CULTURE OF INDIA: HISTORY, TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, LANGUAGE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The Indian culture includes all religious and social cultural phenomena, artistic, presented among the more than one hundred ethnic groups living in that country. The size of the territory and the differences between its regions cause a large number of traditions, customs, languages ​​and types of gastronomy to exist.

In this way, Indian culture has been built from the mixture of the various subcultures that inhabit the country. Many of its traditions and beliefs date back to the middle of the second millennium BC. C., when the oldest text in India, the Rig-Veda, was composed.

Ceremony held on the Ganges (Benares), India's sacred river - Source: Davi1974d / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

One of the factors that most influence the formation of a culture is religion. In the case of India there are several that coexist with greater or less tolerance between them. Some were born in their own country, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism or Jainism, while others, such as Islam or Christianity, came from abroad in different historical periods.

Indeed, one of the events that marked the cultural history of India were the Islamic invasions from the 10th century. In addition, other cultures such as Persian or Turkish also influenced, as can be seen in the language, clothing or gastronomy..

Origin and history

The cave paintings found in Bhimbetka, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, confirm that already during the Stone Age this territory was inhabited.

Historians claim that the first human settlements date back to 6,000 BC. C., specifically in the valley of the Indus. These settlements, about 3 300 BC. C., would give rise to the Indo culture, whose domain of the area lasted until 500 BC. C.

Indus River Valley Culture

The Indus Valley civilization was comparable to the Egyptian or Mesopotamian. It was located in present-day Pakistan and built important cities such as Harappa or Mohenjo-Daro, both in the river valley.

Major archaeological sites of the Indo Valley Civilization (2500-1700 BC). Source: See page for author / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

This culture practiced agriculture, bronze metallurgy and trade. The religion was polytheistic and worshiped the Mother Goddess and the animals of the jungle.

Vedic culture

End of the Vedic period

The Vedic culture is considered as the origin of the Hindu civilization. This period spanned from 1500 BC. Until 800 a. C.

During this stage the oldest text of Indian culture, the Rig-veda, was written approximately in the middle of the second millennium BC. C.

This culture was established by the Aryan ethnic population, who came from the Black Sea and the northern Caspian Sea. His arrival in the Indus valley occurred during the second millennium BC. C. and they introduced in the country the horse, the battle car and the iron weapons. After conquering the area, they established small independent kingdoms.

Brahman period

The next historical period was the Brahmanic. The main characteristic was the dominion exercised by the priestly caste, the so-called Brahmans. It is divided into two stages: the pre-Buddhist and the Buddhist

Buddhist period

Abuses by the ruling Brahmins sparked an uprising that ended in victory for the Buddhists. Thus began the Mauryan Empire, the first period of splendor of Indian culture.

The first emperor was Chandragupta Mauria, who unified northern India and established his capital at Pataliputra (now Patna).

Statue of Chandragupta Mauria at Birla Mandir

Another prominent ruler of this period was Ashoka, Mauria's grandson. At first, the king harshly repressed his enemies, but later, following the teachings of the Buddha, he felt repentance. Thus, he renounced violence and decided to lead an honest and godly existence.

The death of Ashoka and the invasions of other towns brought about the fall and the dismemberment of the Empire. Later, India was conquered by the Persians of Darius the Great and by the Greeks of Alexander the Great.

Two great epic poems described the struggles of the time: the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

The Kushan

Location of the Kushan Empire. Source: Império Cuchana.svgg: Renato de carvalho ferreiraderivative work: Rowanwindwhistler / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

A people from central Asia, the Kushan, invaded northern India and created an empire that stretched to the banks of the Ganges.

The rulers of this town converted to Buddhism and regained some of the splendor of the Maurya Empire. From this stage stand out the Buddhist sculptures, the construction of large cities and the work of their artisans. These were divided into guilds and the children continued their parents' work, always within their home.

After three centuries, this empire crumbled and gave way to the next historical period.

