Food Culture
Flavors
Spices such as mustard, chili, pepper, ginger, tamarind, sumach and kokam are commonly found in Indian dishes. Yogurt is also commonly used to flavor food.
Meat
The meat found in Indian cuisine is influenced by the religions. Beef is not found because cows are sacred in the Hindu religion and pork is not found because it is forbidden in the Muslim religion. Fish, poultry, and lamb are more common in the regions where they can be farmed.
Produce
Half of the Indian population consumes a vegetarian diet, so produce is very popular. Since India has a wide range of geography and climate, there is a wide variety of produce found in the country. Tomatoes, onions, cucumber, eggplant and bananas are commonly found.
Rice and Bread
Southern Indians consume a heavy rice diet, since the grain grows so frequently there. Northern Indians eat more of a bread-based diet, especially unleavened breads like naan, chapatis and rotis.
Curry, one of the most popular and well known Indian dishes, has been dated back thousands of years. Historians have archaeological evidence that people from 2600 BCE used a mortar and pestle to ground up spices and add it to food. There are many different types of curries that can be found in India, so I have just chosen one popular chicken curry, called Murgh Kari.
Ingredients:
Instructions
Spices such as mustard, chili, pepper, ginger, tamarind, sumach and kokam are commonly found in Indian dishes. Yogurt is also commonly used to flavor food.
Meat
The meat found in Indian cuisine is influenced by the religions. Beef is not found because cows are sacred in the Hindu religion and pork is not found because it is forbidden in the Muslim religion. Fish, poultry, and lamb are more common in the regions where they can be farmed.
Produce
Half of the Indian population consumes a vegetarian diet, so produce is very popular. Since India has a wide range of geography and climate, there is a wide variety of produce found in the country. Tomatoes, onions, cucumber, eggplant and bananas are commonly found.
Rice and Bread
Southern Indians consume a heavy rice diet, since the grain grows so frequently there. Northern Indians eat more of a bread-based diet, especially unleavened breads like naan, chapatis and rotis.
Curry, one of the most popular and well known Indian dishes, has been dated back thousands of years. Historians have archaeological evidence that people from 2600 BCE used a mortar and pestle to ground up spices and add it to food. There are many different types of curries that can be found in India, so I have just chosen one popular chicken curry, called Murgh Kari.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cooking oil
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Add all ingredients to list
Instructions
- Sprinkle the chicken breasts with 2 teaspoons salt.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat; partially cook the chicken in the hot oil in batches until completely browned. Transfer the browned chicken breasts to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium-high; add the onion, garlic, and ginger to the oil remaining in the skillet and cook and stir until the onion turns translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir the curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, and 1 tablespoon of water into the onion mixture; allow to heat together for about 1 minute while stirring. Mix the tomatoes, yogurt, 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, and 1 teaspoon salt into the mixture. Return the chicken breast to the skillet along with any juices on the plate. Pour 1/2 cup water into the mixture; bring to a boil, turning the chicken to coat with the sauce. Sprinkle the garam masala and 1 tablespoon cilantro over the chicken.
- Cover the skillet and simmer until the chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Sprinkle with lemon juice to serve.
Culture in India
This animated map of India shows various aspects of their culture, such as transportation, architecture, food, clothing, and animals.
55 Lakh Artists Have Joined Hands With the Government to Map the Cultural Heritage of India. (2016, July 13). Retrieved February 03, 2017, from http://www.thebetterindia.com/61496/india-government-ccrt-cultural-mapping/
Before World War II, India's population grew very slowly. While watching the Bubble Map you hardly even notice that India's bubble is growing at all. Right after the war begins the population (and the bubble) starts to grow more rapidly. Suddenly the numbers are jumping and skyrocketing higher and higher. Today India's population is over a billion, the second largest country in the world, right after China. What made the country's population grow so quickly? After wars it is common for people to rejoice, expand their families, and try to live better lives. An example of this would be the Baby Boom in the United States after World War II. Another reason why India's population may have grown so rapidly is because of a boom in technology and medical advancements that may have helped expand life expectancy.
As of 2007, 32% of women over the age of 15 were employed compared to 77% of men the same age. To put this into perspective, in the United States 56% of women are employed compared to 69% of men. The gap is much smaller in the United States, so the question is why is there such a discrepancy in India? In India, women are widely regarded to be the runners of the household. In very traditional families, women are only meant to take care of children and take care of the house. They are not allowed to get jobs outside of the household or even wear modern clothing. In recent years there has been a movement towards gender equality, but the statistics about employment show that this movement is not yet very successful.
