1. A Glimpse of India

2. India-a Diverse Nation
India is a picture of diversity seen in her people, cultures, colorful festivals, dresses and costumes, religions, flora and fauna and varying landscapes.

3. India-a Diverse Nation
 India is roughly one third the size of USA with a population of 1.2 Billion.
 It has 29 states and 6 union territories.
There are 18 official languages, 114 languages, 216 mother tongues and 900 dialects in India.

4. India – Major Languages
Kannada
Hindi
Malyalam

6. Religions of India
Hindu Temple
Jain Temple
Sikh Gurudwara
Buddhist Pagoda
Four major religions of the world have originated from India: Hinduism,Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

7. Religions of India Bahai Lotus Temple Parsi Fire Temple
Jewish Synagogue
Nakhoda Mosque
St. Paul's Cathedral

8. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

9. India-the Largest Democracy
India is the largest democracy in the world, seventh largest country and the second most populous.

10. India-an Ancient Civilization
India is one of the oldest continuous civilizations. The story of civilization begins in India with the Harrapan civilization which was nurtured by the Sarasvati and Sindhu rivers in Northwestern India in 3000 B.C.

11. Dances of India
The cultural richness of India is reflected in her numerous classical and folk dances.

12. Bharatnatyam
Bharatnatyam is one of the seven major classical dance forms, which originated in India. It originated in the state of Tamil Nadu.

13. Kathakali
Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It originated in the area of southwestern India now known as the state of Kerala.

14. Mohiniyattam
This classical style was born out of a clever fusion of Kathakali with Bharatnatyam. It shows deep affinities with both these styles.

15. Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi was born in a remote village of Andhra Pradesh from which it derives its name. The style portrays various religious themes in the form of a dance drama.

16. Odissi
Odissi may be the earliest classical dance style of India. Natyashastra, the most ancient and authentic text on Indian Dance and Dramatics,also acknowledges its existence.
It is nurtured in the famous shrines of Orissa situated at Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar. .

17. Manipuri
Manipuri dance originated in Manipur. The love of Lord Krishna and Radha is the dominant theme in this dance form.

18. Kathak
The Kathak dance form originated in the north and at first was very similar to the Bharatanatyam.  Persian and Muslim influences later altered the dance from a temple ritual to a courtly entertainment. The  influence of the Mughal tradition is evident in this dance form.

19. Folk Dances
Dandiya - A folk dance of Gujarat. Its popularity has spread all over India.
Bhangra – This folk dance from Punjab is characterized by vigorous movements. Bhangra is a rage in India.

20. Folk Dances Bihu is the folk dance of Assam.
Yakshagana is a folk dance of Karnataka. It has been revived recently.

21. Classical Music
Indian classical music has a rich tradition. The earliest musical compositions are attributed in the Samveda more than 4000 years ago. Indian musical instruments like sitar, tabla and sarangi are popular throughout the world today.

22. Yoga
Yoga originated in India more than 5000 years ago. It means union. The part of Yoga dealing with physical exercise, Hathayoga, is widely practiced throughout the world today.

23. Wildlife
Royal Bengal Tiger. Its habitat is the mangrove forest of the Sunderbans.
Peacock is the national bird of India.

24. Wildlife Kaziranga is the home of the one-horned Rhino.
The Red Panda is found in the hills of Darjeeling.

25. Wildlife
The Indian elephant is smaller than its African counterpart. Elephants were extensively used in warfare in ancient times. They are still used for various temple rituals.

26. Monuments
The Meenakshi temple of Madurai was built by the Pandiyan king Kulashekhara in the 14th century.

27. Monuments
Jagannath temple at Puri

28. Monuments
The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful constructions in the world.

29. Monuments
The Iron pillar in New Delhi constructed 1600 years ago by Chandragupta Maurya has been a metallurgical wonder by defying rust and the vagaries of nature.
The Red Fort in Delhi was built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century.

30. Monuments
The Hawa Mahal of Jaipur was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in the 18th century.

31. Monuments Mysore Palace. Karnataka State Assembly building, Bangalore.
Gateway of India, Mumbai

32. Festivals
Ganesha Chaturthi is the most important festival of Mumbai. It is celebrated every year around September.

33. Festivals
The Durga Puja is celebrated in Kolkata every year around October.

34. Festivals
Diwali-the festival of lights-is the most popular festival in India. It is celebrated throughout the country in the month of November.

35. Festivals
Holi–the festival of colors-is celebrated all over India.

36. Scenic Beauty
Kanchenjungha, the third highest peak in the world(8598m), in the Himalayas, is the highest peak of India.
The Thar desert is located in Rajasthan.

