Cultural Tourism in India

Indian culture is known for its amazing diversities and astonishing contradictions. It
represents the multifaceted cultural synthesis of India as a whole. Cultural tourism is extremely
popular in India owing to its fabulous cultural heritage. It is Heterogeneous in nature. It displays a
vast melange of religions, culture, customs, ceremonies and languages. The mysterious Ways of
people, baffling lifestyles and unfathomable culture is something wonderful. All these makes India
the most unique and most sought after destination. Any visitor is spellbound with the most
memorable and unforgettable experiences, that Incredible India" offers.

In this episode, let us try to understand the very contour of Cultural Tourism in India. The
main objective of learning has been presented under Five Broad Categories. They are as follows:
1. Religion, Family, Marriage Customs
2.Gastronomy, Textile, Languages
3. Performing Culture of India
4. Visual Art Heritage
5. Features of Indian Culture

INTRODUCTION
India as you know is a gifted land. Since remote antiquity it enjoys immeasurable cultural
heritage. For several Centuries, India witnessed the hegemony of several dynasties both native and
foreigners. Besides, India is the home land of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc. All these
factors leave an indelible imprint and impact on Indian culture. Further, you can see -the traces of
different cultures, in the tradition of music, dance, architecture, festivities, languages, beliefs and
customs, ceremonies, food and drink etc. All of them together makes the cultural heritage of
India - the most vibrant, exhaustive, enthralling and most enlivening one. I think no other country in
the whole world may ever claim such a wonderful tradition. In a sense, Indian Culture represents the
way of living of the Indians. As you know, Her religions, languages, tradition of dance, drama,
music, architecture, sculpture, painting, gastronomy, customs, manners, etiquette, fairs and festivals
differ from place to place within the country. That's why Indian culture is often labeled as an
'wonderful amalgamation of multiple cultures'. Indian culture too had a profound impact upon the
countries across the world.

Cultural Tourism in India : Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism. It is concerned with a
country or a region, specifically their lifestyle, the history, art, architecture, religions, and such other
elements which shape the way of life. Cultural tourism also includes tourism in urban areas -
Particularly historic or large cities, and their cultural facilities such as museums and theatres.

It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous cultural
communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle. Cultural Tourism has a special
place in India due to her glorious past heritage, culture and civilization. As you know Historical and
archaeological monuments attracts millions of international tourists. A survey undertaken by the
Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) confirms this. The modern Indian culture is a rare blend of
- her historical traditions, influences due to colonialism and current Western culture.

Religions / Pilgrimage in India

Hinduism is India's major religion. Approximately 81% of the Population are Hindus. Also
India is the birthplace of Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. India's largest minority religion is Islam

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(13.42%), followed by Christians, 2.33%, Sikhs 1.84%, Buddhists 0.68%, Jains 0.38%, and Others
0.65%.

You can call India, as the mystical land of pilgrimages. She is covered with holy sites -
associated with gods, sacred rivers or the holy men. Pilgrimages have always been a significant
feature of Hindu life.
Journey to holy places serves as the main form of interaction between people from different
parts of the country. Apart from major religions, there are also numerous minor faiths.
Atheism and agnostics too have visible influence in India.

1) THE LIFE STYLE

Family Structure
Along with religion, Family is at the core of the Indian Society. For generations, India
enjoyed the tradition of the joint family system. It is a system under which extended members of a
family – parents, children, the children's spouses and their offspring, etc. – live together. With
urbanization and other factors, India now experiences a break up of traditional joint family system.
Instead, more nuclear-like families are emerging. Despite these, the extended Family system
remains a corner stone in both urban and rural India.

Marriage Customs
Marriage is an highly auspicious event for Indians. For centuries, arranged marriages remain
the tradition in Indian society. Even today, the majority of Indians have their marriages planned and
arranged by their parents. But, now Indian culture is drifting away from traditional arranged
marriages. The case of love marriages in India are also increasing. Wedding celebrations are similar
to festive occasions - with extensive decorations, colors, music, dance, costumes and rituals. The
birth of a child is yet another momentous occasion, with special ceremonies, taking place during an
auspicious time. This includes casting horoscope, name-giving, the first feeding and the first
tonsure.

Festive Heritage
It has significance and association to most major religious occasions. Indian festivals are
innumerable in number. They are much varied in their origin-marking the national, regional, local,
religious, seasonal and social fervor. You may comment that the Indian calendar is one long
procession of festivals. They are dedicated to various deities, saints, prophets and also seasons.
In some parts of India, each festival is unique in its style. It is characterized by. - pageantry,
gaiety, colour and charm, revelry, feasts, prayers and rituals. Many of them are common to most
parts of India. Festivals are called by different names and celebrated differently. India, has a multi-
cultural and multi-religious society. She celebrates holidays and festivals of various religions.

