Hindu Marriage

The Hindu wedding ceremony follows the Vedic rituals. The three main rituals known as Kanyadaan, Panigrahana and Saptapadi are followed. Kanyadaan means gifting the girl by parents, Panigrahana means to join the hands of bride and groom, Saptapadi means both the bride and groom make seven rounds around the fire (pheras) while each round symbolises one promise that they make to each other. There are many variations in the Hindu marriage also like in Southern India, some communities don’t light a fire and ceremonies happen during the day while in Bengal, the ceremonies happen during evening. In the Hindu weddings, there is also a ritual of engagement ceremony some days before the actual wedding. In it, the bride and groom exchange their wedding rings and other gifts. In the wedding ceremony, the custom of exchanging garlands also takes place and then finally the groom makes the bride wear a mangal sutra. Hindu marriage act was enacted in 1955, under which the marriages are registered.

Muslim Marriage

A Muslim Marriage in India follows the Islamic traditions. The attires of Bride and Groom are very beautiful. The wedding ceremony is called Nikah and is administered by a Maulvi. Reading of the holy book Quran takes place and then the bride accepts the groom’s proposal by saying ‘Qubool Hai’. The Muslim Marriages are registered under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937.

Parsi Marriage

Many rituals, customs and ceremonies are performed in a Parsi Marriage for 3 days and then after on the 4th day, the final wedding ceremony takes place. Silver coins are exchanged between the families of the bride and groom in a ceremony. The Parsi Marriages are registered under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936.

Court Marriage

Although anyone can do court marriages as per their wish, but it is prevalent amongst the Inter-Faith and Inter-community marriages. These marriages are registered under the Special Marriages Act, 1954 which also applies to Indian Nationals living in foreign countries. In these types of marriages, the registrar is given a 30 day prior notice with all the required details of bride and groom. On the marriage day, they are present before him with all the documentation and witnesses and thus the marriage takes place.

Sikh Marriage

The Sikh Marriage ceremony takes place blissfully inside the premises of a Gurdwara. Before the main wedding ceremony, a ‘Milni’ takes place where the families of the Bride and Groom meet each other. After this, some stanzas are recited from their holy text and both the bride and groom take rounds (pheras) around the Holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib together. Earlier, Sikh Marriages used to be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, but now are registered under the Anand Marriage act.

Christian Marriage

Christian marriages are a symbol of the beautiful blend of Indian and Western traditions and customs. Both the bride and groom wear gorgeous apparels in the Wedding. Some unique traditions like the feast, the toast and the bouquet are all followed in Christian marriages. Christian marriages are conducted by a minister or a priest in the church. The Christian marriages are regulated under the Christian Marriage act 1872 which applies throughout India, with some places being exceptions.

Buddhist Marriage

Buddhist Marriages are one of the most simple and elegant marriages that take place in India. They are presided over by Buddhist monks and are taken place in front of a portrait of Gautam Buddha. This type of marriage emphasizes on finishing up the vows. Buddhist Marriages are officially registered under the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

Jain Marriage

In a Jain Marriage, pre marriage ceremonies take place such as Khol Barana (the inauguration) and Tikka or Tilak. Many beautiful ceremonies and customs like Pheras also take place during the wedding. After the wedding, a unique custom takes place in which the members of the families of the Bride and Groom go to a Jain temple to feed the poor. 

Badrinath Mandir

It is a holy temple of Lord Vishnu located in the Garhwal Himalayas in the Chamoli district of the state Uttarakhand. It resides on a mountain named Nar-Narayan on the banks of Alakananda river. It is one of the Char Dhams, which are considered to be the most pious sites of pilgrimage in India. It is situated 3133 m above sea level and is closed for half the year due to excessive snowfall in the winters.

Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath temple is located in the city of Puri, Odisha on the eastern coastline of India. It is also one of the Char Dhams, one of the most pious pilgrimage sites in India. Here, Lord Krishna is worshipped in the Jagannath form, along with Balaram and Subhadra. A magnificent Rath Yatra is organised in this temple once a year which is very famous for its grandeur around the world.

Dwarkadhish Temple

This temple is located in the town of Dwarka, Gujarat. It lies on the west coast of India. Dwarkadhish temple is one of the Four Char Dhams, the pious pilgrimage sites in India. It is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is one of the most beautifully located temples in India. It is around 2500 years old.

