Importance of Indian culture is known around the globe due to its multiplicity in art, music, dance, language, food, cuisine, Philosophy, and literature. The significant characteristics of Indian culture are civilized communication, beliefs, customs, and values. It is said that unity is the essence of civilization; a government that controls its people through unity and love.
There are numerous evidences that prove that Indian society is rich with varied diversity. A variety of diversified traditions, belief systems, customs and values help in preserving the richness of Indian culture. The unity of various religions, dialects, geographical location, geographical boundaries and social harmony is one of the key features of Indian society. The unity of the people is reflected in their traditions, which are the core values, of Indian culture. It is the core value of Indian culture that has made it different from all other civilizations.
Unity of the cultural traditions and rituals is evident in their religious beliefs, practices, and observances. Hinduism and Buddhism are some of the oldest and most influential religions in India. All these religions are founded on a set of principles that include:
India is known for its diversity, especially in the area of religion. Many Hindu societies have been founded on principles such as: “God is Omniscient in creation”. The most dominant religions of India include: Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Islam. The dominant cultural diversity is seen in the following traditions:
A variety of celebrations are observed in Indian cultures. Different regions of India celebrate different festivals with distinctive style. They are seasonal in nature and are related to the weather. The most popular festivals observed in India include: Diwali, Holi, Id, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Vaisakhi, Ganesh Chathurthi, Dussehra, Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, Ramzan, and many more. In India, every region celebrates its festivals differently. For example, in the Southern part of India, people celebrate Vaisakhi, on the day of prosperity while in the Northern India, people celebrate Diwali.
The unity of the customs and beliefs is also reflected in their food habits. Food plays an important role in the culture of an Indian. They are known to be conservative in their beliefs and customs regarding food. There is no room for experiments and innovation in their food culture. Indians follow four types of diets according to the region. These are: vegetarian diet, non-vegetarian diet, lacto-vegetarian diet, and lacto ovo-lacto vegetarian diet.
The three components of the Indian tradition-its beliefs, rituals and cuisine-along with its history has helped to shape the very essence of the Indian culture. The fact that there is a great amount of diversity and similarities between the Indian traditions reflects the richness of Indian culture. It is evident from the following facts. The first fact highlights the cultural unity of India, as its history, customs and beliefs are all of equal importance to each other; the second fact highlights the rich diversity of Indian tradition, as the three components are of different origin and have distinct features; and the third fact refers to the existence of parallel customs existing in the North and South, thus, showing the continuity of the tradition across the border.
According to the study of ethnic identities in India, it was found that about 58% of the population of India consists of individuals who are of purebred Indian races. Thus, the above-mentioned data clearly indicate that the core essence of Indian traditions lies in the core areas of geographical location, ethnicity and genetics. Hence, it can be concluded that Indian culture is not based on any one single factor but exists in various shades and tones across the country. However, the rise in the number of settlers in the early years of British colonization may have been responsible for giving rise to some of the more chauvinistic customs prevalent in India.