Religious & Secular Festivals

Besides, there are local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic
demographics. Popular religious festivals of India are innumerous. They are the Hindu festivals of
Navratri, Diwali, Maha Shivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durgapuja, Holi, Ratha-Yatra, Ugadi,
Rakshabandhan, and Dussehra. Also Harvest Festivals include Sankranthi, Pongal and Raja
sankaranti. Indian New year festival is also celebrated in different parts of India with unique style.

They are Ugadi, Bihu, GudhiPadwa, Puthandu, Vishu and Vishuva. India also celebrates
multiple religious festivals. Notable examples are - Diwali, (celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains),
Buddha Purnima by Buddhists, Sikh Festivals, like Guru Nanak Jayanti, and Baisakhi are celebrated
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by Sikhs and Hindus too. Most popular Islamic festivals in India includes; EidulFitr, EidulAdha-
(BakrEid), MiladunNabi, Muharram and Shab-e-Barat. Christianity -
celebrates Christmas and Good Friday, Easter sunday to mention a few of them.

2. TRADITION OF GASTRONOMY
Diverse Cuisines
Indian cuisine is diverse in nature. It ranges from very spicy to very mild, and varying with
seasons in each region. They reflect the local agriculture, produce, regional climate, culinary
innovations and cultural diversity. Indian cuisines use numerous ingredients. They deploy a wide
range of food preparation styles, cooking techniques and culinary presentation.

From salads to sauces, from vegetarian to non-vegetarian, from spices to sensuous, from
breads to desserts, Indian cuisine is invariably complex.

Infinite Varieties
There is nothing like one single National Diet, as in case of any other countries. Perhaps we
may require a few thousand pages to list out all those varieties available in India. Indian cuisine can
be split into five categories Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and North-eastern. Indian cuisine
is characterized by the use of many spices and herbs, a wide assortment of recipes and cooking
techniques.

Impact & Influence

A significant portion of Indian food is vegetarian. Certainly there are infinite variety of non-
vegetarian recipes too. I must also mention that Cuisine across India has also been influenced by
various cultural groups that entered into India such as the Persians, Mughals, and Europeans. Indian
cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines across the globe. Regional Indian cuisine continues to
evolve. A fusion of East Asian and Western cooking methods with traditional cuisines, along with
regional adaptations of fast food are prominent in major Indian cities.

Textiles and Costumes

Traditional clothing in India, greatly varies across different parts of the country. This is
influenced by local culture, geography, climate and rural/urban settings. Traditional styles of dress
include sari for women and dhoti or lungi or panche (in Kannada) for men. Stitched clothes are also
popular such as churidar or salwar-kameez for women, with dupatta (long scarf) thrown over
shoulder completing the outfit.

Salwar is often loose fitting, while churidar is a tighter cut. For men, stitched versions
include kurta-pyjama and European-style trousers and shirts, jeans, and suits. Indian women perfect
their sense of charm and fashion with makeup and ornaments. Bindi, mehendi, earrings, bangles and
other jewelry are common.

For Special Occasions

On special occasions, such as marriage ceremonies and festivals, women wear colorful
costumes with various ornaments. Bindi is an essential part for a Hindu woman. Worn on their
forehead, bindi is considered as an auspicious mark. Women also wear sindoor - a traditional red or
orange-red powder (vermilion). Sindoor is the traditional mark of a married woman for Hindus.

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Languages :
India has 22 official languages. Apart from Hindi, India has 1652 mother tonques, of which
33 are spoken by people numbering over a lake. The 2011 census of India found that 122 first
languages are in active use. India has more than three thousand years of continuous linguistic
history. They are recorded and preserved in literary documents. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and
Malayalam are also some of the classical languages.

3. PERFORMING CULTURE OF INDIA

I must say that, the highlight of sub-continental travel is-its rich art legacy. The performing
culture of India is a fusion of various arts. The artistic tradition and aesthetic beauty lies around
almost every corner of India.

It is shared between music, dance, drama and literature. India is known for ages for its unique
performing arts - may be dance, music and theatre or the modern arts form that is cinema. Indians
are transcending barriers of culture and registering development in every aesthetic avenues.

Tradition of Dance
It is very much an Indian art form. It is traditionally linked to mythology and classical
literature. The Indian dance is the expression of 'inner beauty and the divinity' in human. It is a
deliberate art, and nothing is left to chance. Each gesture seeks to communicate an idea. Each facial
expression commands the emotions. Indian Dance can be divided into two broad categories.
Classical and Folk.

