Thursday 22 November 2012

Essay On Indian Culture

Source:-(google.com.pk)
Essay On Indian Culture Biography
What is culture? Culture is a particular way of lire of a certain group of people. It includes their beliefs, their religion and their social values and customs. The Indian culture is as diverse as the country of 1 billion is itself! Religion, beliefs, caste and social values and customs between different regions have influenced the peoples eating habits in India.
Many different religions can be found in India as it is a secular country and the people are able to practice the faith of their choice. Some of these religions are the Hindi religion which comprises of 80% of the population the Sikh religion that numbers at approximately 18 million and Buddhism that comprises of roughly 6.6 million people.
Hinduism is one of the oldest living faiths in the world and it forms the ethos of the majority of Indians. Hinduism contains a number of sacred texts, which contain hymns, prayers and philosophical discussions. The Hindi religion advocates the pursuit of four goals these goals are; dharma- righteous living, artha- wealth and prosperity, Kama- love and happiness and Moshka which means the release from the cycle of births and deaths, the Hindi religion also consists of a number of rituals and beliefs. In the Hindi religion the cow is seen as the divine mother; the cow is also believed to be the source of life as it provides life-sustaining milk. The cow is also seen as the symbol of fertility. The Hindi religion also associates every god with an animal; Shiva with the bull and Ganesha with the elephant. This association of the Hindu gods with the animals in India is one of the reasons why most Hindi's abstain from the consumption of meat.
Gautama Budda founded Buddhism in the 6th century A.D. Like many other religions Buddhism was gradually absorbed into the Hindi religion and Buddha eventually became one of the numerous reincarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. A Majority of the Buddhist community in India live in Maharashta in western India. Orthodox Buddhist followers are generally lacto- vegetarians who abstain from the consumption of eggs, fish, chicken and meat products, the dominance of the Buddhist religion in the region of Maharashtra has not generally had a significant impact on the food in this region as Maharashtra is well known for it's hot, aromatic meat and fish curries however Maharastra is also known for it's subtly flavoured vegetarian delicacies which could be a result of the Buddhist influence in this coastal state of India.
The Indian culture has been moulded and significantly influenced by the diverse amount of religions that can be freely practiced in India. The different types of religions in India have impacted greatly on the types of food that the Indian people consume as well as the cuisine of the region in which a majority of religions adherents can be found.
The Indian peoples eating habits have been affected by the beliefs and the customs of the Indian society and consequently there are many different beliefs about food in the Indian community. Spices, milk products, meat, lentils, vegetables and other food items are believed to possess different qualities and attributes, which they in turn pass on to the consumer. It is commonly believed that meat; alcohol and other highly fermented foods cause laziness and greed in the consumer. Rich oily foods with an excess of spice or sugar are generally considered to cause a quick temper and a love of luxury as they are generally considered to be royal foods by the Indian community. It is also widely believed by the Indian people that milk products, fresh vegetables, lentils, fruits, nuts and cereals sharpen the mind and help to calm the body. Throughout most of India herbs and spices are believed to act as stimulants, digestives, tonics or antiseptics. One such herb is Asafoetida, which is considered to be beneficial for wind and acidity problems. This belief results in a pinch of asafoetida being added to most Indian dishes.
India's social and religious institutions have remained relatively the same despite all attempts to change or destroy them; this is true for India's caste system, which still controls the lifestyles of the Indian people today. In the caste system birth indicates a person's social status. The Highest caste is the Brahmans, which is otherwise known as the priestly caste. The next caste down is the Kshatrigas and it is from this caste that India's rulers and warriors come from. India's Merchants and artisans all belonged to the Vaisyas caste while the servants and Manual labourers all came from the Sudra caste. The lowest caste in the caste system is the Panchamas; the untouchables the majority of these people belong to no caste. A person's caste often determines their profession and the people that they are allowed to associate with. The caste system created social disparities and often resulted in the exploitation of the underprivileged. In India a person's caste and lineage affects their dress styles, food habits and their lifestyles. In India the Brahmans often set the eating and dietary habits for the other castes. A Brahmin often eats alone or in a small pure square. Before the meal is started the image of a deity is brought to the kitchen for offerings. In India food is considered to possess either `sattvic', `tasamic' or `rajasic' qualities. Brahmans and Vaisyas have a `sattvic' diet, which includes fruits, milk, honey, roots and vegetables. The Sudra community consume meats other than beef that are considered to possess the `tamasic' qualities these qualities include dullness, stupidity, and a lack of creativity. The Kshatrigas castes however live on a rajasic diet; the rajasic qualities are passion, pride, and valour. The Rajasic diet includes some kinds of meats more commonly deer, and mutton.
India's food is influenced by religion, social values, caste and customs, which adheres to the strict traditions and practices of not only dietary but also preparation and consumption of the cooked food.
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
Essay On Indian Culture
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