I NDIA By: Alma Adame

P OPULATION About 1.15 billion people in 2010 Second largest in the world Growth rate is about 1.4% They use the caste system in India to classify everyone

P OPULATION You can see how the population in India has been growing.

L ANGUAGE India has several languages About 33 languages have more than 100,000 speakers Around 41% speak Hindi In India English is used as the language of government, business, education and national communication

R ELIGION Some of the religions include: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism 81% are Hindu Hinduism is a “way of life” not a religion 13% are Muslims They follow the teachings of Koran

G ENERAL ATTITUDE The people in India are very religious. Even during hard times one is to accept one’s direction in life as the will of God or fate. Indians have a deep respect for Mahatma Gandhi They acknowledge that it’s hard to practice Gandhi’s way today.

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G ESTURES Too much hand gestures is considered impolite in India They point with their chin and signal with the palm turned down In the northern part their use their right hand for eating, shaking hands and for passing objects The left hand they use it for personal hygiene The woman do not wink or whistle

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G REETINGS Namaste : press the palms together with fingers down below the chin and say Namaste this is there traditional greeting Men don’t shake hands with women or touch them in public this shows respect for the women They do shake hands with educated women and with Westerners

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H OLIDAYS International New Year’s Day (1 Jan.) Republic Day January 26 Independence day August 15 Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday October 2 nd Between January and March they have many festivals Holi is the end of the cold season The Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Fitr which is at the end of Ramzaan

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R ITES OF P ASSAGE ( DATING / MARRIAGE ) They still arrange traditional weddings Ceremonies may vary around the states Western style dating is not very common in India In India it’s common for the bride’s parents to give the groom money, land, etc.

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F OODS Their meals are usually very spicy. Vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat is called curry it’s a very popular dish. To help their digesting they often eat betel leaves and nuts. Each caste has its own food law and custom. Hindus will not eat beef for religious reasons.

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CLOTHING Women tend to wear a long called a sacree Hindu women may have a red dot on their foreheads. The bindi has become more for beauty and the color may change with what one is wearing. Men wear more traditional clothing such as the dhoti. Dhoti is a long cloth that is wrapped around the waist.

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SPORTS Sports include cricket, soccer and field hockey Women don’t really play sports. “Bollywood” is one of the worlds largest well attended place.

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A RTS Dances and music styles vary by region. Instruments include sitar Tabla Sarod Dances include the kathakali

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T HANKS FOR WATCHING !! =]