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 these topics.

Culture, in India, although diverse and varied, still binds the country together in some
form of common identification. Indian culture, particularly drama and the arts, in spite of
having passed through many changes, is characterized by an unmistakable unity and
continuity. Though there are diverse languages, religions, traditions, festivals and attire,
the rich heritage of the culture survives! Indians, even today, are highly influenced by the
traditions and values of the yesteryears despite the recent movement toward
westernization.
Each state of India has its own set of norms to live by. There is a vast variety of ethnic
types having differences in their domestic arrangements, what they eat, what they wear,
social practices they follow and ceremonies they observe at different seasons of the year
and at birth, marriage and death. The religions followed are Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism,
Buddhism, Zoraostrianism, Islam and Christianity.Therefore while it is easy to sense that

India or 'Indian' is different from other major civilizations, it is very

difficult to define conclusively what is essentially Indian, or to see how
such a diversity of peoples and cultures can be related to one and other.
Basic Facts

Indian Art

Indian Cuisine

It is a Herculean, if not impossible task to enumerate all the figures and facts of a country
as vast and diverse as India. It is one of the oldest civilisations in history and has acquired
many dimensions over the aeons. It is a country astronomical not only in size and
population but also in the number of cultures, languages and religions that it embraces.
We shall, therefore, just present a few noteworthy statistics and a few Basic Facts
The world has been enticed by India's riches in arts and crafts throughout history. Over
the Centuries, India's rich art and traditions, are either forgotten, or misinterpreted due to
a lack of authentic information.
The traditional crafts continue to be at the highest level, each carrying with them a legend
of it's rich heritage. Each state and region specialises in different arts and depending on
its historical influences, traditional skills and various raw materials available in and
around the area. India is well known for skills in paintings, embroidery, sculptures in
wood, metal, stone, puppetry, mask making and temple carvings.
Classical Indian dance and music have their origins dating back to the days of the 'Vedas'.
They are very closely related to the Hindu religion and Indian culture. Although temple
dancing is no longer practiced, classical Indian dancing is still based on its Hindu roots.
Indian dance is divided into 'nritta' - the rhythmic elements, 'nritya', the combination of
rhythm with expression and 'natya', the dramatic element. To appreciate natya, or dance
drama, you have to understand and appreciate the Hindu legends and mythology.
Classical dance is divided into four basic forms known as 'Bharath Natyam', 'Kathakali',
'Manipuri' and 'Kathak'.
The only site : dedicated to shree dwarkadhish available in Gujarati, Hindi and English recording of Shree Krishna
Janmotsav-200available at Dwarkadhish.net site enabled you to do virtual journey of dwarka 'the city of gold'

Indiancultureonline.com represents you the various aspects of multifaceted Indian Culture. Nowadays the Indian
Culture has crossed the geographic boundaries and has extended globally. Whoever May it be an Indian or a person
from any other country, attracted from the exuberant Indian Culture and traditions can feel at home here. You can
virtually participate in various Indian festivals & celebrations having colorful pageant and harmonizing a million
souls under one canopy, on one chime !!
Indian Mystica covers the in and out features of the Indian traditions some of them are as old as rocks, going
back to the very dawn of recorded history, Indian monuments, the standstill memory of Indian sculpture, the
Indian national heroes like Gandhiji, JRD Tata & Ironman Sardar, like Gujarat, e-post the free mail service,
handicraft mall and shopping mall everything you find on one site Indiancultureonline.com . This virtual
journey is now enhanced with video clips and other innovative creations.

IndiaMystica
...introduces the user to the beliefs, ideals and traditions of the Hindus, a heterogeneous people,
who can trace their faith back to a civilization that existed over 4,000 years ago. . Hinduism is a
blanket term for a staggering range of concepts and 'levels' of thought. It is also a pulsating record
of the cultural evolution of 80 percent of the world's largest democracy and the millions-strong
Hindu Diaspora that pervades almost all continents. Many Hindu practices and beliefs astound with
their scientific and humane relevance. IndiaMystica is divided into four parts

Beliefs and Concepts

...that are generally followed but do not pertain to a particular ceremony or time; the beliefs and
customs that IndiaMystica deals with are those encountered in everyday life. Flowers, fasts, feasts,
adornment, rites of passage, sacred scriptures, deeply felt environmental and social values
Belief and concepts
Introduces the beliefs, ideals and traditions of the Hindus, a heterogeneous people, who can trace
their faith back to a civilization that existed over 4,000 years ago. The beliefs and customs that
indiaMystica deals with are those encountered in everyday life. We feel the need to delve into such
a subjective and potentially controversial area, Because understanding the How, What and why of
many customs and practices can only happen with reasoned information. Hinduism is a blanket
term for a staggering range of concepts and 'levels' of thought. It is also a pulsating record of the
cultural evolution of 80 percent of the world's largest democracy and the millions-strong Hindu
Diaspora that pervades almost all continents. Many Hindu practices and beliefs astound with their
scientific and humane relevance. Others seem superstitious and illogical. Nevertheless, it is
interesting to understand why those who went before us acted in a particular - often apparently
contradictory-way. Flowers, fasts, feasts, adornment, rites of passage, sacred scriptures, deeply felt
environmental and social values. Beliefs and Concepts that are generally followed but do not
pertain to a particular ceremony or time.

