INDIAN CULTURE

TEMPLES IN INDIA - Indian temples

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:32:00 +0000

India is known as one of the few countries in the world that has a heritage dating back centuries ago. Well it can be proved till date as the temples stand witness to the rich cultural heritage of our country.

Travel to the north of the country or the south there are temples and heritage sites that will take your breath away. Some are so profound with beauty that they are made tourist spots for people not only in the country but for tourists from abroad too.

Some famous temples to mention are the Khajuraho Temple, Badrinath, Pushkar, Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Srimahavirji, Kedarnath, Dwarkadeesh, Ajanta Cave Temples, Kalkaji, Birlamandir, Lotus temple and Meenakshi temple.

These however are the very famous ones. But if one loves to take a tour of temples then South India boasts of the best the country has. They are beautiful with architecture resounding from the tip that rises meters into the sky to its very edge that settles on the ground. Inside, outside there is drama in every window, door, steps and even in the bells that complete the temple.

Also the rituals are very simple and temples are less orthodox in the North as compared to the South, where the rituals are elaborate and very long. The stone deities are dressed in the best and taken for processions during the year. The richer the temple the more elaborate is the festivities. Also the temples in Kerala are starkly different from the temples in the other three states.

The temples are so large down south that they become mini complexes and serve as a place to feed people, wedding grounds, conduct festivals, hold kitchen wares and even religious schooling.

WOMEN OF FAME

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 11:42:00 +0000

ASHA BHOSLE
(SINGER)

ASHA BHOSLE -All her life she had to play a supporting role for her "Didi". She has a sensuous voice that even Lata can't match. Nobody young or old can match her allure. She is a great songstress who can beat the new generation singers as well.

LATA MANGHESHKAR -She is India's most recognizable voice. Some of her songs are pure and full of pathos that would move us with tears. Even at this age Lata, enthralls everyone despite a number of new generation singers coming up. Nobody can replace this singing Queen.

LATA MANGESHKAR
(SINGER)

BACHENDRI PAL

BACHENDRI PAL- She went on to prove that if a man can do it, then a woman can do by climbing the highest mountain peak in the world. She is the first Indian woman to do so. An impoverished childhood did not obstruct her path to hard work and fame. Now she is busy at the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation training the next generation of climbers.

DR. INDIRA HINDUJA - She was the first Indian doctor to produce a test tube baby. On August 6th, 1986, India's first test tube baby, Harsha was born thanks to the three years of painstaking research in invitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Now thanks to her, many Indian women yearning for motherhood are getting hope

DR.INDIRA HINDUJA

KALPANA CHAWLA

KALPANA CHAWLA- She was a Tomboy, growing up in Karnal in Haryana. She learned Karate in her early years and she dared to dream. She had a special likening for flying. She qualified from over 2962 applicants to earn herself a place in the Space Shuttle Columbia for a 16 day out of the world experience. The NASA chief called her a "Terrific astronaut". The U.S. space shuttle Columbia with a seven-member crew that included Chawla, 41, disintegrated in flames over central Texas shortly before it was scheduled to land at Cape Canaversal in Florida. On February 1, 2003, at an altitude of 63 kilometers and a velocity of 20,000 km/hr, Columbia disintegrated killing Kalpana and her six colleagues.The satellite serves to perpetuate the memory of Kalpana who sacrificed her life to the cause of peaceful uses of outer space.

KIRAN BEDI - "It is always possible" is the philosophy of her life. She is a Magsaysay Award winner for her writings. She is the most controversial IPS woman officer who was known for hauling off illegally parked cars in the city of Delhi, cleaning the Augean Stables of Tihar Jail. In between she ruffled a few feathers
KIRAN BEDI

M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI

M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI- She had the voice of an angel and a face to match. She brought Bhakthi to her music like none other. It was purely spiritual quality that set her apart from many other voices. Incomparable, unsurpassable, she was one of India's two nightingales. One of the most influential singers of the last century she died on 11 December 2004 in Chennai in India. Her death is a great loss not only to Carnatic music but also to the entire music world.

MANEKA GANDHI -She is the young "Bahu" of the Gandhi family. She is a dedicated and vocal environmentalist who crusades for the cause of animal rights which often land up her in controversies. She also fights for human rights and has freed many children working in the carpet industry.
MANEKA GANDHI

MEDHA PATKAR
MEDHA PATKAR -She is a frail, prematurely graying figure who is fighting for the largest displacement of people on the banks of the Narmada. She is against the combined forces of the World Bank, The Government of India and an army of vested interests. She carries the struggle onwards through her other social crusades via the National Alliance of People's Movement.

