The document provides an overview of India's history, economy, government and diversity. It notes that India was home to ancient civilizations and trade routes and various religions originated or arrived there. It became independent in 1947 after British rule and a non-violent movement led by Gandhi. India now has a large economy but still faces challenges. It is a pluralistic, federal democratic republic with many states, languages and ethnic groups as well as wildlife.

1. INDIA:Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes
and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural
wealth for much of its long history.[13] Four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism,
and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam
arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture.
Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India
Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom
after Indian Rebellion of 1857, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle
for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.
The Indian economy is the world's tenth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by
purchasing power parity (PPP).[14] Following market-based economic reforms in 1991,
India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly
industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption,
malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. A nuclear weapons state and a
regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks ninth in
military expenditure among nations. India is a federal constitutional republic governed
under a parliamentary system consisting of 29 states and 7 union territories. India is a
pluralistic, multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of
wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

2. 
TRADITIONAL FOOD

3. 
 Indian cuisine encompasses a wide variety of regional cuisines native to India. Given the
range of diversity in soil type, climate and occupations, these cuisines vary significantly
from each other and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Indian food
is also heavily influenced by religious and cultural choices and traditions.
 The development of these cuisines have been shaped by Dharmic beliefs, and in particular
by vegetarianism, which is a growing dietary trend in Indian society. There has also been
Central Asian influence on North Indian cuisine from the years of Mughal rule. Indian
cuisine has been and is still evolving, as a result of the nation's cultural interactions with
other societies.
 Historical incidents such as foreign invasions, trade relations and colonialism have also
played a role in introducing certain foods to the country. For instance, the potato, a staple
of the Indian diet was brought to India by the Portuguese, who also introduced chillies
and breadfruit. Indian cuisine has also shaped the history of international relations; the
spice trade between India and Europe is often cited by historians as the primary catalyst
for Europe's Age of Discovery.Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe
and Asia. It has also influenced other cuisines across the world, especially those from
Southeast Asia, the British Isles, and the Caribbean.
INFORMATION

4. 
TRADITIONAL HOUSE

5.  Housing in India varies greatly and reflects the socio-economic mix of its vast population.
 Housing varies from palaces of erstwhile maharajas in Rajasthan to modern apartment buildings in big cities to tiny
huts in far-flung villages. There has been tremendous growth in India's housing sector as incomes have risen.
 There are certain unique characteristics of Indian culture which often influence how Indian homes are organised. A
common traditional structure is for the extended family to live in the same house, forming what is known in India
as a joint family For instance grandparents, their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren live in the same
household sharing the same kitchen. Brothers, sisters and cousins grow up together. Each husband-wife
combination has their own bedroom. The eldest woman in the house is generally in charge of cooking. In joint
families, women live with their in-laws after marriage.
 With modernisation there is a growing number of nuclear families, in which each couple occupies its own house
after marriage, in urban areas. It is still rare, albeit not impossible, amongst traditional communities for senior
citizens to live alone. It is extremely rare even in urban areas for couples to live together before marriage. Some
single young adults live in same-sex dormitories or in shared accommodation during college and the early working
years.
 The life-style in villages takes advantage of the warm weather. Many families bathe outdoors in rivers and ponds.
Most of the day is spent outdoors around or near the house. Cooking is conducted outdoors in earthen stoves
powered by organic fuels or in modern kerosene stoves. Water is obtained from hand-drawn wells. Men perform
their ablutions in designated spots throughout the day; Visitors to villages may find residents squatting down for an
afternoon card game under trees or while sitting on charpois (traditional hand-made beds) brought outside during
the day. Consequently they use their indoor space primarily to sleep, change and, in electrified homes, to watch TV.
INFORMATION

6. 
TRADITIONAL CLOTHES

7. 
 Clothing in India varies from region to region depending
on the ethnicity, geography, climate and cultural
traditions of the people of that region. Historically, men
and women clothing has evolved from simple Langotas,
and loincloths to cover the body to elaborate costumes not
only used in daily wear but also on festive occasions as
well as rituals and dance performances. In urban areas,
western clothing is common and uniformly worn by
people of all strata. India also has a great diversity in
terms of weaves, fibers, colours and material of clothing.
Colour codes are followed in clothing based on the
religion and ritual concerned. For instance, Hindu ladies
wear white clothes to indicate mourning, while Parsis and
Christians wear white to weddings.
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8. 
♥THE END♥
Σ Π Υ Ρ Ι Δ Ο Υ Λ Α
Δ Η Μ Η Τ Ρ Α
Μ Α Ρ Ι Α Γ Κ.
Μ Α Ρ Ι Α Ζ Α Ρ.