Indian culture & its traditions

1. INDIAN TRADITIONINDIAN TRADITION
AND CULTUREAND CULTURE
Child Guidance CentreChild Guidance Centre
Hyderabad, 2010Hyderabad, 2010

2. A NAMASTE TO ALL!A NAMASTE TO ALL!
 NamaḥNamaḥ, to, to bowbow
 tete, "to you.", "to you."
 namo: stu tenamo: stu te
 "let there be a"let there be a
salutation to you”salutation to you”

3. GARLANDINGGARLANDING
There are basically twoThere are basically two
reasons behind thereasons behind the
garlanding tradition ofgarlanding tradition of
India. Firstly, itIndia. Firstly, it
showcases one'sshowcases one's
happiness at receivinghappiness at receiving
the particular guest andthe particular guest and
secondly, it is a form ofsecondly, it is a form of
publicly acknowledgingpublicly acknowledging
the guest's importance.the guest's importance.

4. The National FlagThe National Flag
 The flag's saffron colorThe flag's saffron color
symbolizes courage andsymbolizes courage and
sacrificesacrifice
 white stands for peace andwhite stands for peace and
truth,truth,
 and green is for faith andand green is for faith and
chivalry,chivalry,
 blue represents the color of theblue represents the color of the
sky and the ocean.sky and the ocean.
 The 24 spokes of the wheelThe 24 spokes of the wheel
((Ashoka Chakra)Ashoka Chakra), correspond, correspond
with the 24 hours of the day,with the 24 hours of the day,
implying that there is life inimplying that there is life in
movement and death inmovement and death in
stagnation.stagnation.

5. There are 28 states and 7 Union Territories in IndiaThere are 28 states and 7 Union Territories in India

6.  Total population: 1.06 billion peopleTotal population: 1.06 billion people
 72% in Rural areas72% in Rural areas
 Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%,Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%,
Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, otherChristian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other
groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsigroups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi
2.5% ( AC TO 2000 ss report)2.5% ( AC TO 2000 ss report)
 41.6% of the total Indian population in41.6% of the total Indian population in
India are Below Poverty Line.India are Below Poverty Line.
 75% of the poor are in rural areas,75% of the poor are in rural areas,
most of them are daily wagers, self-most of them are daily wagers, self-
employed householders , and landlessemployed householders , and landless
labourers.labourers.

7.  1,652 mother tongues (languages) in India.1,652 mother tongues (languages) in India.
National Language is HindiNational Language is Hindi
 Official languages are English and HindiOfficial languages are English and Hindi
 There are four Major Castes in India theThere are four Major Castes in India the
Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests) ,Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests) ,
the Kshatriyas (kings, warriors andthe Kshatriyas (kings, warriors and
administrators) , the Shudras (serviceadministrators) , the Shudras (service
providers, laborers) and Vyshyasproviders, laborers) and Vyshyas
(agriculturists and traders) which have(agriculturists and traders) which have
evolved to 1000 more castes and subevolved to 1000 more castes and sub
castes.castes.

8. The National TreeThe National Tree
 Indian fig tree, whoseIndian fig tree, whose
branches root themselves likebranches root themselves like
new trees over a large area.new trees over a large area.
 The roots then give rise toThe roots then give rise to
more trunks and branches.more trunks and branches.
 This tree is consideredThis tree is considered
immortal and is an integral partimmortal and is an integral part
of the myths and legends ofof the myths and legends of
India.India.
 Even today, the banyan tree isEven today, the banyan tree is
the focal point of village lifethe focal point of village life
and the village council meetsand the village council meets
under the shade of this tree.under the shade of this tree.

9. The National FlowerThe National Flower
 It is a sacred flowerIt is a sacred flower
and occupies aand occupies a
unique position in theunique position in the
art and mythology ofart and mythology of
ancient India and hasancient India and has
been an auspiciousbeen an auspicious
symbol of Indiansymbol of Indian
culture since timeculture since time
immemorial.immemorial.

11. The National Animal-TigerThe National Animal-Tiger

12. The National BirdThe National Bird

13. The National FruitThe National Fruit

14. Dining EtiquetteDining Etiquette
 Indian cuisine relishes in its flavors and spices.Indian cuisine relishes in its flavors and spices.
 Much Indian food is eaten with the fingers.Much Indian food is eaten with the fingers.
 The guest of honour is served first, followed byThe guest of honour is served first, followed by
the men, and the children are served last.the men, and the children are served last.
 Women typically serve the men and eat later.Women typically serve the men and eat later.
 You may be asked to wash your hands beforeYou may be asked to wash your hands before
and after sitting down to a meal.and after sitting down to a meal.
 Always use your right hand to eat, whether youAlways use your right hand to eat, whether you
are using utensils or your fingers.are using utensils or your fingers.
 Take off your shoes before entering the house.Take off your shoes before entering the house.