NAJMA HEPTULLAH - She has been the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for three terms, an achievement nobody has equaled so far. During the tenure she maintained a fair play and at the same time maintained her dignity and control amidst the intemperate proceedings that often prevailed. One of her other successful projects outside the Parliament has been the setting of two all-woman post offices in Mumbai.
NAJMA HEPTULLAH

P.T.USHA
Pilavullakandi Thekaparambil Usha- She is a woman of great determination. At the 1984 Olympics she heart-stoppingly came near to winning India its first bronze medal in athletics but missed it by the skin of her teeth. At the Asian Athletic events at Jakarta in 1985 she won many medals and got a huge haul of medals at the 8th Asian Games in Seoul.

REITA FARIA - She was the first Indian woman to win the Miss world title in 1966. She made the whole world sit up and look at India. By winning the crown, she showed the way for later competitors and gave them a confidence that they can take the world by storm. After her one year tenure she refused modeling and films and concentrated on medical studies which is a sure act to make the present day Miss Worlds to look up on their promised professions.
DR. REITA FARIA POWELL

SHOBHA DE
SHOBHA DE - She was prefixed as the rebel but now her writings sound matronly. Now and then she splutters with rage over the misdoings of the younger generations. She can be held responsible for the speeding up of the pace of sexual revolution in India with her sensuous novels.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN - She is the mother of all herbal cosmetics in India. Behind the veils lies a woman with sheer determination and hard work. Her creams and lotions have found their way into salons in different parts of the globe. She has 650 salons at 104 countries.

SHAHNAZ HUSAIN

USHA UTHUP
USHA UTHUP - Her rich and resonant voice can be described as honey flowing on gravel! Her identifications are that plump figure, Kancheevaram saris, clinging glass bangles and a big Bindi. She sings in 14 languages and is incredibly staying still in this field.

ARUNDHATI ROY- She is a great writer and won the Booker Prize for her debut novel, "the God of small things". She is a vociferous supporter of the rights of Phoolan Devi.

MADHURI MATHUR- Almost 40 years ago this woman dreamed of a kitchen machine that would blend, chop, mince and totally make her life easier and then discussed it with her Engineer husband Mathur. And then the sumeet mixer was born and is a household name still.

DEEPA MEHTA - Director. Her first film "Fire" ran into big controversies but eventually the sensor board released it with little cuts. We are eagerly awaiting more controversial films from her.

KARNAM MALLESWARI- Weightlifter. She is known as the "iron woman" and she can be rightly called golden woman for all the gold medals she had got for India. To her latest credit is the Bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympic games.

ANITA SOOD- She is the first woman who stroked her way powerfully across the English Channel and became the fastest Asian swimmer to have crossed

MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI DEVI- God woman. As a child she wanted to serve the poor. Now called as "Amma" she is offering hopes and solace to many needy people in India. She has set up many charitable institutions, educational centers and hospitals.

JAYALALITHAA - Film star turned politician. For her all the world's a stage and she is moving from spotlight to spotlight. She is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

SUHASINI MANIRATNAM - She is an award-winning film actress and a film director with a special concern for issues regarding woman. Her marriage with Mani Ratnam, the famous film Director in the South is a plus point for her. We are looking forward from her, many good films.

ANJU BOBBY GEORGE - Anju Bobby George, made history when she won the bronze medal in Long Jump at the World Athletics Championships 2003 in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Athletics Championship clearing 6.70 m. Anju now ranks 6th in the world. She also participated in the 2004 Olympics finishing 4th in her event.

SANIA MIRZA- Sania Mirza became the first Indian to have won a Grand Slam title when she triumphed in the girls' doubles event at Wimbledon , partnering Alisa Kleybanova of Russia. She won the Wimbledon junior girls' doubles title and became their "brand ambassador" for 2004 - the year of the girl child.

SHOBHA DE Model, copywriter and the first editor of Stardust and Society, Shobha De has published seven novels, Socialite Evenings, Starry Nights, Sisters, Strange Obsessions, Sultry Days, Snapshots and Second Thoughts, a collection of short stories, Small Betrayals.

Kiran Majumdar-Shaw- Biotech entrepreneur.She is the CEO of Biocon India Corp. She was born in Bangalore and educated in Bishop Cotton Girls School and then Mount Carmel College. She started Biocon in 1978 collaborating with an Irish firm, floated 2 joint ventures, Biochemizyme and Biocon-Quest India Ltd.

HINDUISM

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:42:00 +0000

HINDUISM

India's major religion, Hinduism, is followed by approximately 80% of the population. Hinduism is another name for what is known as Sanatana Dharma or the Religious Prennis.

TIRUPATHI -VENKATESWARA

Any one person did not propound Hinduism. Hinduism has a number of Holy books, including the Bhagavad-Gita, which is credited to Krishna, The Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Puranas. The Vedas are the basic texts that the Hindus hold sacrosanct. These include themantras, Brahmanas, theAranyakas or forest treatises, and the Upanishads or philosophical dissertations.