37. Scenic Beauty The backwaters of Kerala.
Ladakh is one of the coldest inhabited regions of the world.

38. Costumes
A lady in a saree.

39. Costumes
A lady in a Ghagra Choli.

40. Costumes
A lady in a Churidar.

41. Costumes
A Sikh in a turban.

42. An Indian marriage ceremony.

43. Bathing in the Ganges
Possibly the largest religious celebration in the world..Maha Kumbh Mela.
Feb. this year..Over 30 million people attended…mostly Hindu. Every 12 years. Most auspicious time and day for a dip.
 Hindu belief of this auspicious time determined by astrologers & holy men, will cleanse sins and a chance at spiritual salvation.

44. Caste System in India
As old as 2000 BC… evolved from the Hindu Vedic belief
Class based society to maintain social order
4 class hierarchical system associated with the work you did
Brahmin (Teacher, Priest) - Vaishyas (Merchants, Traders)
Kshatriya (Protector, Army) - Shudras (Laborers, Skilled & Unskilled)
Birth determined your caste
A fifth class or untouchable …largely believed to have been made up by society itself…associated with unclean tasks such as cleaning toilets or handling garbage. Mahatma Gandhi and others fought to remove/erase.
India is world’s largest democracy where caste subjugation is legally discriminatory.

45. Major Crops of India Tea Picking Cashew Rubber Jute Coconut
Cotton Fields

46. Traditional Foods of India
Dosa and Chutney
Chapati
Butter Chicken Meal
Masoor Dal

47. India-the Largest Film Industry
India is the largest film producing nation in the world. Each year India produces approximately 1000 movies in 14 different languages.

48. Cricket is the most popular sport in India.
Sports
Cricket is the most popular sport in India.
Hockey is the national sport of India.

49. Sports The game of Polo originated in Manipur.
Kabaddi is very popular in the villages.

50. Indian Customs & Traditions
Namaskar
Namaskar or Namaste is the most popular form of greeting in India. It is a general salutation that is used to welcome somebody and also for bidding farewell. While doing namaskar, both the palms are placed together and raised below the face to greet a person.
It is believed that both the hands symbolize one mind, or the self meeting the self. While the right hand represents higher nature, the left hand denotes worldly or lower nature.
Other common forms of greetings by various communities and regions in India are - Sat-sri-akal by the Sikhs, Adaab by the Muslims, Vannakkam by the Tamilians, Juley by the Laddhakis and Tashi Delag by the Sikkimese, amongst others.

51. Indian Customs & Traditions: Bindi
A bindi is an auspicious mark worn by young girls and women . Bindi is derived from bindu, the Sanskrit word for dot . It is usually a red dot made with vermilion powder which is worn by women between their eyebrows on their forehead. Considered a symbol of Goddess Parvati, a bindi signifies female energy and is believed to protect women and their husbands. Traditionally a symbol of marriage, it has also become decorative and is worn today by unmarried girls and women as well. No longer restricted in colour or shape, bindis are seen in many bright colours and in different shapes and designs. They are also made of coloured felt and embellished with coloured glass or glitter.

52. Indian Customs & Traditions: Arati
Is performed as an act of veneration and love. It is often performed as a mark of worship and to seek blessings from God, to welcome the guests, for children on their birthdays, family members on auspicious occasions or to welcome a newly wedded couple. For performing Arati, five small lamps called niranjanas are filled with ghee or oil and arranged in a small tray made of metal. A wick is made out of cotton wool and placed in the lamps. A conch shell filled with water, auspicious leaves or flowers, incense or lighted camphor are also placed in the tray. The lamps are lit and the tray is rotated in a circular motion in front of the deity or the person to be welcomed. The purpose of performing arati is to ward off evil effects and the malefic influence of the ‘evil eye’.

53. Indian Customs & Traditions: Mangalsutra
Is a necklace made of black beads, worn only by the married women as a mark of being married. It is the Indian equivalent of the western wedding ring. The mangalsutra is tied by the groom around his bride's neck. Mangalsutra is generally made out of two strings of small black beads with a gold pendant. The black beads are believed to act as protection against evil. The married women wear this to protect their marriage and the life of their husband. In southern India, the mangalsutra is called 'tali'. It is a small gold ornament, strung on a cotton cord or a gold chain.

54. Indian Customs & Traditions: Garlanding
Flower garlands are generally offered as a mark of respect and honour. They are offered to welcome the visitors or in honour of the Gods and Goddesses. The garlands are generally made with white jasmine and orange marigold flowers. They are weaved in thread tied in the end with a help of a knot.

55. The End