India
Few countries in the world have a tradition, culture and variety as
diverse as this multi-faceted land called India. Enriched by successive
waves of migration and marauders from distant lands, every one of them
left an indelible imprint which was absorbed into the Indian way of life.
It is this variety which provides a breathtaking ensemble for experiences
that is uniquely Indian. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as
varied 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 day India represents the
largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in
diversity unparalleled anywhere else.
Here we have attempted to
catalogue everything Indian be it religions, festivals, rituals,
artefacts, monuments, different attires, music and dance, language and
literature. Come and let us help you discover a little more of fascinating
India.
Facts at a Glance
Full country name : Republic of India
Area : 3,287,590 sq km (1,229,737 sq mi)
Population : 1 billion
Capital city
: New Delhi
People : 72% Indo-Aryan, 25%
Dravidian, 3% other
Language : Hindi
Religion : 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2.4% Christian,
2% Sikh, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other
Government
: Federal Republic
GDP : US$1.7 trillion
GDP per head : US$1,720
Annual
growth : 5.4%
Inflation : 14%
Major industries : Textiles, chemicals, food processing,
steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery,
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle,
water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry, fish
Major
trading partners : US, Hong Kong, UK, Japan, Germany, Belgium,
Saudi Arabia
Culture : Religion seeps into
every facet of Indian life. Despite being a secular democracy, India is
one of the few countries on earth in which the social and religious
structures that define the nation's identity remain intact, and have
continued to do so for at least 4000 years despite invasions, persecution,
European colonialism and political upheaval.
The
Indian Flag : is made up of three horizontal bands of colour;
they are, (top to bottom), saffron yellow, white and green. The saffron
yellow symbolizes the spiritual nature of India, as saffron is the colour
worn by sadhus or Hindu holy men. The white bar symbolizes peace, while
green symbolizes wealth through agriculture. In the middle of the flag is
a blue wheel, symbolizing the importance of truth and honesty.
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