Gupta empire

Gupta empire and tributary territories. Map for Gupta Empire and tributaries.svg: Goran tek-en (talkcontribs) derivative work: Rowanwindwhistler / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

A rich family of landowners, the Guptas, came to power in Magadha around 320 AD. Its first kings dedicated themselves to expanding their territory, creating a great empire. Its maximum splendor occurred during the reign of Chandragupta II (375-413), when they managed to control the entire north of the country.

Unlike their predecessors, the Guptas adopted the Hindu religion and recovered the Brahmanic rituals. Several schools of Hindu philosophy were established, with their corresponding books of thought.

Hindu philosophers began to write down their thoughts and several different schools of Hindu philosophy developed, which still exist today. The philosophers and priests of the Gupta period wrote many of the most sacred books of Hinduism

Invasion of the Huns

The Huns, another Central Asian people, ended the peace and prosperity that the reign of the Gupta had brought. Although the Indians tried to resist their advance, the Huns ended up invading the country around 460 BC. C.

Muslim invasions

A new invasion, this time by peoples of the Islamic religion, took place in 700 AD. These conquerors brought their culture with them, which had a decisive influence on that of the Indians.

The Muslim power settled permanently in the area in 1192 and had its splendor during the rule of the Mughals. One of its kings, Shah Jahan, moved the capital to Delhi and ordered the construction of the most famous building in India, the Taj Mahal, around 1650.

The Taj Mahal, one of the most representative structures of India in the world

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Arrival of the Europeans

In full escalation in Europe to increase its colonial dominions, the British East India Company arrived in Bombay in 1687. During the following decades, its private army fought against the French, who also wanted to take commercial advantage of those lands. After defeating them, the British began to conquer Indian territory.

By 1820, the British controlled almost the entire country, which became the "jewel in the British crown." With the Industrial Revolution underway, Indian raw materials were instrumental in increasing Britain's economic power.

Opium warehouse in Patna, India. Lithograph after WS Sherwill, 1850. Source: See page for author / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

The Indians saw how they were relegated to second-class citizens, which caused some insurrections. The most important was the one carried out by the sepoys, between 1857 and 1858. The protest grew enormously and united the Hindus and Muslims of India.

The British managed to defeat the rebels, but in exchange for dissolving the East India Company. Queen Victoria became Empress of India.

However, a change was taking place thanks to the education received by the natives. Although the British had conceived it for the Indians to accept and participate in the colonial administration, the result was the emergence of an intellectual elite that would become the basis of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

Gandhi

Gandhi

A member of that intellectual elite, Mohandas Gandhi, became the leader of the Indian independence cause. Educated in England, this lawyer created a system of non-violent resistance. Gandhi was a devout Hindu and preached tolerance among the religions of his country.

On the other hand, the Indian National Congress began to carry out violent actions against the occupation. Jawaharlal Nehru was gaining influence in this movement, especially in its more radical branch.

The British, after several years of non-violent and violent actions, had to negotiate independence, which came in 1947.

Modern india

Rashtrapati Bhavan, Secretariat Building or Central Secretariat, Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple, Gateway of India, Humayun's Tomb. Source: Karnatakapolatics / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Independent India encompassed a great variety of ethnicities, languages ​​and cultures, whose coexistence was very complicated. Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu radical in 1948 and India was divided into two states: the Indian Union and Pakistan, with Muslim populations.

During the last decades, India has experienced several major crises due to its confrontation with Pakistan. Furthermore, internal conflicts, poverty and other factors have been a source of instability.

However, it has also managed to improve its economic situation to become an influential power in that area of ​​Asia.

Traditions

India is a country that has preserved a good part of its ancient traditions. These have arisen from the mixture of various cultures with the country's own, from Persian to Arab. However, not all of these traditions are positive and governments have tried to eradicate the most dangerous ones.

Caste system

The cause of this system of social stratification is Hinduism. According to this religion, the human being was created from the different parts of the god Brahma and, thus, the four castes appeared that were maintained for centuries.

The Brahmins, the most privileged group, appeared from the mouth of the god; the noble warriors, the chatrias, were created on the arm of the deity; the Vaisias, merchants and farmers, came from the thighs of Brahma; and the sudras or serfs, the lowest caste, of the feet.

