INDIA A

Great

Country

Introduction India , officially the India , officially the

Republic of India, is a Republic of India, is a country in country in South Asia. It is . It is the the seventh-largest country country by geographical area, the by geographical area, the second-most populous country with country with over 1.2 billion people, and , and the most populous the most populous democracy in the world. democracy in the world. Bounded by the Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the on the south, the Arabian Sea on the on the southwest, and the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the on the southeast, it shares land southeast, it shares land borders with borders with Pakistan to to the west; the west; Bhutan, , thethe

People's Republic of China and and Nepal to the northeast; and to the northeast; and Bangladesh and and Burma to the eastto the east. . In the Indian Ocean, India In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the and the Maldives; in addition, ; in addition, India's India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border share a maritime border with with Thailand and and Indonesia..

Physical FeaturesIndia is bounded to the India is bounded to the

southwest by the southwest by the Arabian Sea, , to the southeast by the to the southeast by the Bay of Bengal, and to the south , and to the south by the by the Indian Ocean. . Kanyakumari is the southern is the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. The tip of the Indian peninsula. The southernmost point in India is southernmost point in India is Indira Point, in the , in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands..

The Maldives, The Maldives, Sri Lanka and and Indonesia are island nations to are island nations to the south of India. Sri Lanka is the south of India. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the narrow and the narrow channel of channel of Palk Strait. The . The territorial waters of India territorial waters of India extend into the sea to a extend into the sea to a distance of 12 distance of 12 nautical miles (13.8 mi; 22.2 km) measured (13.8 mi; 22.2 km) measured from thefrom the

appropriate baseline. Climate across India ranges from appropriate baseline. Climate across India ranges from equatorial in the far south, to equatorial in the far south, to alpine in the upper reaches of in the upper reaches of the Himalayas.the Himalayas.

Political FeaturesIndia's borders run a total India's borders run a total

length of 15,106.70 km length of 15,106.70 km (9,387 mi). Its borders with (9,387 mi). Its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh were Pakistan and Bangladesh were delineated according to the delineated according to the Radcliffe Line, which was , which was created in 1947 during created in 1947 during Partition of India. Its western . Its western border with Pakistan extends up border with Pakistan extends up to 3,323 km (2,065 mi), dividing to 3,323 km (2,065 mi), dividing the the Punjab region and running and running along the boundaries of the along the boundaries of the Thar Desert and the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch. Both nations delineated Kutch. Both nations delineated a a Line of Control (LoC) to serve (LoC) to serve as the informal boundary as the informal boundary between the Indian and between the Indian and Pakistan-administered areas of Pakistan-administered areas of Kashmir. According to India's Kashmir. According to India's claim, it alsoclaim, it also

shares a 106 km (66 mi) border with Afghanistan in shares a 106 km (66 mi) border with Afghanistan in northwestern Kashmir, which is under Pakistani control.northwestern Kashmir, which is under Pakistani control.

Indian DressFor men, traditional clothes are For men, traditional clothes are

the the kurta. In south India men wear . In south India men wear long, white sheets of cloth. In long, white sheets of cloth. In north Indian languages like north Indian languages like Hindi, , Marathiand and Oriya these are these are called dhoti, while in called dhoti, while in Tamil they are called they are called veshti. Over the veshti. Over the dhoti, men wear dhoti, men wear shirts, t-shirts, or shirts, t-shirts, or anything else.anything else.Traditional Indian clothing for women are

the saris or the salwar kameez and also gaghra cholis (lehengas). Saris made out of silk are the considered the most elegant. Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is one of India's fashion capitals. In some village parts of India, traditional clothing is worn. Women wear a sari, a long sheet of colorful cloth with patterns.

Indian FoodIndian cuisineIndian cuisine consists of consists of

thousands of regional thousands of regional cuisines which date back cuisines which date back thousands of years. The thousands of years. The dishes of dishes of India are are characterized by the characterized by the extensive use of various extensive use of various Indian spices,,[1] herbs,,[1] vegetablesvegetables[1] and and fruit. . Indian cuisine is also Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread known for the widespread practice of practice of vegetarianism in Indian society. Each in Indian society. Each family of Indian cuisine family of Indian cuisine includes a wide includes a wide assortment of dishes and assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. As acooking techniques. As a

consequence, it varies from region to region, reflecting the consequence, it varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically-diverse subcontinent. of the ethnically-diverse subcontinent. Hindu beliefs and and culture have played an influential role in the have played an influential role in the evolution of Indian cuisine.evolution of Indian cuisine.[2] However, cuisine across India However, cuisine across India also evolved as a result of the subcontinent's large-scale also evolved as a result of the subcontinent's large-scale cultural interactions with cultural interactions with Mongols and and Britain making it a making it a unique blend of some various cuisines.unique blend of some various cuisines.

