dance
• Literature
• Architecture
• Paintings
• Theatre
• Media

3. Introduction
• Diverse cultures
» Different religions
» Different food
» Different languages
» Different social habits and characeristics
• Reasons
» its vast geography
» immigrants and invaders

4. Language
• Many different languages
• You can divide them into
linguistic families

5. Language
• 415 living languages
• Two official languages of communication:
– Hindi and English
• There are “official languages“ at the state
and center but no one “national language“
• 14 official regional languages

6. Clothing
For Women:
1. the salwar kameez

7. 2. the sari

8. For men:
1. The dhoti

9. 2. the lungi

10. 3. the kurta

11. Recreation and sports
• Martial arts originated in India
• Quite popular are: field hockey, soccer and
cricket
• Indigenous sports are kabaddi and gilli-
danda

12. • Popular indoor and outdoor games are
Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Playing cards,
Polo, Carrom and Badminton

13. Festivals
• India is called the land of festivals and fairs
• There are many different festivals because of
the varied religions
• One festival that doesn't depend on the religion:
– Independence Day

14. Music
• Variety of folk, popular, pop, classical music
• Based and influenced by Hindu texts
• Was developed over many eras
• Remains instrumental to religious inspiration,
cultural expression and pure entertainment
• Ethnic groups, Persian, Arabic and English music
had an impact on it

15. Instruments
• Various string and wind instruments are
usual (Sitar)
• Several kinds of drums
and cymbals

16. Dance
• A lot of classical dances
• Every dance represents a different culture
and ethos of a region or group
• Often based on Hindu traditions at religious
events

17. Well-known folk dances:
• bhangra of the Punjab

18. • bihu of the Assam

19. • kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh

20. Literature
• Oldest tradition in the world
• Earliest works were orally transmitted and later
written down
• Literature in 22 officially recognised languages
• Hindu literary traditions dominate
• Today´s authors write in Indian and English

21. Architecture
• 300BC: the beginning can be traced back to
the advent of Buddhism
Caves of Ajanta

22. • Several Hindu temples in South India
Kesava Temple

23. • Islamic influence in 8th century
Taj Mahal

24. • Colonialism of Britain effects architecture
Victoria Memorial

25. Paintings
• Earliest painting were rock paintings
• Temple paintings testified to a love of
naturalism and God

26. Rangoli in front of the doorstep

27. Also important:
Madhubani Paintings

28. Rajput Paintings

29. Tanjore Paintings

30. Present day artists amalgamate global art with
Indian classical styles
eg. Devajyoti Ray

31. Indian-Theatre
• about cultures and traditions of
India
• Old and varied art form
• India, as a colony of the British
Empire, used theatre as one of
its instruments in protest
• Presently threatened by TV,
cinema and a lack of finance

32. Media
• Broadcasting in India flourished since 1992
• India's cable TV market ist one of the
world's largest
• Private radio: relative newcomer
• Lively press
• Internet use has soared

33. That was:
India
A diverse country
and a diverse culture
Presented by
Anke Hüls
and
Kathrin Dirks