Apart from these four castes are the untouchables or outcasts, outside the system and society. They could only dedicate themselves to the lowest jobs.

Although the caste system was officially abolished, its influence still remains in society to this day.

The sacred rivers of India

Although the Ganges is the best known of the sacred rivers of India, there are many more in the country that have that consideration. For Hindus, water is sacred, as it is the symbol of being. This element helps to cleanse the spirit of men.

Among the sacred rivers, seven stand out, the so-called sapta sindhu. All of them are visited by a large number of pilgrims, who go down to its banks to do ablutions.

The Ganges has a special consideration. Those who can do so approach Benares (Varanasi) to die near its shores. According to their beliefs, those who are cremated by the river receive instant salvation.

Diwali

Diwali is the most spectacular festival in the entire country. It is celebrated by all their cultures, regardless of their beliefs.

This festival is celebrated in the fall and people decorate their houses and exchange gifts. The most common decoration are lights, candles and clay lamps.

The origin of the festival is religious. According to the Hindus, Diwali remembers the defeat of Narakasura, a demigod, at the hands of Krishna, which meant the liberation of 16,000 maidens that the former had prisoners.

The festival also commemorates the return to Ayodhya of Prince Rama after he defeated Ravana, the king of demons.

Arranged marriages

The tradition of arranging marriages is centuries old in India. Although society has been modernized, a large number of marriages are still being arranged, although today the bride and groom often give their final consent.

Current laws prohibit arranged marriages of children, although there are reports that they are still taking place in the country.

When the marriage is agreed, the bride's family gives a dowry to the groom's family or to the groom himself.

Holi, the festival of colors

Another of the most important festivals in the country in Holi, also called Holaka or festival of colors. In this festival the Hindu spring is celebrated, the day after the full moon of the month of Phalguna (first part of March).

In addition to that celebration of spring, Holi celebrates various events from Hindu mythology. On those dates, offenses must be forgiven and social norms temporarily forgotten.

Buddhist chant of the Ladakh

It is a tradition practiced in the trans-Himalayan area of ​​Ladakh, in the different monasteries and villages. Buddhist "lamas" or priests chant and recite the sacred texts of the religion in order to further the teachings and philosophy of the Buddha. The way this activity is carried out can vary from monastery to monastery.

During the performance of the chants, the texts are accompanied by hand gestures made by the monks and representing the divinity of the Buddha. Some of the instruments that accompany the activity are drums, bells, trumpets, and cymbals.

The presentations of the songs are made in groups either in monasteries or in private homes. This tradition is considered as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2012.

Chhau dance

It is a traditional dance developed in the eastern region of India, mainly in Seraikela, in the district of Purulia Bengala and in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, from where the three most popular styles of dance are derived: seraikella chhau, purulia chhau and mayurbhanj chhau.

This type of performing art combines combat techniques, animal imitations, and more. The dances tend to represent scenes or matches from epic poems and other folk themes.

It is a dance only taught to men who are part of local communities or are members of families with an artistic tradition. The main instruments that accompany the dance are drums and two reed instruments known as mohuri and shehnai.

Since 2010 this dance was also recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Hi Mohalla

It is a festival belonging to the Sikh religion, celebrated in the month of March after the Holi festival. It takes place at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, the current heartland of Sikhism in India. During the celebration, various activities such as military exercises and simulated combat are carried out in order to demonstrate physical aptitudes.

There are exhibitions of gatka, the martial art specific to this community, and poetry and music competitions. On the other hand, there are moments dedicated to worship, religious readings, hymn singing and processions. This celebration was introduced by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of Sikhism.

Kumbh Mela

It is the largest Hindu religious festival, celebrated in 12-year cycles during which the event takes place 4 times. These are four pilgrimages that take place in four sacred rivers. The events rotate through each of these places: Haridwar on the Ganges River, Ujjain on the Sphira River, Nashik on the Godavari River and Prayag, which occurs on the Jamuna, where the Ganges and Saraswati converge.