Religion in India
The two major religions in India are Hinduism and Buddhism. The oldest evidence of religious practices in India date back approximately to 5500 BCE (“Hinduism,” n.d.). Hinduism spread as people immigrated to other regions or when people came to visit and then took the religion back home with them. Various regions have various different forms of Hinduism, since so much of it was spread by mouth (Doniger, W., & Buitenen, J. V, 2016). Buddhism started in Lumbini—present day Nepal—with Prince Siddhartha Guatama. He left his lavish lifestyle of the palace only to find poverty in the surrounding villages. He gave up his worldly possessions to join them and search for Enlightenment. When he reached Enlightenment, he became known as the Buddha. Buddhism spread slowly because there were no written documents. The Mauryan Indian emperor Ashoka the Great, who ruled from 268 to 232 BCE, turned Buddhism into the state religion of India. He provided a favorable social and political climate for the acceptance of Buddhist ideas, encouraged Buddhist missionary activity, and even generated among Buddhist monks certain expectations of patronage and influence on the machinery of political decision making” (“Buddhism,” n.d.).
There are many societal and cultural norms of Hinduism. They do not wear shoes inside their homes, temples, or other holy places. Many people eat vegetarian diets because they don’t want to hurt other life forms. Caste systems are prominent. The castes are Dalits, Shudras, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, and Brahmins. Arranged marriages are also common, and they are usually within the same caste. Showing respect to elders is a very important part of society. “A married Hindu woman considers her husband as God and the husband considers her as his Ardhangini, or “half body” (“Hinduism Customs,” n.d.). Although Buddhism is less prominent in Indian society, the societal and cultural norms of the religion are still established. Since Buddhism was spread by monks in Sanskrit language, today Sanskrit is commonly used in India. There is lots of importance placed on the sanctity of animal life (“Influence of Buddhism,” 2015). Buddhists try to abstain from lying, gossiping, or saying hurtful things because it is part of the guidelines of the Eightfold Path, created by Buddha. Both Hinduism and Buddhism favor men over women, as exemplified by the fact that Hindu women must treat their husbands as gods. This bleeds out into the government, where many women aren’t allowed to get professional jobs, or if they do they are paid much less (“India’s Gender,” 2013).
In regards to sacred placed, Buddhists visit shrines and temples to pay their respects to Buddha. Some have shrines in their own homes. Buddhists often go on pilgrimages to places associated with Buddha’s life: his birthplace in Lumbini, his place of his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, the place of his first sermon in Sarnath, or the place of his death in Kusinara. The Dalai Lama—the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism—lives in India. Many people visit and study there in the hopes of meeting him. It is common for Hindus to worship at home at their own shrine, often as a whole family. The Ganges River is a sacred place to go to on pilgrimages. They bathe in the sacred water or have their ashes scattered in the river after cremation (“Initiative, U. R.,” n.d.). In Hinduism, there are seven holy towns within India that many people many pilgrimages to. These are Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Dvaraka, Ujjain. Varanasi, situated on the banks of the Ganges, is a popular place for people to spread the ashes of their loved ones. Another holy placed, Mathura, is said to be the birthplace of Krishna, and Vrindavan is the village where Krishna lived (“Holy Places,” n.d.).
There are various Hindu and Buddhist holidays that the whole country takes off from school or work; meaning that they are respected and recognized by the government (“Public Holidays,” n.d.). The government has control over many Hindu temples, and makes money off of them. The government often takes money that should go to repairs, facilities, and anything else related to the temple. The Indian government has either taken control of already built temples or had temples constructed themselves (“Why Are,” n.d.).
After researching religion in in India, I believe that it has a profound role in the country. It mostly affects people’s day-to-day lives, rather than their professional ones. In the home and around family is when it is most apparent. Religion is used as a guideline for how your character should behave. If everyone followed these guidelines India must be a very peaceful place.
There are many societal and cultural norms of Hinduism. They do not wear shoes inside their homes, temples, or other holy places. Many people eat vegetarian diets because they don’t want to hurt other life forms. Caste systems are prominent. The castes are Dalits, Shudras, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, and Brahmins. Arranged marriages are also common, and they are usually within the same caste. Showing respect to elders is a very important part of society. “A married Hindu woman considers her husband as God and the husband considers her as his Ardhangini, or “half body” (“Hinduism Customs,” n.d.). Although Buddhism is less prominent in Indian society, the societal and cultural norms of the religion are still established. Since Buddhism was spread by monks in Sanskrit language, today Sanskrit is commonly used in India. There is lots of importance placed on the sanctity of animal life (“Influence of Buddhism,” 2015). Buddhists try to abstain from lying, gossiping, or saying hurtful things because it is part of the guidelines of the Eightfold Path, created by Buddha. Both Hinduism and Buddhism favor men over women, as exemplified by the fact that Hindu women must treat their husbands as gods. This bleeds out into the government, where many women aren’t allowed to get professional jobs, or if they do they are paid much less (“India’s Gender,” 2013).