Amarnath Temple

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Amarnath temple lies in the holy caves situated in the Himalayas in Jammu & Kashmir, India. The caves are about 5000 years old and Lord Shiva is worshipped over here. Every year, a holy Shiva Linga forms of ice in the caves. It lies at an altitude of 3888 m above sea level and the route to reach there is a tough one. People have to be physically fit in order to start the hike.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

This holy temple of Lord Shiva is situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is located on the Western banks of the Holy river Ganga. People from all over the world come here to seek blessings, as it is believed to be a way of achieving salvation.

Ramanathaswamy Temple

This temple situated in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Rameshwaram is also one of the Char Dhams and is a very holy as well as beautiful place. The Shivalinga in this temple is believed to have been built by Lord Ram himself.

Golden Temple

Golden Temple is a gurdwara, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is situated in Amritsar, Punjab. It is made up of gold and is surrounded by a beautiful lake. It was built in the 15th century and is considered to be one of the most spiritual sites of Sikhs.

Tirupati Balaji Temple

This temple is situated in Tirumala, Tamil Nadu. This temple is officially known as the Venkateshwara Temple, and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This is one of the richest and most beautiful temples of the world. It has a very delicate architecture and symmetry. It is one of the most revered temples, with lots of devotees and tourists visiting it round the year.

Maa Vaishno Devi Mandir

This temple is situated at a mountain in Katra, Jammu at the foothills of the Himalayas. It requires a 12 km long trek to reach this holy temple and other options like Horses and helicopters are also available to reach the temple. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Vaishnavi with lakhs of devotees reaching here to worship the goddess every year.

Shri Sai Baba Temple

This is one of the most famous temples around the world which is located in Shirdi, Maharashtra. Lots of devotees have belief in this significant shrine and lakhs of people come here all the year to seek blessings from Sai Baba. This is also one of the richest shrines present in India.

Mahakaleshwar Temple

This temple is located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It is situated on the banks of river Shipra and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas present in India, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many devotees come here to worship Lord Shiva all around the year.

Folk Dances are an integral part of the culture and tradition of India. The native communities of a place have been performing their folk dances since ages for various purposes like to celebrate harvest season, celebrate weddings and for entertainment. The attire and accessories used in the dance form are quite dazzling and magnificent. The people have preserved their culture of dances well by performing and propagating it. Nowadays, we also see that these folk dances are performed in cultural programmes at schools and colleges by not only the particular community, but also by other people who may admire the dance form. So here, let us have a look at some of the folk dances of India, along with their details and interesting facts.

1.Dumhal 

This beautiful folk dance form belongs to Jammu and Kashmir. The Watal tribe traditionally performs it. Men wearing colourful long clothes and conical caps with beads studded on them perform Dumhal. This dance is performed in groups with the dancers matching the beats of the drums and singing songs in chorus. A flag or a banner with a message on it is dugged into the ground and the dance is performed around it.

2. Bhangra 

This folk dance belongs to Punjab. It is so popular all over the country that it seldom requires introduction. It is one of the most energetic and popular dances of India performed on strong beats of drums, dhols and nagadas. Punjabis celebrate their harvest festival ‘Lohri’ by performing Bhangra in groups in a circle. People also perform this in functions like weddings and other celebrations.

3. Ghoomar 

This folk dance belongs to Rajasthan. The literal meaning of Ghoomar is ‘Ghoomna’ in Hindi which means to twirl or rotate. Initially, the Bhil community used to perform it. Then other Rajasthani communities also started performing it in due course of time to worship goddess Saraswati. Ghoomar is usually performed by women wearing dresses called Ghaghara. It is performed at special occasions like weddings and religious or festive occasions. Lots of songs and movies in Popular Culture have a reference to Ghoomar.

4. Theyyam   

This folk dance belongs to the Malabar region of Kerala. It is actually a form of worship of Goddess Kali. The dancers wear headgears and paint their faces with lots of colours to add vibrancy to their costumes. This is an age long custom which prevails in the culture of Kerala as a symbol of worshipping the Goddess.

5. Garba 

This folk dance form belongs to Gujarat.  It is traditionally performed during the 9 day festival called ‘Navratri’ in the Hindu Culture honoring Goddess Durga. It is performed in circles around either a centrally lit lamp or a picture of Goddess Shakti. People wear a variety of vibrant and colourful costumes while performing it like Odhani, Chaniya Choli etc. This dance form is also very famous in foreign countries. The Garba dance is extremely magnificent and a delight to eyes.