Basically the religion postulates that we will all go through a series of rebirths that eventually leads to Moksha, the spiritual salvation that frees one from the cycle of rebirths. With each rebirth, one can move closer to Moksha, the deciding factor being your Karma. Bad actions result in bad karma, which ends in a lower reincarnation. Dharma or the natural law defines the total social, ethical and spiritual harmony of your life.

The Hindu religion has three basic practices. They are Puja or worship, The cremation of the dead and The rules and regulations of the caste system.

There are four main castes in Hinduism; the Brahmin or priest caste, the kshatriyas or soldiers and governors, the Vaisyas or trades people and farmers, and the sudras or menial workers and craftspeople. Beneath all these castes lie those called Harijans or untouchables, the lowest class in society.

The one omnipresent god has three physical forms or representations according to Hinduism; Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Preserver, and Shiva is the Destroyer and Reproducer. Each god has an associated animal known as the "vehicle" in which he or she rides along with a consort with certain attributes. Generally each god has a symbol in his hands. Brahma's consort is Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. She rides in a white swan and holds the Veena in his hands. Vishnu, the Preserver, has paid nine visits to the earth. In one of the visits he appeared as Lord Rama. Rama also managed to give a number of secondary Gods like the Hanuman; the monkey God, Rama's lady was Sita.

On visit eight, he came as Lord Krishna, who was brought up by peasants and thus became a favorite of the working classes. Krishna is renowned for his exploits with the Gopis or the shepherdesses and his consorts are Radha, Rukmani and Sathyabama. When Vishnu appears as Vishnu rather than any of his incarnations, he sits on a couch made by the coils of a serpent and he holds a conch shell and a Discus in his hands. Vishnu's vehicle is the half-man and half-eagle called the Garuda. His consort is the beautiful Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. Shiva is frequently worshipped in the Linga form with the bull as the vehicle.

Shiva is also known as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer whose dance shook the cosmos and created the world. His consort is Parvathi, the beautiful.

She however has a dark side when she appears as Durga, the terrible. In this role she holds weapons in 10 hands and rides a tiger. In the role of Kali, the fiercest of the gods, she demands sacrifices and wears a garland of skulls.

Shiva and Parvathi have two sons. Ganesh is an elephant-headed god of prosperity and wisdom and is probably the most popular of all the gods. Ganesh's vehicle is a rat. The other son is Karthikeyan, the God of war.

Hindus profess to be either Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu) or shaivaites (followers of Shiva). The cow is the holy animal of the Hindus.

HINDU SAGE

Hindu Weddings

Hindu weddings are full of color and much fanfare. On an auspicious day the members of the families of the bride and the groom gather in a mandapam usually in the vicinity of a temple. The bride remains out of sight while the groom parades the streets with a garland and a huge gathering. The ceremony takes place around the sacred fire where the groom ties the "Thalli", which consists of tying of three knots around the neck of the bride. Then the priest applies tilak on the foreheads of the bride and groom and the function comes to a halt after a sumptuous vegetarian meal.

Places associated with Hinduism

Varanasi, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Mathura, Dwaraka, Kanchipuram, Ujjain are the sacred seven holy Hindu cities of India. Varanasi and Haridwar are the important sites on the holy river Ganges. Other cities are the birthplaces of Hindu Gods like, Rama in Ayodhya, Krishna in Mathura. Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram and Dwaraka are traditionally called the four corners of the holy India.

Hindu Books

The Ramayana

The Ramayana is the most loved book of the Hindus.The story goes like this; Dashratha, ruled the kingdom of Kosala. King Janak ruled another kingdom Videha. At the touch of Janak's plough, a lovely daughter, Sita, appeared and she was married to Rama, the eldest son of Dashratha. Dashratha's second wife Kaikeyi compelled Dashratha to banish Rama from the kingdom for fourteen tears. Rama, his wife, Sita and his brother Lakshmana set out for the woods. Srupnakha fell in love with Rama, who resented her. On her instigation, her brother, Ravana snatched Sita. Rama raised an army, invaded Ravana's kingdom and rescued Sita after killing Ravana.Then they came back to Ayodhya, where Bharat another loyal brother, gladly surrendered the throne of kosala to Rama.

The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is a grand epic and the greatest work that Asia has produced. Tradition attributes it to Vyasa. The story is; Yudhistra gambles away his wealth, his army, his kingdom, his brothers and even his wife Draupadi in a game in which his Kaurav enemies play with loaded dice. By agreement the Pandavas are to receive their kingdom back after a twelve-year banishment. The twelve years pass and the Kauravs don't keep their word and then the Pandavas declare war. Allies are brought on either side. All the Kauravs are slain.