Customs and Ceremonies

...which deal with specific ceremonies for specific occasions other customs appeal because of the
grace and beauty, they bestow on the routine business of living. Perhaps the most intriguing fact
about Hinduism is its ability to adapt to changing attitudes, posits that 'just as all rivers meet in the
ocean, so do all religions lead to one god'.
Customs and Ceremonies
Customs and Ceremonies which deal with specific ceremonies for specific occasions; customs
appeal because of the grace and beauty they bestow on the routine business of living. Perhaps the
most intriguing fact about Hinduism is its ability to adapt to changing attitudes. Nor does it flinch
from other theological points of view but, instead, posits that 'just as all rivers meet in the ocean, so
do all religions lead to one god'. Hindu is not synonymous with Indian. Although about 80 percent of
Indians are Hindus, India is home to almost every religion in the world. It also includes non-formal
and tribal faiths. All these have influenced Hinduism and vice-versa, while retaining their separate
distinct identities. A word of caution. Everyone is advised to use their discretion to accept or follow
any information contained in indiaMystica.. It is for those who have a general interest in India and
would like more information about popular beliefs and ceremonies and their significance

Nature Worship

...that sprang from the unquestionable supremacy of Nature; Nature provides us lots to live. There
is tradition to worship Natural elements, According to popular belief, some elements are
represented as gods, demons, animals, since time immemorial, the grateful populace found it
entirely natural to worship trees, shankha, snake, river.
Nature Worship
Nature Worship that sprang from the unquestionable supremacy of Nature; and It is believed that
the five element Agni, jala (water), vayu (wind), prithvi (earth) and akash (space) have a great
influence on life. They believe that each in village, any large tree is revered as thepower that
sustains the community.
According to the popular belie, all plants are conscious being with distinct peronalities.They are
represented as gods, demons and animals And since time immortal, the grateful population found it
entirely natural to worship trees that gave them food, fire, shelter, shade, clothing and medicine. In
fact a seal discovered during excavations at an Indus Valley site (the first-known ancient Indian
civilization, c. 3000 BC - 1700 BC) shows the peepal tree being worshipped. The importance of
trees is also mentioned in the Puranas. Because they do not stop growing, trees symbolize
reproduction, especially the flowering and the fruit-bearing species. Therefore in villages, any large
tree is revered as the power that sustains the community. Trees play an important role in almost all
ceremonies, especially their leaves, fruit and roots. Some sacred trees are the mango (Mangifera
indica), the neem, peeple, durva., kushagrass etc. They worship bull, cow considering them holy
animal. Snake worship is popular here, people cal them nagdev,
Rudraksha is believed to be a scared one. People make the rosary from it. They worship the nature
as it is the Mother Nature.

Religious Texts
...that are explained briefly, as most concepts and customs find their origin here. Vedas,
Dharmasutras, Grihyasutras and Manusmriti are the source of most of them. Therefore anything
that is believed to happen, either find its origin in these religious scriptures or is a long-standing
belief.
Religious Texts
Religious Texts that are explained briefly, as most concepts and customs find their origin here. For
somebody who is unfamiliar with the intricacies of these customs, it may be difficult to accept the
explanations offered. For example in the present-day, it may seem ridiculous to worship natural
phenomena. Here, it is important to consider the circumstances in which these customs originated.
This would enable an understanding of the belief, whether one goes on to accept it or not is
immaterial. One of the most refreshing aspects of Hinduism is the freedom of choice it allows an
individual. The beliefs and customs that indiaMystica deals with are those encountered in everyday
life. Religious texts like the Vedas, Dharmasutras, Grihyasutras (See Sutra) and Manusmriti are the
source of most of them. Therefore anything that is believed to happen, either find its origin in these
religious scriptures or is a long-standing belief.
Some of these beliefs go so far back that they have been accepted as a way of life without
provoking review. While most of the beliefs and customs find their origin in the scriptures, the
authority of which has been questioned periodically, we do find that these vary across India
depending on geography and regional influences. We have mostly stayed with 'mainstream'

Hinduism.