6. Bihu 

This folk dance belongs to Assam and is related to the Bihu festival celebrated by the Assamese community. This dance form has brisk hand and body movements. Musical instruments like Dhol, horn shaped pipes are played during the performance of Bihu. The costumes and accessories used in this dance form have a red colour base. This is a very elegant dance form.

7. Cheraw Dance

This folk dance form belongs to Mizoram. It showcases an enthralling combination of rhythm and skills. Pairs of long bamboo sticks are held horizontal and close to the ground by 4-8 people. The people holding the sticks rhythmically clap them and the dancers dance between the sticks on the beats of the song and claps made. The dancers wear beautiful dresses with feathers and hats on heads. 

8. Lavani

This folk dance type belongs to Maharashtra. It is actually a combination of folk dance and music. It is performed rhythmically to the beats of a percussion instrument called Dholki. The women who perform Lavani wear beautiful vibrant coloured sarees which are around 9 yards long. Lavani is considered to be a very fast dance with powerful rhythm.

9. Lava

This folk dance form traditionally belongs to Lakshadweep. It is usually performed by males on celebrations such as festive occasions. The dancers match to the beat of the drums and make a circle to perform this dance. They were beautiful costumes like red trousers, white scarfs and white headgears.

10. Dalkhai

This folk dance belongs to Odisha. Sambalpuri saree and scarfs are used by women as costumes in them. Its theme is based on the theme of Radha and Krishna from the epics. It is mainly performed at festivals on the beats of Dhol.

India is a land of festivities. Throughout the year, people find reasons to celebrate life. Even the Festivals and fairs celebrated here are associated with some meaningful lessons and morals of life. Various fairs are organised all around the year in almost every part of the country. These fairs are celebrated for different reasons like religious purposes, trade of animals and showcasing art forms. So let’s have a look at some of the Famous Fairs in India.

1. Kumbh Mela

This fair takes place four times every 12 years. It takes place alternatively in four locations that are Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain And Nashik. It is celebrated according to the relative astrological positions of Sun, Moon and Jupiter. This fair is celebrated by taking a holy dip in the rivers that flow through respective cities. The most famous Kumbh is held in Prayagraj at the Sangam (confluence) of  Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati (mythical river). Around 24 crore people attended the 2019 Kumbh mela at Prayagraj.

2. Pushkar Fair

The Pushkar town in Rajasthan, meaning flower in Hindi, is famous for its annual cattle fair. During the later phase of the festive period, the devotees who come to to take part in this fair, take a dip in the holy Sarovar Lake of the city. This is a famous Indian fair which attracts tourists from all over the world. It is known for Camel trading and people can also participate in activities like camel rides, desert safari. An interesting and unique competition named ‘Longest Moustache’ is also conducted during it. The Pushkar fair is a very vibrant occasion, which is full of colours, lights, traditional clothing, jewelry etc.

3. Gangasagar Mela

Every year on the Makar Sankranti festival, the place near the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal celebrates the fair named Gangasagar Mela. People visit this fair to take a holy dip in the river Ganges, worship Surya Dev and then seek blessings from the Kapil Muni temple. It takes place at the beautiful Gangasagar or Sagar Island. About 18 lakh people had visited this fair in 2018. Naga Sadhus also visit this festival to do their worship.

4. Sonepur Fair

This is the largest cattle fair of Bihar. This Cattle Fair is held in November on the full moon day at the confluence of the rivers Gandak and Ganges. It is also known as the Harihar Chhetra Mela. Various breeds of animals like buffalos, horses, birds and elephants are sold in this fair. Haathi Bazaar is even one of the biggest events of this fair. People not only from India, but also from Asia come to witness its grandeur event.

5. Nagaur Fair

This 8 day fair is held every year in the months of January- February. It is the second largest cattle fair in Rajasthan. Animals like camels, horses, cows, goats and sheep are traded in this fair. They are also decorated and even a beauty contest is organised to choose the best animal. Mirchi Bazaar is set up in this fair, where jewelry, handicrafts and wooden items are put for sale. Various Traditional cuisines are also arranged in this fair for visitors to experience them. A vibrant firework show is organised in the night to add to the fair’s beauty.

6. Urs Ajmer Sharif

This fair is held in Ajmer in the memory of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti to commemorate his death anniversary. It is held over a period of 6 days in the 7th month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar. Night long Qawwali singing is a very unique event organised in it. Dazzling events are organised to celebrate the brotherhood and love amongst people. ‘Kheer'(a pudding like dish of milk and rice) is prepared in large quantities and enjoyed by people.