Eight Classical Dances

Indian dances includes eight classical dance forms. They are
Bharatanatyam (Tamilnadu), kathak (Uttar Pradesh), kathakali and Mohiniattam (Kerala),
kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Yakshagana (Karnataka), Manipuri (Manipur), odissi (Odisha) and
the Sattriya of Assam. This apart, India has several folk dance traditions which is wide-spread and
varied.

Folk and Tribal Dances

They are as follows: Maharashtra - Kathakeertan, Lezim, Dandaniya, Tamasha, Gafa,
Dahikala, Lovani. 2. Karnataka - Kunitha, Yakshagana. 3. Kerala - Kaliyattam, Tappatikkali. 4.
Tamilnadu - Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam, Kummi, Kavadi, Karagam. 5. Andhra Pradesh - Veedhi
Natakam, Burrakatha. 6. Orissa - Ghumara Sanchar, Chadya Dandanata. 7. West Bengal - Kirtanm
Jatra, Lama. 8. Assam - Bihu, Rash Lila. 9. Punjab - Giddha, Bhangra. 10. Jammu & Kashmir -
Rauf, Hikat. 11. Himachal Pradesh - Jhainta, Chharhi. 12. Harhyana - Jhumar, Ras Leela,
Dhamal, Loor. 13. Gujarat - Arba, Dandiya Rass, Tippaini. 14. Rajasthan - Jhulan Leela, Jhuma,
Suisini. 15. Bihar - Jata, Samochakwa, Jatram. 16. Uttar Pradesh - Nautankim Jhora, Chappelim
Raslila, and Kajri.

Indian Theatre And Drama

The genesis of Indian Theatre is related to religious rituals and seasonal festivals. Ancient
texts like Natyaveda, Arthasastra, Mahabhasya and Swapna-vasavadatta refers to drama. However,
Bharata's NatyaSastra was the first comprehensive work. Indian drama reached its zenith in 4thc
A.D. Excellent plays were written by poets like Kalidasa, Sudraka, Harsha, Mahendra varma pallava
etc, to mention a few of them. The beginning of Modern Indian Theatre dates back to 18th century.
After independence, the Indian Theatre developed rapidly.

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Indian Music
India has two systems of Music: Hindustani and Carnatic. Both of them derive their basic
principles from Natya Sastra and Sangeet Ratnakara. Musical instruments are classified into four
groups. According to four primary sources of vibration, they are strings, membranes, cymbals, and
air. Both the Carnatic and Hindustani music systems are based on Raga, sung to a rhythmic cycle
(known as Tala). The current trend includes multiple varieties of religious, classical, folk, popular
and pop music. The contemporary Indian musical forms also includes film songs and Indipop.

4. VISUAL ARTS SCENARIO

Architecture:
Travelers to India, will come across magnificent forms of Temple Architecture. Not only
they are gorgeous but mesmerizing too. The earliest of them, datable to Indus times, do not exist.
With the advent of Guptas (4-6thC A.D), temple structures emerged.

They set the standard for temples for several hundred years in North India. Indian
architecture encompasses a multitude of expressions over space and time, constantly absorbing new
ideas. Several Buddhist architectural complexes, such as the caves of Ajanta and Ellora and the
monumental Sanchi Stupa to name a few of them, were built.

Temples in South
In South India several popular Hindu temples dotted the horizon. Some of them are:
Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at
Somanathapura, Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur, the Sun Temple, Konark, Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, and the Buddha stupa at Bhattiporlu, and Minakshi
Sundareswar Temple at Madurai.

Islamic Architecture
With the advent of Islamic influence, Indian architecture underwent a dramatic
transformation. For eg. Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Gol Gumbaz, Qutub Minar, Red Fort of Delhi are
some of the best creations of this era. They are often used as the stereotypical symbols of India.

British Style
The colonial rule of the British Empire saw the development of Indo-Saracenic style, and
mixing of several other styles, such as European Gothic. The Victoria Memorial or the Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus are notable examples. There are thousands of them, which is very difficult to list
out them here.

Impact over Asia

Indian Architecture has influenced Eastern and South Eastern Asia, due to the spread of
Buddhism. A number of Indian architectural features such as the temple mound or stupa, temple
spire or sikhara, temple tower or pagoda and temple gate or torana, have become famous symbols of
Asian culture, used extensively in East Asia and South East Asia. These Structures stand erect as
eternal monuments, extolling the marvelous contribution of Indian genius. Thousands of them,
found across the sub-continent are testimonies to the architectural heritage of India. In a sense, they
really challenge the genius of Modern Architecture - in terms of its plan, structure and aesthetic
appeal.