During the festival, a ritual of redemption or expiation of sins is performed through the immersion of people in the waters of the rivers. It is believed that this is how the penance for mistakes made is fulfilled. Among other activities are community fairs, food for low-income people or for monks, and some entertainment shows.

Within this same theme of celebration is also the Great Kumbh Mela, which takes place every 144 years in Prayag. The most recent was in 2001 and attracted approximately 60 million people. The celebration of the Kumbh Mela is based on certain specific astrological positions between the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter.

Custom

The sacred cow

The Indians, at least the Hindus, consider cows sacred animals. The reason is that they identify her as the Devi (the goddess), a symbol of mother nature.

On the other hand, several of the religions of India go further. Thus, vegetarianism is quite common in the country.

The bindi

One of the best known customs in India is the use of the bindi. This is a small red mole that is painted on the forehead of married women as a symbol of commitment.

Sometimes men also wear this sign when they go to work, this time as a symbol of good fortune.

The mystical interpretation of the bindi is that it is placed in the sixth chakra, also called the third eye.

Consumption of "paan"

It is common in India to consume a preparation called "paan", made with betel leaf, tobacco and areca nut, which acquires a reddish hue. Many people in India chew it and spit it out. For this reason it is common to see red stains on the walls and floors of the streets. Some claim that it has digestive properties.

Namaste

The most traditional greeting in India is not shaking hands. In this country, the normal thing is to join the palms of the hands and bring them towards the chest saying namaste. The origin of this word is very old and can be translated as "I greet you."

Alms

Both Hinduism and Islam, the second most practiced religion in India, include alms as one of their obligations.

In the case of Hindus, the act of giving alms is called dana. It is about offering some wealth, as it will not be needed after death.

Sadhus

Sadhus are a kind of nomadic monks who constantly move in search of enlightenment. These men carry all their belongings with them and can travel for free on public transport. The population, in addition, usually gives them food so that they can continue their journey.

Superstitions

Much of the daily life of the Indians is linked to superstitions, which many times greatly shape the habits of people within society. Many of the beliefs and decisions that are made in India in daily life have to do with astrological or religious precepts.

From the name of the babies, the profession, the choice of a partner for marriage, and other decisions in a person's life, they are usually influenced by the beliefs of this society at the level of faith.

Informal economy

It is common to observe how informal economic activities take place in the streets. Multiple outdoor product sales and services are offered. Painting, carpentry, haircuts, and other quirky trades like ear cleaning, fracture healing, and more.

Men hold hands

It is a sign of affection and friendship to see men holding hands. This action represents an important bond between them and is not necessarily related to love. Between father and son, or between friends, holding hands is a common act.

Eat with your hands

Another well-known tradition in India is the act of eating with your hands. It is largely related to a spiritual belief. Ayurveda, a traditional medicine system, has the philosophy that each finger is related to the five elements, fire, air, water, earth and ether.

This is how the Ayurveda discipline affirms that taking food with the hands will help in its subsequent transformation when digested.

Language

The Constitution of India states that its official languages ​​are Hindi and English. The latter language is reminiscent of British rule and is used in business and higher education.

Apart from these two languages, the law recognizes 21 more languages, those considered classical. Some of them are Tamil, Sanskrit or Telugu. In addition, there are 1652 other dialects in the country.

Language areas

There are 15 legally recognized language areas in India. The most widely spoken languages ​​are Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi. In addition, there is a language considered sacred, Pali, used by the Buddha to impart his teachings.

Hindi writing

The main language of the country, Hindi, is written from left to right. It is a syllabic language and each consonant has a vowel associated with it.

In total, spoken Hindi has 52 phonemes, divided into 10 vowels, 40 consonants and 2 special ones. Writing, meanwhile, has 57 different symbols.

Clothing

As in other aspects of Indian culture, dress varies depending on the area of ​​the country. Furthermore, there is also a difference between the one used in rural areas and in cities.

The most popular garments are saris, for women, and dhoti, for men. Other styles widely used are churidar and salwar, both feminine.