Bhagavad-Gita

The Bhagavad Gita or "Lord's song" is the grandest philosophical poem in world's literature. It is embedded in the narrative of the great battle. The scene of the poem is the battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The occasion is the reluctance of the Pandava warrior, Arjuna, to attack his own near relatives in the opposing force. Thereupon Krishna explains that it is just to kill one's relatives in war; that it is Arjuna's duty to fight and kill with a good conscience and goodwill. He says that it is only the body that is slain, while the soul revives. The Bhagavad- Gita is revered next to the Vedas.

Hindu Temples

TEMPLES IN VARANASI

Hindu temples predominate in India, from the mysterious 13th century Sun Temple at Konark in Orissa to the Technicolor glory of Madurai Meenakshi temple in Tamilnadu. For Hindus, the square is the perfect shape, so most of the temples have square as the plan. Each temple is dedicated to a particular God.

RAMESHWARAM TEMPLE CORRIDOR

A conservative dress without the shoes is needed to get into the premises. But non are allowed to enter the holy Sanctum. Bhubaneswar in Orissa is known as the Temple Town, with a collection of about 500 temples. Temples worth mentioning include the richest Temple in India, the Venkateswara temple at Tirupathi in Andhra and the temple city of Tamilnadu, Kanchipuram.

ROCKFORT - TIRUCHIRAPALLI	MEENAKSHI TEMPLE - MADURAI
BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE - TANJORE	GOLDEN VIMANAM, CHIDAMBARAM

INDIAN ASTROLOGY

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:04:00 +0000

INDIAN ASTROLOGY

Vedic Astrology

Indian Astrology is an ancient science based upon the knowledge gained by ancient Indian sages and saints on planetary influences. It had evolved long before the Western astronomers and astrologers were born. It has its roots steeped into the Vedas which date back to 1500 BC.

Jyotish - Jyothisha or Light

No other science can be more interesting, instructive and useful to mankind in contributing to the moral and material advancement that Indian astrology. Indian Astrology is based upon the foretelling the future of indivudals, nations or other events relying on the planetary movements. In Sanskrit, it is known as Jyotisha or Light.

Indian Astrology interprets what it conceives to the future of the man as moulded by his previous Karma or birth and indicates by the planetary positions at the time of his birth.

Branches in Indian Astrology

Astrology in india has three branches namely: Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora. Siddantas are those who devote to astronomical study of celestial bodies. Samhitas deal with mundane astrology, earth quakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, rainfall, weather conditions economic conditions,etc.Hora deals with predicting the suitable timing of various events in our day-to day life.

Nadi

Apart from these schools of Astrology in india, we have what we can call as Nadi Astrology (or) Nadi Shastra which gives pictures of life and destiny patterns of people born at 12,24,48 seconds intervals. These have been written on palm leaves by our ancient sages. Only very few experts can read and understand these, but the results and predictions are found to be amazingly accurate.

Nakshatras

The Indian Astrology study consists of 27 Nakshatras. The movements of the two luminaries Sun and Moon, the five major planets of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mercury and the two nodal points of the Moon i.e., Rahu and Ketu are considered. The outer planets like Pluto, Neptune and Uranus that have been discovered lately are not recognised by the Indian Astrology.

Moon and Rasi / Rashi

Moon is given much importance in Indian astrology as it is the nearest to the Earth and it exercises much influences on us. The waxing and the waning of the Moon causes the tides of the seas and plants and animals as also man is also affected to greater extent. The Moon’s position in one’s birth chart is called the Rasi or Moon sign and this along with the Nakshatra or the star constellation of the individual is used for predictions.

Indian astrology techniques are vastly used in India and the world over for predicting the birth, nature of Marriage, career, finances, diseases, death of people. It is also used in Mundane analysis for predicting the future of countries, natural catastrophes.

Indian astrology uses a different zodiac than Western astrology and is a branch of Vedic science. In India, there is widespread belief in astrology and it is commonly used.

It generated interest with research oriented astrologers in the West from the early 1990s. Unlike astrology in the west, Vedic astrology deals with more natural matters and is not used to find lucky numbers for a lottery or to win a casino game. Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora are the basis of Vedic astrology and together they predict natural events such as earthquakes, rainfall, economic conditions and the suitable timing of various events in our day-to day life.

More recently, Indian scientists have denounced a proposal to use state money to fund research into Vedic astrology as it is a part of India's heritage and a science that we are continuously learning from.

Story of Ravana & Aathma Lingam

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:32:00 +0000

Ravana, the king of Lanka was an asura, but he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He reached mount Kailas & prayed to Lord Siva, that his Lanka should never be destroyed. Lord Siva gave him an Aathma Lingam, with the condition that he should go back on foot to Lanka & that he should not put down the Lingam at any point. If he were to put the Lingam down, the Lingam would remain firmly at that spot.

