| Introduction | | | | Jainism, with the freedom for citizens to practice any |
| India is a diverse country, a fact that is visibly | | | | religion they want to. The Constitution of India has |
| prominent in its people, culture and climate. From the | | | | recognized 22 different languages, out of which, Hindi |
| eternal snows of the Himalayas to the cultivated | | | | is the official language and is spoken in most of the |
| peninsula of far South, from the deserts of the West | | | | urban cities of India. Other than these 22 languages, |
| to the humid deltas of the East, from the dry heat | | | | there are hundreds of dialects that add to the |
| and cold of the Central Plateau to the cool forest | | | | multilingual nature of the country. |
| foothills, Indian lifestyles clearly glorify its geography. | | | | India is a land of festivals and fairs. Virtually |
| There was a time when India was known as the land | | | | celebrating each day of the year, there are more |
| of snake charmers. Then people started identifying it | | | | festivals celebrated in India than anywhere else in the |
| as the land having the majestic Taj, the ferocious | | | | world. Each festival pertains to different occasions, |
| Tiger and the great desert of Thar. But with each | | | | some welcome the seasons of the year, the |
| turn that the wheel of time took, Indians have | | | | harvest, the rains, or the full moon. Others celebrate |
| proved to be a lot more. From time immemorial, India | | | | religious occasions, the birthdays of divine beings and |
| has been seen as a mystery land. A land full of | | | | saints, or the advent of the New Year. A number of |
| paradoxes, it causes travelers to marvel and also to | | | | these festivals are common to most parts of India. |
| despair during their journey through India. Like an | | | | However, they may be called by different names in |
| enigmatic lady, India has always attracted the | | | | various parts of the country or may be celebrated in |
| attention of the world for various reasons. | | | | a different fashion. Some of the festivals celebrated |
| The famous traveler and writer, Mark Twain, wrote | | | | all over India are mentioned below. |
| after his sojourn through India in 1896: "So far as I | | | | · Janmashtami |
| am able to judge nothing has been left undone, either | | | | · Holi |
| by man or nature, to make India the most | | | | · Dassehera |
| extraordinary country that the sun visits on his round. | | | | · Christmas |
| Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing | | | | · Rakshabandhan |
| overlooked. Always, when you think you have come | | | | · Deepawali |
| to the end of her tremendous specialties and have | | | | · Id-ul-Zuha |
| finished hanging tags upon her as the Land of Giant | | | | · Ramnavami |
| Illusions, the Land of Stupendous Mountains and so | | | | · Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| forth, another specialty crops up or another tag is | | | | Science |
| required." It was best, he decided, to discard the | | | | The global image of India is that of an upcoming and |
| labels and call it simply the Land of Wonders. | | | | progressive nation. True, India has leaped many |
| Heritage & Culture | | | | boundaries in all sectors- commerce, technology and |
| The Indian culture varies like its vast geography. | | | | development etc., in the recent past, yet she has not |
| People speak in different languages, dress differently, | | | | neglected her creative genius. Wondering what it is? |
| follow different religions, eat different food but are | | | | Well, it the alternative science that has been |
| of the same temperament. So whether it is a joyous | | | | continuously practiced in India since times immemorial. |
| occasion or a moment of grief, people participate | | | | Ayurveda is a distinct form of medicine made purely |
| whole-heartedly, sharing the happiness or pain. A | | | | of herbs and natural weeds, which can cure any |
| festival or a celebration is never constrained to a | | | | ailment of the world. Ayurveda has also been |
| family or a home. The whole community or | | | | mentioned in the Ancient Indian epics like the |
| neighborhood is involved in bringing liveliness to an | | | | Ramayana. Even today, when the western concept |
| occasion. Likewise, an Indian wedding is a celebration | | | | of medicine has reached its zenith, there are people |
| of union, not only of the bride and groom, but also of | | | | looking for alternative methods of treatment for its |
| two families, maybe cultures or religion too! Similarly, | | | | multifarious qualities. |
| in times of sorrow, neighbors and friends play an | | | | With increasing complexities in one's life these days, |
| important part in easing out the grief. | | | | people are perpetually looking for a medium through |
| Over the ages, India has experienced hundreds of | | | | which they get some peace of mind. This is where |
| years of foreign invasions and influence, yet it still | | | | another science, that of meditation and spirituality |
| manages to absorb and change everything the world | | | | comes into the scene. Meditation and Yoga are |
| cares to impose on it, remaining at its core | | | | synonymous with India and Indian spirituality. |
| untouched. If anything, it has developed into a | | | | Meditation is one of the most important components |
| multi-linguistic, home for masses of many religions. | | | | of Yoga, which is a mind-body therapy involving a |
| Although India has modernized to a great extent, old | | | | series of exercises. The word 'meditation' covers |
| traditions and ancient cultural rhythms continue to | | | | many disparate practices from visualizing situations, |
| have a strong hold over the functioning of the nation. | | | | focusing on objects or images, thinking through a |
| Since ancient times, the spiritual land of India has | | | | complex idea, or even getting lost in a provocative |
| displayed varied hues of culture, religion, race, | | | | book, all qualifying as meditation in the broad sense. |
| language, and so on. This variety in race, culture, | | | | However in Yoga, meditation generally refers to the |
| religion, etc., accounts for the existence of different | | | | more formal practice of focusing the mind and |
| ethnic groups who, although, live within the sanctums | | | | observing oneself in the moment. Many people from |
| of one single nation, and profess different social | | | | India and abroad are resorting to yoga and |
| habits and characteristics. Regional territories in India | | | | meditation to de-stress and rejuvenate their mind. |
| play an important role in differentiating these ethnic | | | | Another widely followed phenomena in India is the |
| groups, with their own social and cultural identities. | | | | Doctrine of Karma, that preaches that every person |
| The religions that are prevalent in the country are | | | | should behave justly as every act or deed comes |
| Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and | | | | back in a full circle in one of the births of an individual. |