15. Indian AttiresIndian Attires

16. Ethnic WearEthnic Wear

17. Wedding AttiresWedding Attires

19. Indian traditionIndian tradition
 The uniqueness of Indian culture lies in itsThe uniqueness of Indian culture lies in its
strong social system and family values .strong social system and family values .
 The elders are considered the drivingThe elders are considered the driving
force and so are respected and loved .force and so are respected and loved .
 The guests are considered as gods andThe guests are considered as gods and
are treated with respect and love, even ifare treated with respect and love, even if
by foregoing some of the personalby foregoing some of the personal
pleasures.pleasures.

20.  TOUCHING FEETTOUCHING FEET

21. Name ProtocolName Protocol
 Younger never uses the proper name of theirYounger never uses the proper name of their
elders. (eg: Anna, Akka etc.)elders. (eg: Anna, Akka etc.)
 Only people of the same age will address eachOnly people of the same age will address each
other by first name.other by first name.
 A Hindu wife never speaks the name of herA Hindu wife never speaks the name of her
husband .husband .
 CAUTION WITH FOOTWEAR: It is veryCAUTION WITH FOOTWEAR: It is very
important to apologize immediately if oneimportant to apologize immediately if one
touches someone with his or her shoe or sandaltouches someone with his or her shoe or sandal

22.  DISPLAYING AFFECTION: Married HinduDISPLAYING AFFECTION: Married Hindu
couples do not hug, hold hands or kiss in public.couples do not hug, hold hands or kiss in public.
Even embracing at airports and train stations isEven embracing at airports and train stations is
considered not wise. Men, however, frequentlyconsidered not wise. Men, however, frequently
walk hand in hand.walk hand in hand.
 MODESTY: Interaction in public between menMODESTY: Interaction in public between men
and women is much more restrained in Hinduand women is much more restrained in Hindu
culture than in Western culture. In Hindu culture,culture than in Western culture. In Hindu culture,
for the most part, men socialize with men, andfor the most part, men socialize with men, and
women with women. Men never touch women inwomen with women. Men never touch women in
public unless the lady is very elderly or infirm.public unless the lady is very elderly or infirm.

23.  WOMANLY RESERVE: In mixed companyWOMANLY RESERVE: In mixed company
especially in the presence of strangers, a Hinduespecially in the presence of strangers, a Hindu
woman will keep modestly in the backgroundwoman will keep modestly in the background
and not participate freely in conversation. This,and not participate freely in conversation. This,
of course, does not apply to situations amongof course, does not apply to situations among
family and close associates.family and close associates.
 SERVING AT MEALS: At meals women followSERVING AT MEALS: At meals women follow
the custom of serving the men first beforethe custom of serving the men first before
enjoying their own meal.enjoying their own meal.

24.  CHAPERONING: It is customary for a woman toCHAPERONING: It is customary for a woman to
always be accompanied when she leaves thealways be accompanied when she leaves the
home. Living alone, too, is unusual.home. Living alone, too, is unusual.
 WOMEN IN PUBLIC: Generally it is improper forWOMEN IN PUBLIC: Generally it is improper for
women to speak with strangers on the street andwomen to speak with strangers on the street and
especially to strike up a casual conversation.especially to strike up a casual conversation.
 HOME VISITS: Close friends can visit oneHOME VISITS: Close friends can visit one
another anytime without being announced oranother anytime without being announced or
making arrangements first. When they drop in, atmaking arrangements first. When they drop in, at
least a refreshing drink is always served.least a refreshing drink is always served.
 WIFE HOME ALONE: If the lady of the house isWIFE HOME ALONE: If the lady of the house is
in home alone and a male visitor comes to seein home alone and a male visitor comes to see
her husband, it is not proper for her to invite himher husband, it is not proper for her to invite him
in, nor for him to expect to enter. Rather, he willin, nor for him to expect to enter. Rather, he will
leave a message and depart.leave a message and depart.

25. Family Systems in IndiaFamily Systems in India
 Bondage of love and affection isBondage of love and affection is
abundantly found in Indian family system.abundantly found in Indian family system.
 Parents do not let their child to liveParents do not let their child to live
independent life until they get a marriageindependent life until they get a marriage
match.match.
 Culture and tradition of India does notCulture and tradition of India does not
support love-marriages and the divorcesupport love-marriages and the divorce
between a husband and a wife .between a husband and a wife .

26.  The Dowry SystemThe Dowry System
 Class (Upper, Middle, Low)Class (Upper, Middle, Low)
 Purdah systemPurdah system
 TribesTribes
 Transport(Bullock, Tonga etc)Transport(Bullock, Tonga etc)

29. THANK YOUTHANK YOU
VERY MUCHVERY MUCH