Indian culture is full of rich and varied heritage due to its values, traditions, cultural norms, and vivid variety of art forms, that originated or linked with the heritage in anyways. India has the largest collection of music forms, tastes, food varieties traditions, performing arts, and most importantly their way of living differs from region to region. Due to its largest collections of vividness, it is also called as “Intangible Cultural Heritage” (ICH) of humanity.

Indian art and culture had a long history since Indus Valley Civilization, and even before when Britishers ruled our country in the 19th century.

Indian Philosophy

The earliest Hindu philosophy was prepared and decoded by the Hindu Vedic philosopher Yajnavalkya, who was the earliest philosopher after Aruni in the 8th century BCE. There were many authors who came after, who gave their own theories related to the traditional philosophies their way. Two of them were Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

The religions

Indian religions mainly based on two concepts of dharma and karma. Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christian, and Buddhism, are the major religions follow by most of the Indians, rest originate regionally state-wise like Marwari, Mewari, Rajasthani in Rajasthan, Gujarati in Gujarat, pahadi in mountain areas, and Bhojpuri, Bihari in Bihar state.

India is the birthplace of these main 5 religions, and collectively they are called  Indian religions. Hinduism and Buddhism are the world’s third and fourth-largest religions, with over 2.5 to 2.6 billion people altogether. And up to 80-82% population of India, are devotees under Indian religions- Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs, and Jains.

Although, there are many religions in India, and as a secular Hindu majority country, it has the largest Muslim population, in many states including, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh.

Culture

Indians follow many religions, and almost every religion has its own unique cultures and festivals, including Diwali, Pongal, Christmas, Gurupurab, Eid, etc.

Being a multicultural and multi-religious society, India celebrates festivals and holidays of various religions. There are 3 National holidays, Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti apart from other religious festivals from various states and cultures, that celebrate in whole India with great zeal, prosperity, and unity. Due to its extended diversity, India celebrates a variety of vividness, the government also provides some special concessions and facilities for celebrating festivals with equality and peace, maintaining every possible security.

Pongal festival from Kerala, celebrated with great enthusiasm

Holi, celebrated in march by Hindus, applying colours to each other

Gurupurab, religious festival of Sikhs

Eid celebrated by Muslims, almost every year

Diwali, on the victory of Lord Rama

Music

The two main musical forms followed are Classical and folk and nowadays rock music and rap music are also in trend. Folk music varies from region to region and state. Every area has its own folk music similar to their native language and life history connected along with deep meaning and messages.

Classical, on the other hand, need more practice and patience and good training of course with proper sur and raag about the music, along with a deeper understanding of every beats and taal.

Nowadays, even rock and rap music is also trending, with some uniqueness.

Indian Art Forms

Indian diversity has its roots spreading everywhere around the world. Along with the largest variety of music, beliefs, customs and traditions even Indian art forms has its own uniqueness when it comes to detailing and messages and the canvas it has been encarved at various locations.

The uncarve paintings are basically murals and miniatures.- Murals are carve on walls explaining the history, we are made up of, some famous murals is in Ajantha, Thiruvarur, etc. Miniatures, on the other side, is similar to the name itself miniature- means mini in size painted on paper or any cloth material, the example of this is Madhubani paintings.

Madhubani painting image

Conclusion

The Indian heritage is not something one can end up in just some pages, with a conclusion. Indian art and culture, religion are vast, with a wide variety of uniqueness in every aspect. Summing up in just a few words or qualities is not possible.  The only possible way to expand is an unbreakable connection with your roots, in order to protect your culture and traditions.