The Devas were worried that the Aathma Lingam would add to the might of Ravana & that he could never be destroyed if he succeeded in taking the Aathma Lingam to Lanka.

Click on image to view enlarged version
They prayed to Lord Ganesha for help. Lord Ganesha caused Ravana's stomach to be filled with water. Ravana grew desperate to answer nature's call. Ganesha appeared before Ravana as a small boy. Ravana handed over the Aathma Lingam to the boy. Ganesha declared that he could not wait for long & when he grew tired, he would call out Ravana's name thrice & if he did not come & take the Lingam, he would place it on the ground & go away. Ravana agreed.

Soon Ganesha called out Ravana's name thrice, and since Ravana could not come and take the Lingam, he placed it on the ground. The enraged Ravana tried to remove the Lingam from the ground. But, in spite of using his twenty hands, he could not budge the Lingam. Though the Lingam could not be moved, the pressure from Ravana's hands had changed its shape like the ear of a cow & hence the place came to be called Kokarnam (Ko-cow, karnam-ear). The lingam came to be called Mahabaleswarar since it could not even be shifted by the mighty Ravana (maha-great, balam-power, Eswarar-Lord Siva).

Ravana started chasing the boy to hit him on his head. Lord Ganesha showed his true form & blessed him. The Ganesha statue in the temple has a hollow on the head, where Ravana is supposed to have strcuk him (Kuttu - to hit with folded fists). Lord Ganesha can be pleased by doing kuttu (gently tapping both temples with folded fists).

"Unity in diversity"

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:20:00 +0000

"Unity in diversity". It is not just another phrase or quotation. But, these words are highly prudent to a country like India that is incredibly rich in culture and heritage. Few quotations or statements cannot describe the pedestal that India holds in the world map because of its colorful and unique culture.

From the times of Mauryas, Cholas, Mughals till to the period of British Empire, India has always been famous for its traditions and hospitality. The warmth in the relations and euphoria in celebrations make the country stands out distinctively in the clutter. The country's liveliness and generosity attract a number of tourists. The cuisines, festivals, music, literature, and theatre..everything is 'special' in this 'land of gods'

Traditional yet Contemporary

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:18:00 +0000

The Indian culture has never been rigid and that's why it's surviving with pride in the modern era. It timely imbibes the qualities of various other cultures and comes out as a contemporary and acceptable tradition. That is what unique about the Indian culture..it moves on with the time. There are certain things about India that are famous worldwide, like:

Way of Greeting

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:17:00 +0000

"Namaste", for an Indian it's a way common way of greeting outsiders and elders. Both palms placed together and raised below the face not only show the respect for others but it also makes you feel the affection in the greeting. It is for sure that no 'hello' or 'hi' can create that magic.

Flower Garlands

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:17:00 +0000

Indian people are also famous for welcoming with flower garlands. In the Indian marriages the exchange of garlands between bride and groom is a ritual in itself. People also offer flower garlands to gods and goddesses during their prayers.

Indian Marriages

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Time has changed but the lavishness has always been an integral and indispensable part of Indian marriages. In India, marriage is still taken as an institution where not two people but two families get united. So, it always calls for boisterous celebrations full of music and dance. Within India, every caste and community has its own way of performing the rituals of marriage. In Hindu marriages, while Punjabis perform the 'Roka' ceremony in weddings, Sindhis perform the 'Berana'. But most common of all is the ritual of Hast Milap ceremony popularly called Paanigrahan Sanskar.

Muslims also have their own special way of celebrating the marriage ceremony, popularly called Nikaah. During the auspicious occasion, the groom's family gives mehar (nuptial gift) to the bride. Parsis plant a young mango tree in a pot during the marriage ceremony. This ceremony is famous as 'Madhavsaro' ceremony. Every state has its own special way of celebrating the marriage ceremony.

Indian Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Beauty of Indian women lies in the clothes she wears. Very traditional and ethnic yet contemporary Indian Saris are famous worldwide. It is worn with a blouse that covers the upper part of the body. In rural parts a version of sari, called ghagara -choli is very much popular. Choli is like a short blouse that covers the upper part of the body and ghagara is like a long skirt. In order to have a graceful and complete look, women folk carry a duppatta, which is a soft and delicate material of reasonable length thrown over the shoulder.

Though with slight variations, Salwar kameez is a dress that is famous in every part of India. This attire contains two pieces-kameez, which is a like a long top covering upper part of the body and salwar is like trousers. Like ghagara choli, salwar kameez is also complemented by dupatta.

For the men, there is no dearth of variety. From dhoti kurta to shirt pants, an Indian man prefers everything that fits well and looks good. But, traditionally you can see north Indians wearing kurta pajama, dhoti kurta or sherwani on formal celebrations whereas south Indian men prefer lungi with shirt.