When Indians go to public places or religious centers, the rule is not to expose any skin or wear tight clothing.

Evolution

Clothing in India has evolved throughout its history. Thus, the oldest Veda texts collect references to garments made with barks and leaves, while in Rig-veda it mentions embroidered and dyed dresses.

Herodotus, a Greek historian from the 5th century BC. C., wrote about the quality of the Indian cotton suits. Later, in the second century, the country's muslins were sold in the Roman Empire.

Silk was another of the fabrics that gained great importance in the following centuries, to the point of becoming one of the main export products.

Already during British rule, the Indian textile industry was paralyzed, since the colonizers tried to sell their own creations there.

Gandhi promoted what he called khadi clothing, light-colored dresses that were made by hand.

The sari

The sari is possibly the best known female dress in India. It is a silk or cotton canvas with a length that ranges from 4.5 to 8 meters and a width of between 60 centimeters to 1.20 meters. This garment wraps around the waist, exposing the abdomen area.

In the market you can find daily and party saris. Among the latter, the red wedding ones stand out. Widows, for their part, wear white.

Religion

India is considered one of the countries with the greatest diversity of beliefs in the world. In addition, their society is very religious, which has caused historical disputes between the different confessions.

Among the major religions are Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Buddhism. There are also a large number of Jains, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís, as well as Christian communities.

Hinduism

According to the Hindus, their religion is the oldest in the world. Believers call it sanatana dharma, the eternal religion.

Some specialists affirm that it is a fusion of the beliefs and traditions of various cultures, with diverse roots and without the existence of a specific founder. The available data indicate that it originated between 500 a. C. and 300 a. C.

Hinduism has many different branches, although they all follow the tradition of the castes. Its most important gods are Rama, Krishna, Kali and Visnu.

Buddhism

Another of the great original religions of India is Buddhism. This was founded by Sidarta Gautama, who although he was born in Nepal, spread his doctrine for the first time in northern India. Three of the four sacred cities of Buddhism are located in India.

Prince Gautam renounced all his privileges and became a beggar, at which point he adopted the nickname of Buddha, The Enlightened One.

During the reign of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, Buddhism became the majority religion in the country. Later, the Islamic conquest caused him to lose that position. The conversion of a large number of untouchables allowed it to regain strength in 1954.

Today, Buddhists constitute one of the largest minorities in India, especially in the north of the country.

Jainism

Like the Hindus, the followers of Jainism also claim that their religion is the oldest and claim that it is about 10,000 years old.

This religion shares some characteristics with Buddhism, such as the absence of a god. Furthermore, it was founded by a contemporary of Buddha whose name was Mahavira.

The Jains reject all kinds of violence and were the only ones who have not participated in any of the conflicts that have taken place in the country. They are strictly vegetarian and their defense of animal life reaches the point of not traveling by car for fear of insects dying.

Sikhism

Another of the religions born in India is Sikhism, which has about 18 million followers today.

Sikhs and Hindus staged a violent conflict in 1980, when groups of the first denomination sought independence for their historic territory: Khalistan. One of these radical Sikhs assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in response to her order to bomb the Golden Temple, the most sacred of Sikhism.

The origin of this religion is located during the Mughal government over India. Its postulates seem to be a fusion of Hinduism and Islamism.

The Islam

The second largest religion in India is Islam, with about 150 million followers. This presence dates back to the Islamic invasions, when the Mughal Empire ruled the country

Tensions between Muslims and Hindus have been very frequent throughout the history of India. The most serious occurred after achieving independence from the British Empire. The result was the separation of a large territory, present-day Pakistan, to host Muslims who so desired.

Music

Already 2,000 years ago, a system for classifying different musical instruments appeared in a Sanskrit text, the Natyasastra. This shows that music has been an integral part of the culture of India throughout its history, in many cases related to religion.

Sama-veda

The Sama-veda melodies are the oldest surviving example of Indian music. Dated about 1 000 BC. C., this type of song is still chanted in some Vedic religious ceremonies.

