By: VG L. Cuaresma ♥

-is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most

populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world because It is militarily strong,

has major cultural influence and a fast-growing and powerful economy.

India is situated in Southern Asia, between Burma and Pakistan.

India is a peninsula flanked by the Arabian Sea in West , Bay of Bengal in East & Indian Ocean in South

•Location on World map

Cultural heritage - Language

India is cradle of 416 different languages

• Official language Hindi/English

• Two major language families are

–Indo-Aryan (North India)

–Dravidian (South India)

Sanskrit is the classical language of Indian and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is also one of the 22 official languages of India. The name Sanskrit means "refined", "consecrated" and "sanctified". It has always been regarded as the 'high' language and used mainly for religious and scientific discourse.

Literature – Poets & Epics

• Indian literature is generally acknowledged as one of the oldest in the world.

• It is Inspired by music , religion & rich traditions.

• Famous poets like Rabindra Nath Tagore & Kalidas were born here.

Literature – Poets & Epics

• Great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata belong to the land of India

• These epics serve as folk epics of other Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia too

Visual Arts – Sculpture & Architecture

• India is famous for Stone and bronze carvings, Temple carvings,Pink sandstone culture of Mathura,Fatehpur Sikri,Taj Mahal,Qutab Minar, Red Fort , Victoria Memorial ,Lotus temple

• The white marble TAJ MAHAL is amongst the SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Recreation & Sports

• India sports numerous indigenous as well as international games like kabaddi , chess, cricket , hockey etc.

Clothing

• India has given birth to a variety of clothing and has been the hub of innovation

• Various ensembles like saree, salwaar kameez , dhoti , kurta as well as western outfits are fashioned by Indians

• Are beautiful and elegant Indian fashion clothing meant to accentuate the female body.

•A traditional salwar kameez (shalwarkameez) is a pant suit consisting of three pieces:• Salwar: the pants of the suit. They are loose fitting with a drawstring waist• Kameez: the shirt of the suit. It is a long, tunic style shirt• Dupatta: the long scarf of the suit

•is an Indian female garment that consists of drape varying from two to nine yards in length and two to four feet in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff.

also known as pancha, mardani or veshti, is a traditional men's garment worn in India.

•It is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 4.5 metres (15 ft) long, wrapped around the waist and the legs and knotted at the waist, resembling a long skirt.

• also known as a sarong, meaning "sheath"•is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn by men and women•he fabric most often has woven plaid or checkered patterns,• It is particularly popular in regions where the heat and humidity create an unpleasant climate for trousers.

• It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer, and is worn by men.

Cuisine

• India has given birth to the use of spices and herbs that has given birth to Ayurveda, Homeopathy used for treating ailments

Various preparations like chutneys and pickles are Indian speciality

Religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices.

India is the birthplace of four of the world's major religions; namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Throughout India's history, religion has been an important part of the country's culture.

Hinduism has been called the "oldest religion" in the world,and some practitioners refer to it

as Sanātana Dharma, "the eternal law" or the "eternal way” beyond human origins. It

prescribes the "eternal" duties all Hindus have to follow, regardless of class, caste, or sect, such as honesty, purity, and self-restraint.

Hinduism is a major religion in India. Hinduism was followed by around 80.5% of

the country's population of 1.21 billion

• is a nontheistic religion that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the Buddha, meaning "the awakened one".

Jainism, traditionally known as Jainadharma 1is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of “ahimsa” or -

nonviolence- towards all living beings, and emphasizes spiritual

independence and equality between all forms of life. Practitioners believe

that nonviolence and self-control are the means by which they can obtain

liberation.

Religion & Philosophy

India is a home of diverse religions in the world were born in India like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam ,Christianity , Zoroastrianism, Judaism.

India is a living example of UNITY in DIVERSITY