Indian Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:15:00 +0000

Unique designs, artistic looks and creativity are always a part of Indian jewelry. Made up of gold and silver, the jewelry actually represents the culture and tradition of India. In rural India, a resinous incrustation called lac is used for the personal ornamentation. Specialty of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the lac bangles and bracelets are worn and liked by the women of all states.

Without accessories, a car and a woman are always incomplete. From earrings, nose-rings, armlets, necklaces to anklets and bracelets, Indian jewelry give a woman everything that she needs to enhance her beauty.

Mehndi

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:15:00 +0000

Mehndi or henna is a kind of paste that is designed on the palms on the women on special occasions like engagement, marriage or festive celebrations. The paste is applied for few hours or overnight and washed when it gets dried completely. This gives reddish-brown color to the palms. In Indian marriages, especially in the north, a special night is celebrated before the day of marriage in which mehndi is designed on the palms of bridegroom and it is followed by some colorful dance and music. In certain parts of India, mehndi is a special kind of ancient folk art.

India-Religiously Yours!

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:14:00 +0000

Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Zoroastrian; one can find people of all religions here in India. India is a secular state and every citizen enjoys an equal right of choosing and following a particular religion. More than three fourth of Indian population belongs to Hindu religion and you can find Hindu pilgrimages in every part of the country.

In northern part of India, you can visit various sacred religious places like Vaishno Devi, Amarnath, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Haridwar and Varanasi and in the southern part of the country you can take the blessings of God at the Sabrimala, Sringeri, Dakshineshwar-belur math, and Rameshwaram. If you are in the northeast, you can go to the Kamrup temple that is located on the outskirts of Guwahati on the nilachal hills. If you are roaming somewhere around Gujarat and interested in knowing about lord Krishna, then you must visit Dwarkanath temple that is built at the site where Meera Bai gave up the world. You can also visit Somnath temple that comprises one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

The Muslims have their pilgrimages like Dargah Sharief of Ajmer at Rajasthan and Dargah of Ajan Pir in Assam. In northeast, there is Poa Mecca. It is believed that here a faithful Muslim can gain one fourth of the spiritual enlightenment that could be gained at Mecca.

In Punjab, there are number of pilgrimages for Sikhs like Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, Tarn Taaran in west of Amritsar, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and Dera Baba Nanak in west of Gurdaspur. Hemkund Sahib, which is situated at an altitude of 4329 meters, is the highest Gurudwara in the world. The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, mediated here for years in the mountains and here only he left his body to get united with Almighty.

Another pilgrimage of Sikhs is Manikaran Gurudwara that is situated in Himachal Pradesh and it is famous for its Hot springs. It is believed that these springs carry uranium and other radioactive materials. Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib in Maharashtra is another sacred religious place of Sikhs. In India, you can also find a number of churches in every state. If you are in south, you can visit Medak Church and Gundala church in Andhra Pradesh, Santa Cruz Basilica in Kochi, Kerela. Northern India also has famous churches like St. Joseph's Church in Uttar Pradesh and Church of the Sacred Heart in New Delhi. If you are enjoying the valleys of Himachal Pradesh, then you can get Jesus' blessings in Christ Church and St. Michael's Cathedral at Shimla.

So many religions and so many pilgrimages..but still people are united. It is just because of the Indian values that bind people together. These values weave people together just like beads in a string.

Worshipping Nature

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:12:00 +0000

Day in India starts with Surya Namaskar. In this people offer water to the sun and enchant mantras and prayers. Indians worship nature and that's what unique about its culture. In Hindu religion, trees and animals are worshipped like gods. People believe in God and keep fast ('vrata') on every festival. They offer morning's first fresh meal to cow and night's last meal to dog. Nowhere in the world one can find such generosity.

All the religions here start the day with morning hymns and these rich values are inculcated into the kids since childhood. Morning prayers and moral education is also a very important part of the education system in India.

Have ever been to any other country in the world where you can find such a great variety? Here people are not judged by caste, color or creed. They are judged by their values and this is what makes India a unique place to live.

Everything is Artistic here!

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:12:00 +0000

Nowhere in the world you can find such a great variety in performing and visual arts that you can find in India. >From a roadside show to a highly sophisticated drama in the theatre, you can find anything and everything here.

Indian art can be categorized into two main categories- performing arts and visual arts.

Performing Arts

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:11:00 +0000

Dance, drama, theatre or music, every art is unique in itself. In India, religions, mythology and classical literature form the basis of most of the performing arts.

Indian classical dances like Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi and Kuchipudi mainly follow the codes of natya shastra, mythology and classical literature and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharta.

Another kind of performing art is theatre. Though the folk theatre prevails in each and every language and region, the professional theatre is popular only in big urban areas or metropolitan cities. Uniqueness of Indian theatre is the puppet show. For centuries, Puppet shows have been popular in creating awareness about social issues in masses and inculcating the moral values of truth and honesty in the kids.