Indian SportsSports in India include

cricket, chess, badminton, field hockey, tennis, association football and golf. Field Hockey is the official national sport in India, and the country has eight olympic gold medals in field hockey, though cricket is the most popular. Other popular sports include football, tennis, volleyball, and badminton. After the 1982 Asian Games hosted in

New Delhi, the capital city now has modern sports facilities, and similar facilities are also being developed in other parts of the country. Besides sports and games included in the international sporting agenda, there are many which have developed indigenously.

Throughout the country a wide variety of sports are Throughout the country a wide variety of sports are played. India is home to several traditional sports which played. India is home to several traditional sports which originated in the country and continue to remain fairly popular. originated in the country and continue to remain fairly popular.

Indian DanceDance in IndiaDance in India covers covers

a wide range of a wide range of dance and and dance theatre forms, from the ancient forms, from the ancient classical or temple classical or temple dance to folk and dance to folk and modern styles.modern styles.Three best-known Three best-known Hindu deities, deities, Shiva, , Kali and and Krishna, are typically , are typically represented dancing. represented dancing. There are hundreds of There are hundreds of Indian folk dances such such as as Bhangra, , Bihu, , Ghumura Dance, , Sambalpuri, ,

Chhau and and Garba and special dances observed in regional and special dances observed in regional festivals. India offers a number of festivals. India offers a number of classical Indian dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. The presentation of Indian dance styles in film, country. The presentation of Indian dance styles in film, Hindi Cinema, has exposed the range of dance in India to a , has exposed the range of dance in India to a global audience.global audience.

Indian FestivalsIndia presents a cultural India presents a cultural

potpourri of number of potpourri of number of religions with their own religions with their own festivals and festivals and celebrations but the four celebrations but the four major religions followed major religions followed in India are Hinduism, in India are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Islam, Christianity and Sikhism in the Sikhism in the descending order. There descending order. There are a number of regional are a number of regional festivals which are festivals which are celebrated in particular celebrated in particular areas only. Bright colors, areas only. Bright colors, brightly litbrightly lit

religious places, illuminated houses, sweets and traditional religious places, illuminated houses, sweets and traditional dresses and dances and unwavering enthusiasm are the dresses and dances and unwavering enthusiasm are the characteristics of all the festival holidays in India. Cuisine, characteristics of all the festival holidays in India. Cuisine, dresses and ornaments, especially of the Indian women, with dresses and ornaments, especially of the Indian women, with the profusion of golden, red and yellow colors, cultural and the profusion of golden, red and yellow colors, cultural and traditional performances and music, chariot and car procession traditional performances and music, chariot and car procession of the deities and interesting folklores give the Indian festivals of the deities and interesting folklores give the Indian festivals their universal appeal.their universal appeal.

Indian ArchitecturesThe The architecture of Indiaarchitecture of India is is

rooted in its rooted in its history, , culture and and religion..[1] Indian Indian architecture progressed with architecture progressed with time and assimilated the time and assimilated the many influences that came many influences that came as a result of as a result of India's global 's global discourse with other regions discourse with other regions of the world throughout its of the world throughout its millennia-old past.millennia-old past.[1] The The architectural methods architectural methods practiced in India are a result practiced in India are a result of examination and of examination and implementation of its implementation of its established building established building traditions and outside traditions and outside cultural interactions.cultural interactions.[1]

Though old, this Though old, this Eastern tradition hastradition has

also incorporated modern values as India became a modern also incorporated modern values as India became a modern nation state.nation state.[1] The economic reforms of 1991 further bolstered The economic reforms of 1991 further bolstered the urban architecture of India as the country became more the urban architecture of India as the country became more integrated with the world's economy.integrated with the world's economy.[1][1] Traditional Traditional Vastu Vastu ShastraShastra remains influential in India's architecture during the remains influential in India's architecture during the contemporary era.contemporary era.

Conclusion Depending upon the Depending upon the

historian, India's modern historian, India's modern age may have begun in age may have begun in 1848, when the 1848, when the appointment of appointment of Lord Lord DalhousieDalhousie as Governor as Governor General of the General of the Company Company rule in Indiarule in India inaugurated inaugurated changes essential to the changes essential to the development of a modern development of a modern state: the demarcation state: the demarcation and consolidation of and consolidation of sovereignty; the sovereignty; the surveillance of the surveillance of the population; thepopulation; the

education of citizens; and the construction of railways, canals, education of citizens; and the construction of railways, canals, and telegraph lines, which were introduced not long after they and telegraph lines, which were introduced not long after they had taken root in Europe. had taken root in Europe.

- Presented bySaikat

Rakshit.