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Sculpture
The earliest sculptures in India dates back to the Indus Valley civilization. Later, prominent
religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism contributed immensely and produced extremely
beautiful sculptures and icons. Sculptures of extraordinary beauty are produced in the northwest,
in stucco, or clay. They display a very strong blend of Indian and Classical Hellenistic or possibly
even Greco-Roman influence. In later centuries, sculpture reached a very high standard in execution
and delicacy in modeling. These styles leading to Indian classical art, have contributed to the
Buddhist and Hindu sculptures throughout Southeast, Central and East Asia.

Paintings
Cave paintings from Ajanta, Bagh, Ellora and Sittanavasal besides innumerous temple
paintings testify to a love of naturalism. Most early and Medieval art in India is Hindu, Buddhist or
Jain.
Pattachitra, Madhubani painting, Mysore painting, Rajput painting, Tanjore
painting, Mughal painting are some notable genres of Indian Art.

Yoga
Yoga is the extraordinary contribution of India founded by Patanjali. It's purpose is to help
one, 'to focus, reflect upon, know and express one's highest self". India's cultural journey with yoga
is now extremely popular across the globe. Let me say, that Yoga is the art of living, experiencing
the inner strength, to live a harmonious and peaceful life.

Sports & Games

In the realm of sports and games, field hockey is the official national sport in India. Cricket is
most popular in India. Football is also played and Kolkata is the home to the largest stadium
in India.
Chess is yet another interesting game, originated in India. Let us be proud to say, that India has
produced several international grand masters of this game. Other games originated in India and
remain popular includes Kabaddi, Gilli-danda, and Kho kho.

Indian Martial Arts

Southern Styles
Kalarippayattu from Kerala is one of the best known ancient Indian martial arts. This fighting
style was originated in southern India in the 12th century. It is regarded as one of the oldest
surviving martial arts. Silambam, yet another marital art (using sticks) was developed around
Sangam Age. This is unique among Indian martial arts. It uses complex footwork techniques
(kaaladi), including a variety of spinning styles. A bamboo staff is used as the main weapon.

North & East

Among Eastern states, Paika Akhada is a martial art found in Odisha, meaning "warrior
gymnasium" or "warrior school". It incorporates acrobatic maneuvers and use of swords, sticks, and
other weapons. In northern India, the Musti Yuddha was evolved in 1100 AD.

It focused on mental, physical and spiritual training. A distinctive factor of Indian martial arts
is its emphasis on meditation as a tool to remove fear, doubt and anxiety. Indian martial arts and its
techniques have had a profound impact on other martial arts styles across Asia.

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5. SALIENT FEATURES OF INDIAN CULTURE
The Indian culture is a composite culture. The family is treated as the basic unit. Every day
activities and way of life are the cultural contours of India. The Indian culture once centers around
Varnashrama Dharma.

Stages of Life
In the same way, dividing the entire life of men into four stages is, yet another unique feature
of Indian culture. The Indian life is linked with so many sacraments from cradle to grave. Marriage
is treated as a holy institution. Indian culture is unique due to its catholicity and liberality - Satya,
Ahimsa, Dharma. Tolerance, patience, perseverance, rhythm and harmony., are the basic qualities of
Indian culture.

It is significant to note that the unity of India centres around multifaceted diversities'.
Importance is assigned to the theory of Karma, transmigration of soul, seeking eternal truth and
ultimate reality. From Cape Comerin to Kashmir, the faith over "India" as the mother country, is
unshakable. The Indians by their very nature show neither aversion nor hatred to any other
language, religion, literature and culture. The Indians are known for their broad mindedness and
better understanding of universal ideas.

Morality & Spiritualism

They attach specific importance to morality, discipline, spiritualism and greatness of various
things. They respect the Holy Scriptures of all religions and holy places of different religions. Yes,
India upholds firmly a true sense of - 'religious tolerance' and universal brotherhood. In a sense,
'Religious Tolerance' and peaceful co-existence' are the key note of Indian Culture. Known for its
long tenure of existence, constant and continuous progress is yet another feature of Indian culture.

National & Universal

Thus the Indian culture is uniquely national as well as universal one. It is vibrant, dynamic ,
very subtle and sublime. and has its own impact over the life of the Indians. Despite diversities, one
can witness geographical, political, religious, cultural and linguistic unity in India, undoubtedly, this
has been the very core foundation of Indian culture. Let me conclude that, for ever, India will stand
as a shining example of solidarity, unity, and integrity amidst multifarious diversities.

It is really 'Incredible India'.

Jai Hind.

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