Indian Culture and tradition have now become famous all over the world. We all consider the customs and traditions of India to be very varied and unique. But sometimes we give a thought to why things are done in certain definite ways. Indian culture is full of some unique customs and traditions, which outsiders might find interesting. Most of these originate from the Ancient Indian scriptures and texts, which have said the way of life in India for thousands of years.

1.    Greeting - The Namaste

The Namaste is one of the most popular Indian customs and isn't just limited to the Indian territory anymore. Barack Obama who has been seen doing this on various occasions, and Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary-General, greeting everyone with a Namaste at the Times Square in New York on the first International Yoga Day.

2.    Language

India is social, cultural, and linguistically very diverse. Hindi and English are generally spoken and recognised for official purposes. Other than, there are 22 scheduled languages accepted by the constitution of India. However, more than 400 languages and vernaculars in India are still not known. Dialects change even with a few kilometres of travel in the state. Over the years, about 190 languages have become rare due to very few surviving speakers. 

3.    Festival and religious

India also sees a huge number of festivals, mainly because of the spreading of diverse religions and groups. The Muslims celebrate Eid, the Christians have Christmas and Good Friday, the Sikhs have Baisakhi, and the birth date of their Gurus and the Hindus have Diwali, Holi, Makar Sakranti, Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishna Janmasthmi, and the Jains have Mahavir Jayanti, the Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's birthday on Buddha Poornima, and quite honestly, the number is endless.

4.    Costume of India

Indian women are mostly seen in 'saris'. The sari is a single cloth and needs no stitching; it is easy to make and comfortable to wear, and also follows religious culture. The same applies to the more functional 'Kurta-Pyjama', and the formal wear of 'Sherwani' for Indian men of all religions.

5.    Sweets of India

India takes special proud in its desserts and sweets. They’re amazing, colourful, and mouth-watering. Like gulab jamun, kaju katri, rasgulla, mishit doi, gajar ka halwa, besan laddu, kulfi, milk peda, kheer, ras malai, malpua, soan papdi, and jalebi many more.

6.    Symbols – fasting

Fasting is an important part of Hindu Culture. Fasts, Vrats, or Upvas are a way to represent your honesty and resolution, or express your gratitude to the Gods and Goddesses. People across the country keep fast on various religious occasions. Some people also observe fast on different days of the week in favour of a particular God or Goddess related with that specific day. It is generally believed that by doing so, you are divesting your body of a basic necessity and thus, punishing yourself to clean off the sins that you have committed until the day of the fast.

7.    Marriage

The concept of arranged marriage has been going on in India since the Vedic period.  In royal families, a ceremony known as 'swayamvar' was held for the bride. Suitable princes were invited from all over the kingdom and contests were held to win the bride, or the bride herself would choose her ideal husband. Even today, the concept of arranged marriage remains a favourite among all Indian religions and is an integral part of 'Indian Traditions'.

8.    Dance

India is the land of 'Unity in Diversity, and our dance reflects the same also. Different forms of dance find origin from different state of the country, and they are a way of representing of the particular culture from which they originate. We have eight classical dance forms wherein a dancer or performer narrates an entire story, almost entirely and exclusively through gestures. They are as follows Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Kuchipudi,Oddisi,Manipuri or many more.

9.    Cuisine- Indian food

Indian food and cuisine not only form an integral part of the culture of India but are also one of the precarious factors of India's popularity worldwide. The style of cooking varies from region to region, though universally, Indian food has a significant reputation for its extensive use of spices and herbs. Just like dances, religious practices, language, and clothes, you will also find a huge variety of food throughout the country. Almost every region has its own signature dish or ingredient.

However, the nation consists mostly of rice, wheat, and Chana. While vegetarian food is an essential part of Gujrati South Indian and Rajasthani cuisines, non-vegetarian dishes form a central part of Mughlai, Bengali, North Indian, and Punjabi cuisine. It is also interesting to note that specific cuisines like that of Kashmir have also been following by foreign cooking styles from Central Asia, Persia, and Afghanistan.

10.          Indian sports – Hockey 

In 1925, the Indian Hockey Federation was founded. In New Zealand, where they played 21 matches and won 18, drew 2, and lost 1 of them, the Indians made their entry into international hockey. Although hockey is not India’s national sport, this victory helped India’s hockey team stand out amongst other countries.