For Indians, music is to the soul what food is to the body. Since Vedic period it's been capturing the heart and mind of every Indian. In the classical Indian music, there are basically two types of schools- the Hindustani Music (North) and the Carnatic Music (South). 'Raga' arrangement of musical notes is the key in the classical music. The Indian villages also have their special kind of music that carries colors of folk tradition. Music of Indian movies is also liked by the masses.

Films They are another kind of performing arts for which India is quite popular in the world. The country produces more than 1000 movies every year and these movies are not only popular in the domestic market but also have a wide viewership in the Asian and European countries. Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali or Marathi, India produces movie in every language. India film stars are equally loved and liked like Hollywood actors.
Visual Arts
Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder." But, if you look at the sculptures and paintings in India, then you cannot live without saying that the beauty lies in the hands of Indian Artists. India's history in the paintings is prominently visible in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Buddhists palm leaf manuscripts and Jain texts. Either it is free form of Ajanta paintings, leaf paintings or glass paintings; India has always been famous for this kind of visual art. The creativity and use of colors has always been graceful and unique in the Indian paintings. Keeping their culture and tradition in mind, Indian artists also imbibe the qualities of other European artists and this gives a contemporary look to the Indian paintings with a traditional touch. Well-known Indian painting schools are Rajput, Deccan, Kangra and Moghul.

From the Cholas dynasty to the present era, India has been ranked on top in the sculpture, another form of visual art. Deccan temples of Kanchipuram, Madurai & Rameswaram, the Sun temple of Orissa and the Khajurao temple in the Madhya Pradesh, each sacred place is the witness of Indian artisan. The sculptures at Sanchi Stupa throw a light on the life of Buddha and various folk deities. Sculptures of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda with architectural touch show the social life of Buddha and counterparts. Temples of Ellora and Elephanta caves are the important evident of mastery of Indian sculptures. Flora and Fauna, Deities and various mythological characters; all these form the basis of designs in this beautiful form of visual art.

A very ancient and aesthetic kind of visual art in India is pottery. In this form of art lumps of clay are hand-molded to form toys and deities of worship. Terracotta and blue gaze are the two main varieties of pottery that are famous in India. Pottery also has a great religious significance. On Durga Puja and Ganesh Chathurthi the beautiful idols of Maa Durga and Lord Ganesha show the confluence of pottery, sculpture and painting.

It Calls for Celebrations

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:10:00 +0000

The 'Land of Gods' never needs a particular reason to celebrate. Celebration is a fundamental part of every Indian's life. From January to December, every month comes with a particular fair or festival. Makar Sakranti, Basanti Panchami, Holi, Ram Navami, Janamashtami, Diwali, Eid, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Guru Purv and Christmas; the festival of every religion has a significance and it is celebrated in a boisterous way.

Here people don't need a floor to dance. Celebrations on streets during Durga Puja, Ganesh Chathurthi, Janamashtmi and Holi show the real dancing talents of Indians.

Not only this, the country is famous everywhere for the handicrafts melas and fairs that it organizes during particular intervals. Surajkund Craft Mela that is held every year in February in Haryana attracts a large chunk of masses and foreign tourists. In such fairs and festivals, you can find the real India. Such theme melas and festivals unite the whole nation. People come to know about each other's cultures and traditions and their active participation shows how much they love to know about each other.

It Doesn't Have Just One

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Number of religions, number of states and thus number of cuisines. If north India has chole bhature, tanduri chicken, rajma chawal, kadi chawal, dhokla, daal baati churma and biryani to relish, then our south India is not behind in the race. From masala dosa, rava uttpam, rasam, sambar-lemon rice to toran, appam, meen; the south Indian cuisine has a great variety to offer.

The concept of Thali is very famous in India. A thali is served in a very traditional form and in this you can enjoy the complete variety available in a particular cuisine. In small restaurants thali is the cheapest way of getting your mouth full. If you have stepped in to a hotel, then you can enjoy the variety in the form of combo meals.

The variety in Indian peppers like black pepper, coriander seeds, and tamarind, cardamom, saffron and cumin seeds not only enhance the flavor of the food but also add nutritive value to it. The Indian food is incomplete if you don't get something sweet in the end. Have a bowl full of kheer or a little mitha paan to add sweetness and freshness to your mouth.

Despite so many diversities, people in India are united and they feel proud of their culture and tradition. On the world stage, either through international film festivals or through beauty pageants, India displays regularly its talent and culture. Many rulers came but none could bring harm to its culture rather Indians preserved the good values of their cultures too. The flexibility and movement with time make Indian Culture fashionable and acceptable too.

