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Rajasthani woman in Ghagra Choli

The traditional Lungi originated in the South and men from all parts of India wear it. It is simply a short length of material worn around the thighs like a Sarong. A Dhoti is a longer Lungi but with an additional length of material pulled up between the legs. Men of Northern India wear pyjama-like trousers.

Being most utilitarian and multi purpose, the Sari is reigning among both urban and rural females for all rituals and ceremonies. The silk saris, brightly mirrored cholis, colorful Lehangas and the traditional Salwar- Kameez catch anybody's fancy.

The sari can be best called the National dress of the Indian woman. A sari is a rectangular piece of cloth of about 5 to 6 yards in length without any stitches but for the borders. The style, texture and color of the cloth may vary but the sari has an ageless charm. This graceful attire can be worn in different ways and it denotes the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman in India. The sari is worn in at least 10 or 15 styles like Gujarathi style, Bengali, Mangalorean, Kannadiga, Kodava, Tamilian, Malayali, etc.

Indian woman in Sari

Raja Ravi Verma, the distinguished painter of the 19th century toured the whole of India in search of an ideal female wear and he selected the sari as the best attire for the Goddesses in his paintings. He selected the sari, as it drapes the body beautifully and at the same time exhibits the contours of the female anatomy- the bust, the waist and the hips.

The sari is more than 5000 years old and it is found mentioned in the Vedas (3000 B.C). The sari has survived well for long and it is worn by around 75% of the female population in India. Rani Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Jhansi, is said to have fought her enemy troops on horseback, wearing a sari! The warm and humid clime of India favors the sari as the best Indian female attire.

Punjabi men in Kurta and Lungi

The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli and it evolved during the 10th century A.D. Apart from the choli, the Rajasthani women wear a form of pleated skirt called Ghagra or Lehanga. The skirt is secured at the waist and the back and midriff are bared. A length of cotton -cloth called Dupatta covers the head. Another popular attire of the Indian women is the Salwar-Kameez. This developed in Kashmir and Punjab and is now worn throughout the length and breadth of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn tightly at the waist and ankles with a long and loose tunic over it, called the Kameez. A churidhar is similar to the salwar but is tight fitting at the hips, thighs and ankles. Over this, a collarless or mandarin collar tunic called a Kurta is worn.

CUISINE OF INDIA

The Indian cuisine is as diverse as its culture. The cuisine varies according to the geographical location and the climate of the region. The Indian cookery skill lies in the perfect blending of the various spices available, which are used as appetizers and digesters.

Besides spices the main ingredients of Indian cooking consists of milk and milk-based products, lentils and the staple food of rice and wheat. Vegetables vary widely across the regions and so are the vegetarian dishes like the Sarson ka saag in Punjab and the Sambhar in Tamilnadu.

Koftas and Kababs

Hinduism and Islam are the two main religions that have contributed to the diverse cuisine culture in India. The invaders also brought their techniques and this blended with the Indian cuisine to make it a perfect one. The Portuguese, the Persians and the British made important contributions to the Indian culinary scene. The Hindus are traditionally vegetarians while some have now taken to meat items. The Muslims are famous for their Mughlai food, Kababs, Kormas, Koftas, Biryani and tandoori items.

North Indian meal mainly consists of Chapathis and rotis and parathas accompanied by dals, vegetables, curd, chutneys and pickles. The tail- end desserts include rasgullas, sandesh, and gulab jamuns. They are mostly milk -based. Kheer, shahi Tukra and Kulfi are the other common North Indian dessert items.

South Indian dishes - Dosa and Idli

South Indians have rice as the staple food. It is served with sambhar, rasam- a thin soup, vegetables and curd. South India is also known for its Idli- which are steamed rice cakes, Dosa- rice pancakes, vada-made of fermented rice and dal. Kerala is famous for its appams- rice pancakes and fish-based curries. Andhra is known for its hot and spicy curries. Desserts from the South include the Payasam -a form of Kheer from rice and Mysore Pak.

Indians usually round their meals with paan or betel leaves, which go with arecanut, cardamom, etc, which serve as digestive spices.

PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage has become a part and parcel of the cultural heritage of India. Our history is interwoven with worship and pilgrimage. Besides giving great source of spiritual and moral enrichment, pilgrimage leads to zest, variety, color and grandeur to a dull and drab and insipid routine. The Indian becomes more vibrant and dynamic after a good pilgrimage. In fact pilgrimage and the related fasts are cathartic in nature. They are a means of purification and they strengthen the spirit within.

The lofty Himalayas, the sacred Ganga, the holy Cauvery, the crystal-like Tunghabhadra have all been cherished pilgrim spots of India from time immemorial. There are numerous other pilgrim spots belonging to different religions and faith in India, which attract large faithful and devout crowds throughout the year.

Hinduism - The Rath Yatra, which takes place in the town of Puri in Orissa attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the country. It is a ceremonial procession of huge chariots bearing Lord Jagannath, his brother and sister wherein stout ropes by ardent pilgrims pull the chariots.

The Kumbh Mela is also a great pilgrimage, wherein the Mela takes place once in every 12 years at different places. A sea of pilgrims takes the ritual bath in the holy waters of the Ganges during this visit.

There are also numerous pilgrim spots which are frequented by the pious Hindu in India like Kasi, Rameshwaram, Haridwar, Dwaraka, etc and rivers like Cauvery Yamuna, etc.

Jainism - Once in every 12 years the ritual anointing of the statue of the Jain saint Gomateshwara takes place at Shravanbelagola, a tiny village in the state of Karnataka. For the Jain pilgrims it is a very sacred and significant occasion, who gather in thousands to anoint the statue with an offering of milk, honey and butter.

The Jains also visit other Jain pilgrim centers situated in Gujarat and other places as part of their pilgrimage.

Islam - For the Muslims the greatest pilgrim center is Mecca, for which a visit once in their lifetime is considered very meritorious. In India, the Jama Masjid in Delhi is of great significance. The Muslims visit and offer Namaz regularly at their respective Durgahs and Masjids.

Christians - For the Christians in India, there are some regional pilgrim centers with which they attach great sanctity and reverence. Usually they pray in their respective churches and Cathedrals. Some places like the Velankanni church in Tanjore District of Tamilnadu are places with healing powers according to the Christian pilgrims.  

Sikhs -The Sikhs attach great importance with the Golden temple at Amritsar in the State of Punjab. Most of them visit this temple at least once during their life. They also undertake pilgrimage to other Gurdwaras located at different places in India.