7. Surajkund Crafts Fair

Every year from 1 to 15 February a unique cultural festival takes place in a town in Haryana named Surajkund located 8 kilometres from Delhi. This showcases some of the finest Handloom and handicraft traditions of the country. Traditional craftsmen like painters, artists, sculptors, weavers participate in this fair to showcase their art and talent. Artisans from SAARC nations also visit this fair. Every year, a specific state of India is chosen as the theme of the fair. Various cultural performances are conducted in the evenings for entertainment and enjoyment of the public.

8. Hemis Gompa Fair (Ladhak)

Hemis Gompa Fair is celebrated every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. It is held at the Hemis Monastery. It is celebrated on the 9th and 10th day according to the Tibetan calendar. This fair traces its roots long back in the history of Buddhist traditions. Lamas perform the ‘Mask Dance’ along with traditional music, chanting and worshipping. The mask dance depicts the battle between god and evil. People dress in traditional clothes and celebrate this colorful fair with full enthusiasm.

Yoga

The benefits of Yoga have been scientifically proven. Yoga has been practiced in the culture of India since time innumerable. It consists of Asanas and Pranayam. Asanas are slow stretching exercises which require physical movement of the body. While Pranayam is rhythmic control of the breath which has immense mental health benefits.

Surya Namaskar is a collection of 12 Yoga poses, performed in a particular order while facing the sun. Practising Surya Namaskar itself helps in losing weight, improving digestion, getting a glow on the skin, improves the sleeping cycle and strengthens the core body muscles. Anulom Vilom is a popular Pranayam which requires taking breaths from alternate nostrils while keeping the other one closed. June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga day to spread awareness about the advantages of Yoga and subsequently motivate them to perform it.

Ayurveda

It is the traditional medical practice of India, that has been used by the Indians since ages. Its foundation period ranges back to the Vedic times. It has been used and subsequently developed through generations. This makes it better than other forms of medicine. Most of the substances used in Ayurveda are organic and eco-friendly. In addition to being beneficial for the human body, it does no harm to the environment unlike other forms of medicines which use substantial amounts of chemicals. 

There are several physical advantages of Ayurveda like it deeply cleans the body. Panchkarma treatments clean the harmful toxins gathered through food and poor lifestyle. Ayurveda provides a sound sleep to the body by reducing stress. Better sleep will in turn improve the metabolism of the body. Ayurvedic treatment also helps in weight management to a great extent. It improves the skin of your body and keeps it fresh and glowy.

Drinking water from Copper Utensils

In India, there is a tradition persistent amongst the elder generation that they drink water from Copper Utensils. This practice has many advantages for health. Storing water in a copper vessel purifies it in ways like killing the microorganisms because of the fact that small amount of copper ions get dissolved in that water. Some of its other benefits are that it can boost your immune system, smoothen the digestion process, improve the wound healing capacity of the body and strengthen the joints.

Walking Barefoot on Grass

The primary health benefit that this practice provides is supplying freshness to one’s body. The body absorbs the freshness created by dewdrops on the grass. Many studies and researches have been conducted on this practice, which have concluded that walking barefoot on grass can help improve the sleeping habits, can reduce muscle tension, can be beneficial for eyesight and lower the stress levels of one’s brain.

Drinking Warm Water in the Morning

We all must have seen the older generation of India use this practice widely in their daily lifestyle. Drinking warm water in the morning is believed to clean the digestive system and relieve constipation. Moreover, adding lemon juice or honey to the warm water can be further beneficial because lemon itself has Vitamin C (improves immunity). So, drinking warm water in the morning is a good Indian tradition that helps in living a healthy lifestyle.

Fasting

Fasting has also been a part of the Indian tradition. Hindu culture involves ‘Vrats’ and Muslim culture involves ‘Roza’, both are types of fasting. Fasting helps in weight loss, speeding up metabolism and improves brain function. Different types of intermittent fasting can be used by people upon their convenience to get benefitted from this age-long Indian Tradition.

Eating with Silver Cutlery

Using Silver cutlery for eating purposes has been an old tradition in India. Several accounts in various texts have been found about people eating in silver cutlery in India. Eating with silver cutlery is instrumental for having good health as silver has been proven to have antiviral and antibacterial properties. These properties help to protect the food from viruses and bacteria and in turn this keeps you healthy. 