In regards to sacred placed, Buddhists visit shrines and temples to pay their respects to Buddha. Some have shrines in their own homes. Buddhists often go on pilgrimages to places associated with Buddha’s life: his birthplace in Lumbini, his place of his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, the place of his first sermon in Sarnath, or the place of his death in Kusinara. The Dalai Lama—the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism—lives in India. Many people visit and study there in the hopes of meeting him. It is common for Hindus to worship at home at their own shrine, often as a whole family. The Ganges River is a sacred place to go to on pilgrimages. They bathe in the sacred water or have their ashes scattered in the river after cremation (“Initiative, U. R.,” n.d.). In Hinduism, there are seven holy towns within India that many people many pilgrimages to. These are Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Dvaraka, Ujjain. Varanasi, situated on the banks of the Ganges, is a popular place for people to spread the ashes of their loved ones. Another holy placed, Mathura, is said to be the birthplace of Krishna, and Vrindavan is the village where Krishna lived (“Holy Places,” n.d.).
There are various Hindu and Buddhist holidays that the whole country takes off from school or work; meaning that they are respected and recognized by the government (“Public Holidays,” n.d.). The government has control over many Hindu temples, and makes money off of them. The government often takes money that should go to repairs, facilities, and anything else related to the temple. The Indian government has either taken control of already built temples or had temples constructed themselves (“Why Are,” n.d.).
After researching religion in in India, I believe that it has a profound role in the country. It mostly affects people’s day-to-day lives, rather than their professional ones. In the home and around family is when it is most apparent. Religion is used as a guideline for how your character should behave. If everyone followed these guidelines India must be a very peaceful place.
Citations
Buddhism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://adaniel.tripod.com/buddhism.htm
Buddhism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.ancient.eu/buddhism/
Doniger, W., & Buitenen, J. V. (2016, June 20). Hinduism. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism/The-spread-of-Hinduism-in-Southeast-Asia-and-the-Pacific
Hinduism Customs and Traditions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://hinduismfacts.org/hindu-customs-and-traditions/
Hinduism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.ancient.eu/hinduism/
Hinduism. The Main Religion of India. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://adaniel.tripod.com/hinduism.htm
Holy Places. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from https://iskconeducationalservices.org/HoH/practice/503.htm
India’s Gender (In)Equality: Religion vs. Women. (2013, May 01). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from https://protibaadforum.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/indias-gender-inequality-religion-vs-women-2/
Influence of Buddhism on Indian Culture. (2015, August 08). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.historydiscussion.net/buddhism/influence-of-buddhism-on-indian-culture/3020
Initiative, U. R. (n.d.). URI Kids :: World Religions. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.uri.org/kids/world_budd_sacr.htm
Initiative, U. R. (n.d.). URI Kids :: World Religions. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.uri.org/kids/world_hind_sacr.htm
Public Holidays in India in 2017. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/india/
Why are the Hindu Temples in India Controlled by the Government. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 1, 2017, from https://www.quora.com/Why-are-the-Hindu-temples-in-India-controlled-by-the-government
Buddhism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://adaniel.tripod.com/buddhism.htm
Buddhism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.ancient.eu/buddhism/
Doniger, W., & Buitenen, J. V. (2016, June 20). Hinduism. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism/The-spread-of-Hinduism-in-Southeast-Asia-and-the-Pacific
Hinduism Customs and Traditions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://hinduismfacts.org/hindu-customs-and-traditions/
Hinduism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.ancient.eu/hinduism/
Hinduism. The Main Religion of India. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://adaniel.tripod.com/hinduism.htm
Holy Places. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from https://iskconeducationalservices.org/HoH/practice/503.htm
India’s Gender (In)Equality: Religion vs. Women. (2013, May 01). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from https://protibaadforum.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/indias-gender-inequality-religion-vs-women-2/
Influence of Buddhism on Indian Culture. (2015, August 08). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.historydiscussion.net/buddhism/influence-of-buddhism-on-indian-culture/3020
Initiative, U. R. (n.d.). URI Kids :: World Religions. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.uri.org/kids/world_budd_sacr.htm
Initiative, U. R. (n.d.). URI Kids :: World Religions. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.uri.org/kids/world_hind_sacr.htm
Public Holidays in India in 2017. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/india/
Why are the Hindu Temples in India Controlled by the Government. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 1, 2017, from https://www.quora.com/Why-are-the-Hindu-temples-in-India-controlled-by-the-government
Additional Links
This article from Live Science gives information about various aspects of Indian culture, such as the food, religion, language, art, and much more. This website provides information as well as gives examples.
http://www.livescience.com/28634-indian-culture.html
This article from Commisceo Global goes more in depth about Indian culture and how to act while actually visiting the country. It goes in depth about different social situations and the correct etiquette, such as gift-giving etiquette, dining etiquette, or business etiquette.
http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/india-guide
This article from Live Science gives information about various aspects of Indian culture, such as the food, religion, language, art, and much more. This website provides information as well as gives examples.
http://www.livescience.com/28634-indian-culture.html
This article from Commisceo Global goes more in depth about Indian culture and how to act while actually visiting the country. It goes in depth about different social situations and the correct etiquette, such as gift-giving etiquette, dining etiquette, or business etiquette.
http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/india-guide