The Sama-veda, along with some Hindu writings, played a fundamental role in the classical music of the country. At present, this type of music has two different styles: Hindustani music and Carnatic music.

Folk music

Apart from the classical style, there is folk music, divided into:

-Bhangra: Originally from Punjab in South Asia, it is a style of music and dance frequently used in festivals.

-Lavani: comes from Maharashtra and southern Madhya Pradesh. It is divided into two styles, the Nirguni Lavani, characterized by a philosophical tone and the Shringari Lavani with an erotic inclination. Most of the songs of this style are usually sung by women.

-Dandiya: it is a type of music oriented to dance and works as an accompaniment to the traditional dances called “garbas” in honor of Durba, a form of the goddess Dervi. In the dance he usually presents a scene called The Dance of the Sword, in which a simulated battle between the aforementioned goddess and Mahishasura, a powerful demon king, is shown.

-Rajasthani: it has various musical branches such as the Langas, Sapera, Bhopa, Jogi and Manganiyar. It combines string, wind and percussion instruments.

Other styles of music have been integrated into the musical culture of India, such as pop, which is represented in the film industry in this region of the world, in combination with traditional music.

Actual music

At present, various types of religious music coexist with others such as popular, pop, classical or folk music.

The two genres with the most impact are film and indipop. The first is made up of a great variety of music destined for Bollywood film productions and accounts for 70% of sales in the country.

Indipop, for its part, is one of the most popular genres. It is a fusion of classical or Sufi music with Indian folk, as well as incorporating some western influences.

Gastronomy

Indian cuisine is as diverse as the country itself, with typical dishes that vary depending on the areas.

One of its characteristics is the large number of vegetarian recipes, especially in some holy cities such as Benares.

Prawn curry with coconut milk

It consists of a dish of prawns cooked in a preparation based on butter, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, bay leaf, chilli and cardamom, to which coconut milk is added. The prawns are cooked in this sauce in which they are submerged and ready to eat. It is a popular recipe in South India.

Egg Masala

It is a recipe made with boiled eggs dipped in a sauce made with onion, garlic, ginger, peas, coriander, tamarind, hot chili, coriander and garam masala, a mixture of spices.

Samosa

Samosa is a type of dumpling very typical of the country. It has a triangular shape, with a wrap made of very crunchy wheat flour dough.

These dumplings can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients. The most common are vegetables, such as potatoes and peas. To give it more flavor, a little curry is included.

Masala Dossa

The masala dossa is consumed very frequently in Indian breakfasts and snacks. It is similar to a very spicy and spicy rolled cookie. The filling, which varies by region, usually includes curry, rice, onions, lentils, potatoes and other ingredients, but never meat.

Tandoori chicken

For non-vegetarians, one of the star dishes is tandoori chicken. This name refers to the type of oven in which it is cooked, the tandoor, which means "clay oven". The traditional thing is to use a wood and charcoal oven.

The chicken is marinated before being cooked with cumin, cardamom, garlic, cayenne, pepper, ginger, and other spices.

Jalebi

One of the most traditional desserts is jalebi. Its shape is very characteristic, since it looks like a flower or a spiral.

The basic ingredients of this sweet are flour, sugar and oil and they are bathed in syrup with cardamom, saffron and lemon.

Biryani

One dish that is never lacking in any Indian meal is rice. The recipes are innumerable and vary according to the area of ​​the country.

Among the dishes made with this cereal, the biryani stands out. Basmati rice, many spices, vegetables and yogurt are used to cook it. There are also versions with chicken meat.

Palak Paneer

Another very popular vegetarian dish is palak paneer. Originally from the Punjab region, it is made with spinach and paneer, a fresh and sour cheese typical of that area.

The recipe is completed with garam masala, a spice mix that includes cumin, cloves, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The Indians usually accompany this dish with lassi, a milky and sweet drink.

Chai Masala

It is a typical drink that consists of a tea boiled with water and milk. The flavor comes from its mixture with black tea and various spices and aromatic herbs such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper and green cardamom. It is quite commercialized in the mobile tea shops.

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