Jewelry

Wearing different types of jewelry has been a part of traditions in India. Wearing silver jewelry is believed to help in boosting blood circulation and  helping in cold and flu prevention. While, wearing gold jewelry is said to regulate the body temperature attract positive energy towards the body.

Eating with Hands

Eating with hands instead of spoon is a widespread practice in India. It is quite beneficial for health as it primarily provides good exercise for the fingers. Moreover, by eating with hands, one can get a texture and sense of temperature. So, it is quite a simple practice, but provides a good positive impact on health.

1.Diwali- Festival of Lights

Diwali has a strong cultural and traditional importance in our culture. It is celebrated in the Kartika month of the Hindu calendar. It conveys the message of good over evil (Lord Rama over Ravana). It is the day when Lord Rama arrived in Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.  Also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’, this festival has not only a pan India presence but also an international presence. People begin this day with an auspicious pooja of Goddess Laxmi, they further celebrate by wearing new traditional clothes, preparing sweets and decorating their houses with glowing deeyas, garlands of electric lights and colourful rangolis. They also burst crackers at night to continue the celebrations in full swing. Bursting eco-friendly crackers is being recommended from few years so that it doesn’t have a harmful effect on the environment

2. Holi- The Festival of Colors

Holi is celebrated in the Phalguna month of Hindu Calendar. It marks the start of harvest season. It has a good presence in terms of celebrations all over the world. It is celebrated by applying and throwing colours (both wet and dry) on each other. At some places, flowers are also used. In the evening, people visit each other’s homes wearing new ethnic clothes to exchange sweets. Holi propagates the message of brotherhood, love and unity in integrity amongst people.

3. Christmas

The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated with full joy every year on the 25th day of December around the globe. A Fantasy Legend has it that Santa Claus comes to homes and distributes gifts, which is very popular among children. People decorate Christmas trees in their houses with colourful and dazzling stars and hanging balls. They also pay a visit to the Church in order to seek blessings from Jesus.

4. Dussehra- Vijayadasami

Dussehra or Vijayadashmi is celebrated on the 10th day of navratri. This festival is celebrated because Lord Rama killed Ravana on this day. The burning effigies of Ravana and his two brothers is also a part of the culture of this festival. Ramleela (play of the story of Ramayan) is organised by various groups. Feats are also organised in cities and villages to celebrate this festival.

5. Durga Puja- Navaratri

Durga Puja is a major festival of Bengalis, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country. Pandals are set up with idols of Goddess Durga with other gods and goddesses. ‘Aarti’ of the gods is worth watching. The historical importance of this festival is that Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasur. A lot of different cultural activities are organised like singing, dancing to celebrate this auspicious event 

6. Janmashtami

Birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated as Janmashtmi, primarily in the northern part of India. Vrindavan and Mathura are the epicentres of the festivities. Every year, the temple priest reveals the idol of Shree Krishna at the time of his birth. Lots of people gather in the temple to be a part of the celebrations. Programmes are organised depicting different phases of Shree Krishna’ life in the forms of folklore, songs, plays and poems.

7. Ganesh Chaturthi

This festival is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra, but people from all over the country witness it and celebrate it in their own ways. It spans over a period of 10 days, while on the last day, the majority of celebrations are held. Huge idols of Lord Ganesha are carried to the seashore (or the river) in full joyous mood for the procession of Visarjan ( immersing the idol inside the water body, and wishing for the lord to return again the next year). All over the way, people keep on singing, dancing and throwing colours to enjoy. 

8. Eid-Ul-Fitr

Eid-Ul-Fitr is a major festival for Muslims in India and is celebrated with full enthusiasm by all people. People visit the mosque on this day for an auspicious prayer, and they wear new clothes and prepare delicious cuisines like sewainyan (vermicelli). Idi is given to children, a token of gift while elders hug each other and offer gifts to each other to celebrate this festival. Eid-Ul-Fitr is a festival which symbolises brotherhood among the humans. 

9. Onam

Onam is a very important festival in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is a very colorful festival indeed. It is a harvest festival which marks the new year for the Malyali people. Plays, Kathakali dances and other events such as boat races, tug of war are organised to celebrate this festival in full spirit. People also decorate their houses with flowers and rangoli and also wear new clothes.

10. Raksha Bandhan

This festival’s motive is to celebrate the pious bond of brother and sister. Sister ties a thread called Rakhi on her brother’s wrist as a symbol that he would protect her in life. In return, brother gives chocolates, dresses and most importantly a promise to protect her. Sweets and new traditional clothes are used to celebrate this festival of love and bonding.