Top 10 Things India is Known for.

1. Diversity

India is a country of diversity. Diversity represents India, India represents diversity. In terms of language, culture, ideologies, religion, states, traditions, clothing, customs, festivals, food and people India is a nation of diversity. After every few kilometers the language changes, after crossing every state the clothing is different, after every few miles people eat different food, there is variety of religions practiced here, every religion hast their own customs, traditions and festivals and every person has a different ideology. India’s diversity is just too much for an outsider and therefore certainly something it is mostly known for. India’s diversity is her beauty. India’s diversity is her definition. India’s diversity is her identity.

 2. Festivals

India is known all over the world for the hundreds of festivals Indians celebrate. They are so rich and attractive that every year hundreds of foreigners come to India during festive times, only to get a glimpse of the traditional Indian celebrations. Every state and region has its own festivals. To name some – Holy, Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, Durga Puja, Onam, Pongal, Baisakhi, Makar Sankranti, Naag Panchami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Karwa Chauth, Lohri, Eid, Christmas, Bhai Dooj, Chhat, Janmaashtmi, are popular festivals celebrated in India. Not only do people from different states but also the people following different religions like Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Jainism, and Buddhism, find a place for their individual festivals in India.

 3. Vastness

India is vast. India is the second most populous country in the world and the largest democracy. Indian Secularism has an independent meaning, differing from western secularism. India is the seventh largest country in terms of land area. India indeed is vast. It accommodates many differences into one united nation. India is vast in every aspect, be it her history, geography, population, diversity or democracy.

 4. Heritage

There are thirty World Heritage Sites in India recognized by the UNESCO. India is one of the countries having the most number of tourist spots. Every state has its own tourist attractions. While there are lakes, desserts, forests, monuments, museums, temples, churches, mosques, gurudwaras, beaches and mountains to be seen and visited, there are many art forms, like sculpture, dance and music that are indigenous to India. Where ever you go in India, there is something to be seen, something to experience. While talking of Indian heritage we cannot miss the fact that Taj Mahal, an Indian heritage site is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

 

5. Mahatma Gandhi

The father of the nation- Mahatma Gandhi is one definite person/reason to identify India. He has an inevitable role in making India a free country and giving her a set of ideologies. His non-violent freedom struggle movements and ideologies like Satyagraha, Salt March and Civil Disobedience played a major role in the Indian Independence. Today he is honored by the world as one of the greatest leaders of all times and represents India even after many years of his death.

 

 

6. History

India has a great history. It is a foundation of one of the ancient most civilizations of the world- the Indus valley civilization which was followed by another civilization called the Iron Age. Moreover it has been ruled by many emperors, like the Mughals, who ruled India from 1526-1707. Another major rule in India was of the British. For years India remained a British colony and suffered in many ways. Though the Indian history also has many glorious parts to it, for example there is a long list of brave freedom fighters who struggled to attain freedom. Also India is the origin of many religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism that now has followers all across the world. India is also the mother of many inventions and inventors.  Hence, when talking about India, its rich history can never be overlooked.

 

7. Family Values

There are some countries that are known primarily to preach family values. India is undoubtedly in the list of those countries. India may have declined in the number of joint families, but it still leads in keeping family ties, preaching high family values, living together, maintain family relationships and carrying forward old family customs.

 

 

8. Poverty

Another point on the list of awful things India is known for will be her poverty. India is one of the poorest countries in the world. The site of poor beggars, rag pickers, homeless children and slums is common throughout every state and city in the country. The biggest cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata too can’t escape these sites of poverty. India may have developed in many ways but it is still fighting poverty and has a long way to go to overcome it. It is known for being a poor country all across the world.

 

 

9. Patriarchy

While there is a long list of things to celebrate about India there is also a bill of sad realities to deal with. One of them is patriarchy. India is one of those countries that have a patriarchal set up even in the 21^st century. The father is the head of a typical Indian family. The man is still the protector, decision-maker and controller of most Indian families. While other practices like typical arranged marriages, dowry system, rapes, female-feticide and domestic hostility to women are all a result of this patriarchal setting. The situations have definitely changed and millions of families accept and honour women as equals, though there is still a lot of misogyny in the Indian society and women are suffering the evils of patriarchy in large numbers every day. 

10. Caste system

One of the many vices of Indian society is something it is known for – the caste system. Since the ancient ages our society has been discriminatory. One major basis of discrimination is the caste-system that exists here. Indians have always discriminated on the basis of castes, categorizing some castes as the upper caste and some as the lower caste. Among the Hindus especially there is a major discriminatory stencil of the caste division. Among the various caste and sub castes that exist in the society some are regarded as inferior while some superior. Many things follow. This system is very unique to Indian society and something known across the world.