Despite being only around one third the size of the U.S., India ranks as the world's
second-most populous country, as of 2011. The diverse Indian sub-continent
remained under foreign rule from the beginning of the 19th century until the
end of the British Raj in 1947. In addition to colonial influences, Indian art
and entertainment take inspiration from the country's major religions --
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
Music
India
has a long tradition of folk music stretching back thousands of years.
Musicians employ a bewildering array of instruments to inspire a frenzy of
dance in the listeners. Bhangra music originated in the Punjab
region to celebrate a festival of the Sikhs and makes use of the dhol, guitar,
bass, sitar, tumbi, violin, sarangi, dhad, dafli, damru and dholki. Dandiya
music -- played to accompany dancing -- appears mostly in the state of Gujrat.
Uttarakhandi folk music concerns the cultural heritage of the people of
Uttarakhand. Other traditions of interest include the music of Haryana and
Lavani.
Cinema
Indian produces the most films of any nation in the world, according to
WordIQ.com, and its movie industry played a major role in shaping India's post-independence
identity. Each of India's
major languages supports its own film industry, but most tourists possess
familiarity with the Hindi/Urdu film-making commonly known as
"Bollywood." Less well-known neologisms include "Kollywood"
for the Tamil film industry, "Tollywood" for Telugu and
"Tollygunge" for the Bengali. Most urban areas have cinemas worth
visiting, even if just to witness the enthusiasm of the audience.
Festivals
India's
many festivals are notable for their color, gaiety and size. Diwali celebrates
the Lord Rama and Sita's return from exile and occurs between mid-October and
mid-November, with fireworks, lamp-lighting, feasting and dance. The nation
commemorates its independence across the country on August 15. Holi -- another
nationwide festival -- celebrates the beginning of summer, as revelers burst
water-filled balloons to offset the heat.
Sport
India's sporting history
dates back to the second and first millennium B.C, with badminton and polo both
thought to have originated in India.
With field hockey as the official national sport, the country's Olympic team
has bagged eight gold medals as of 2011. Cricket -- a national obsession
brought to the country by the British -- offers many domestic competitions,
such as the Deodhar, Irani, Duleep or Ranji trophies, and the Challenger
Series.
Art
Produced in India
from around the third millennium B.C., the nation's art possesses a sensuous,
voluptuous aesthetic rarely found in traditional Western art. Artwork falls
into four periods -- the ancient period, between 3500 B.C. and 1200 A.D.; the
Islamic ascendancy, from 1192 to 1757; the Colonial period, between 1757 and
1947; and the independent period, beginning in 1947. Galleries, museums and
street-side folk art all provide examples of the nation's artistic diversity
and color.
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