Indian Culture

INDIAN CULTURE

India is one of the ancient countries comparing to any other country in the world, which is very rich in its own culture. India has got the big phenomena of unity in multifarious diversities and multifarious diversity has got a unity. This means that though the external appearance of the people varies on different cultural forms, the 'Indian' spirit remains the same through out the country. The first and foremost thing to talk about culture is the civilization observed from the Old Stone Age to the present age. When we say somebody is civilized, that civilization either based on his or her literature or on his or her type of life. Individual regionalistic culture is depicted by the literature. The type of literatures first comes in the Tamil literature, then, Telegu and Malayalam followed by Kannada. These are the foremost languages in which they have existed without the aid of any other language. The type of dress adorn by the people of different parts of this country are as much colourful and varied to compromise with the climatic and the geographical conditions. The down South, where the temperature remains almost hot, the pattern of dressing is mainly divided into two parts, the ceremonial dresses and working dresses. In the ceremonial dresses, again the culture of the country based on weaving talents. From different weaving styles, one can promptly identify the place of origin of a particular dress in the country. The weaving at Kancheepuram is different from that of Banaras or Surat. In that way, it is worth knowing about the different weaving pattern of Kancheepuram, Banaras, Kashmir, Bengal, and Surat for the executive type of weaving in Zaris, Silks, pure cotton, wool and other materials. "Bidar" situated near Karnataka, predominantly occupied by Muslim community who weave superior quality clothing by hand. (The people at Dhaka in Bangladesh also do the same kind of weaving and there also most of the people belong to the Muslim community). To critically observe or get more knowledge about the culture, culture in persons, culture in individual behavior, culture in food habits and culture in day today work in India, one has to go to the remote parts of the country, i.e. the villages where the ancient culture is being observed as the entity of the varieties. In the semi-urban or urban states, it is impossible to find the true Indian culture of this country. So also, the jewels and ornaments adore by the people of this country varies from region to region. As much as the desire to adore them by jewels, the southern people have got a quenched thirst to adore with jewels to their gods and goddesses as deities than to themselves. The culture of this country has got strong belief in bestowing the most precious jewels in metals or that of a Navaratna to be adored on the deities. Such type of innumerable number of deities are even now available in remote villages where even the outskirt of the villages themselves do not know. There is a born instinct in differentiating the culture of regionalism and is only possible in the spirit of Indian culture alone which is not available in any other culture. However, the Keralite music can be perfectioned by a Tamil origin. The Tamil origins Bharatnatyam can be performed with more grace in Andhra Pradesh. Thyagabrahmams Keerthanas could be sung with more delicate taste by all these Southern Regional but the dressing culture, the food culture and any other culture remains individualistic and they are akin to that particular state to which they belong. The culture of Gurukulam. Though it has taken a pedigreeal concept all from guru to guru, it is restricted itself by imparting knowledge to high spiritual, vedic and ethical only. Some pedigree could not be established in day to day life. Therefore the Gummi, Kolattam and the street drama (Therukoothu), Ottamthullal of Kerala and the native dancing trends of Andhra Pradesh, the big drum festivals of Karnataka and the Veerasaiva sword twisting is restricted to the individual states only which has not spread to the other states. (TrueRishte)

Hindu Weddings

HINDU WEDDINGS

Hindu sacraments are called 'sanskars' and the sacraments performed at the time of a wedding are called 'Vivah Sanskar'.

This sanskar marks the start of the second and the most important stage of life called the 'Grihistha Ashrama' which involves setting up of a new family unit.

Two individuals who are considered to be compatible form a lifelong partnership at this ceremony in which the responsibilities and duties of a householder are explained.

The precise details and rituals performed in a wedding ceremony vary from region to region and often take several hours to complete.

The main stages of a Hindu wedding are:

• Jayamaala
  • Firstly, the bride's parents welcome the bridegroom and his family at the boundary of the house where the wedding is taking place. A red kum-kum (kind of powder) mark is applied to their forehead. Members from both families are formally introduced, marking the start of relationship between two families. The bride and the bridegroom then exchange garlands (jayamaala) and declare: "Let all the learned persons present here know, we are accepting each other willingly, voluntarily and pleasantly. Our hearts are concordant and united like waters."
• Madhu-Parka
  • The bridegroom is brought to a specially decorated altar called 'mandap' and offered a seat and a welcoming drink - a mixture of milk, ghee, yoghurt, honey and sugar.
• Gau Daan and Kanya Pratigrahan
  • 'Gau' means cow and 'Daan' means donation. Nowadays, the symbolic exchange of gifts, particularly clothes and ornaments takes place. The groom's mother gives an auspicious necklace (mangala sootra) to the bride. Mangla sootra is the emblem of marital status for a Hindu woman. 'Kanya' means the daughter and 'Pratigrahan' is an exchange with responsiveness on both sides. The bride's father declares that their daughter has accepted the bridegroom and requests them to accept her.

Vivaha-homa

A sacred fire is lit and the Purohit (Priest) recites the sacred mantras in Sanskrit. Oblations are offered to the fire whilst saying the prayers. The words "Id na mama" meaning "it is not for me" are repeated after the offerings. This teaches the virtue of selflessness required to run a family.

Paanigrahan

A sacred fire is lit and the Purohit (Priest) recites the sacred mantras in Sanskrit.

This is the ceremony of vows. The husband, holding his wife's hand, says "I hold your hand in the spirit of Dharma, we are both husband and wife".

Shilarohan and Laaja Homa

Shilarohan is climbing over a stone/rock by the bride which symbolises her willingness and strength to overcome difficulties in pursuit of her duties. Both gently walk around the sacred fire four times. The bride leads three times and the fourth time the groom leads. He is reminded of his responsibilities. The couple join their hands into which the bride's brothers pour some barley, which is offered to the fire, symbolising that they all will jointly work for the welfare of the society. The husband marks the parting in his wife's hair with red kumkum powder for the first time. This is called 'sindoor' and is a distinctive mark of a married Hindu woman.

Sapta-Padi

This is the main and the legal part of the ceremony. The couple walk seven steps reciting a prayer at each step. These are the seven vows which are exchanged. The first for food, the second for strength, the third for prosperity, the fourth for wisdom, the fifth for progeny, the sixth for health and the seventh for friendship. In some regions, in stead of walking the seven steps, the bride touches seven stones or nuts with her right toe. A symbolic matrimonial knot is tied after this ceremony.

A symbolic matrimonial knot is tied after this ceremony

Surya Darshan and Dhruva Darshan

The couple look at the Sun in order to be blessed with creative life. They look in the direction of the Dhruva (Polar star) and resolve to remain unshaken and steadfast like the Polar star.

Ashirvada (Blessings)

The couple are blessed by the elders and the priest for a long and prosperous married life.

It is important to clarify two misconceptions about Hindu marriages: arranged marriages and child marriages.

The couple are blessed by the elders and the priest for a long and prosperous married life

Hindu scriptures prohibit use of force or coercion in marriages.

Arranged marriages are based on agreement from both the bride and the groom, and should not be confused with forced marriages.

In the Vedic period, child marriages were strictly prohibited. Later, due to political and economical changes, some new social traditions started which deviated from the Vedic teachings.

Child marriages and the associated tradition of dowry were some of the deviations which reformist movements in modern times have attempted to correct. Child marriages are now banned by law in India, although reports suggest that the practice has not been eradicated.