Indian Culture

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:08:00 +0000

Few countries in the world have such an ancient and diverse culture as India's. Stretching back in an unbroken sweep over 5000 years, India's culture has been enriched by successive waves of migration which were absorbed into the Indian way of life.It is this variety which is a special hallmark of India. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as immense as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day. Modern India presents a picture of unity in diversity to which history provides no parallel. Here is a catalogue of everything Indian. Indian religions, festivals, rituals, artifacts, monuments, costumes, music and dance, language and literature. Come and discover a little more of India's culture by selecting any of the topics listed below.

ART

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:08:00 +0000

The story of Indian art is also the story of the oldest and the most resilient culture on earth. It is seen as an amalgamation of indigenous and outside influences, yet having a unique character and distinctiveness of its own. Indian art is also an art of social, political and religious influences. It changed and evolved with the evolution of a civilization which was full of remarkable innovations in all areas of artistic expression. Indian art features spirals and curvaceous lines, vines and tendrils, round-figured goddesses, circular amulets, colored gemstones, arches and domes, haloed deities, crescentmoons, and the globe of the sun. Indian sculptures and paintings depict the diversity, colour and spontaneity of this country and are representations of the all-encompassing nature of Indian culture.

The Economy

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:07:00 +0000

The seventh largest and second most populous country in the world, India has long been considered a country of unrealised potential. A new spirit of economic freedom is now stirring in the country, bringing sweeping changes in its wake. A series of ambitious economic reforms aimed at deregulating the country and stimulating foreign investment has moved India firmly into the front ranks of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region and unleashed the latent strengths of a complex and rapidly changing nation.

India's process of economic reform is firmly rooted in a political consensus that spans her diverse political parties. India's democracy is a known and stable factor, which has taken deep roots over nearly half a century. Importantly, India has no fundamental conflict between its political and economic systems. Its political institutions have fostered an open society with strong collective and individual rights and an environment supportive of free economic enterprise.

India's time tested institutions offer foreign investors a transparent environment that guarantees the security of their long term investments. These include a free and vibrant press, a judiciary which can and does overrule the government, a sophisticated legal and accounting system and a user friendly intellectual infrastructure. India's dynamic and highly competitive private sector has long been the backbone of its economic activity. It accounts for over 75% of its Gross Domestic Product and offers considerable scope for joint ventures and collaborations.

Today, India is one of the most exciting emerging markets in the world. Skilled managerial and technical manpower that match the best available in the world and a middle class whose size exceeds the population of the USA or the European Union, provide India with a distinct cutting edge in global competition

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:07:00 +0000

Federal System

India, a union of states, is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government. The Indian Polity is governed in terms of the Constitution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 November 1950.

The President is the constitutional head of Executive of the Union. Real executive power vests in a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as head. Article 74(1) of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President who shall, in exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, the House of the People.

In the states, the Governor, as the representative of the President, is the head of Executive, but real executive power rests with the Chief Minister who heads the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers of a state is collectively responsible to the elected legislative assembly of the state.

The Constitution governs the sharing of legislative power between Parliament and the State Legislatures, and provides for the vesting of residual powers in Parliament. The power to amend the Constitution also vests in Parliament.

The Union Executive consists of the President, the Vice President and Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President.

President

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:06:00 +0000

The President is elected by members of an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the states, with suitable weightage given to each vote. His term of office is five years.

Among other powers, the President can proclaim an emergency in the country if he is satisfied that the security of the country or of any part of its territory is threatened whether by war or external agression or armed rebellion. When there is a failure of the constitutional machinery in a state, he can assume to himself all or any of the functions of the government of that state.

Vice-President

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:06:00 +0000

The Vice-President is elected in the same way as the President, and holds office for five years. The Vice-President is Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

INDIAN CULTURE

TEMPLES IN INDIA - Indian temples

WOMEN OF FAME

HINDUISM

HINDUISM

Hindu Weddings

Places associated with Hinduism

Hindu Books

The Ramayana

The Mahabharata

Bhagavad-Gita

Hindu Temples

INDIAN ASTROLOGY

INDIAN ASTROLOGY

Vedic Astrology

Jyotish - Jyothisha or Light

Branches in Indian Astrology

Nadi

Nakshatras

Moon and Rasi / Rashi

Story of Ravana & Aathma Lingam

"Unity in diversity"

Traditional yet Contemporary

Way of Greeting

Flower Garlands

Indian Marriages

Indian Dresses

Indian Jewelry

Mehndi

India-Religiously Yours!

Worshipping Nature

Everything is Artistic here!

Performing Arts

It Calls for Celebrations

It Doesn't Have Just One

Indian Culture

****ART****

The Economy

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

Federal System

President

The President is elected by members of an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the states, with suitable weightage given to each vote. His term of office is five years.

Vice-President

The Vice-President is elected in the same way as the President, and holds office for five years. The Vice-President is Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

ART