Indian Culture and Indian Culture and MusicMusic

2008 Fulbright Summer 2008 Fulbright Summer Seminar to India & Sri Seminar to India & Sri

LankaLanka

India-South Asian India-South Asian Adventure!Adventure!

““Unity through Unity through diversity” is the diversity” is the theme of the theme of the approximately approximately one one billionbillion people that live people that live in a country in a country that is so big, that is so big, it’s called a it’s called a subcontinentsubcontinent!!

India’s People Come in All India’s People Come in All Shapes and Sizes, Just Like Shapes and Sizes, Just Like

American PeopleAmerican People People with People with different clothingdifferent clothing

People with People with different different religionsreligions

People with People with different foodsdifferent foods

People with People with different different celebrationscelebrations

India’s GovernmentIndia’s GovernmentIndia is the India is the world’s world’s largest largest democracydemocracy

Famous IndiansFamous IndiansGandhi, India’s Gandhi, India’s greatest greatest peacemaker, peacemaker, who who influenced influenced Martin Luther Martin Luther King, Jr.King, Jr.

Where People Live in Where People Live in IndiaIndia

Many Many Indian Indian people live people live in villages in villages in rural in rural IndiaIndia

Where People Live in Where People Live in IndiaIndia

Other people in Other people in India live in large India live in large cities, likecities, like– New Dehli, the New Dehli, the

capitalcapital– Mumbai (West)Mumbai (West)

Home of Bollywood, Home of Bollywood, India’s HollywoodIndia’s Hollywood

– Kolkata (East)Kolkata (East)– Deccan (Southern Deccan (Southern

Plateau), with cities Plateau), with cities like Bangalore and like Bangalore and ChennaiChennai

India’s People Eat Many India’s People Eat Many FoodsFoods

RiceRice VegetablesVegetables SeafoodSeafood Meat-however, Meat-however,

cows are cows are considered sacred considered sacred by Hindus, many by Hindus, many of whom are of whom are vegetarianvegetarian

Masala-spicesMasala-spices Tea-common drinkTea-common drink

India’s People Have India’s People Have Different Religious BeliefsDifferent Religious BeliefsHinduismHinduismBuddhismBuddhismIslam Islam

(Muslims)(Muslims)SikkhismSikkhismChristianityChristianityJudaismJudaism

India’s India’s HistoryHistory

Indian civilization is ancientIndian civilization is ancient The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first civilizations on earthThe Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first civilizations on earth The Vedic period was a time in Indian history when the Hindu religion The Vedic period was a time in Indian history when the Hindu religion

and caste system began in Indiaand caste system began in India Mughal Empire was the last and the strongest Islamic empire in India Mughal Empire was the last and the strongest Islamic empire in India

Agra & the Taj MahalAgra & the Taj MahalAgra is a Agra is a

large city in large city in northern Indianorthern India

It is the home It is the home of India’s of India’s greatest greatest historical historical monument, monument, the Taj Mahalthe Taj Mahal

Transportation in IndiaTransportation in India PlanesPlanes TrainsTrains CarsCars RickshawsRickshaws Camel & Camel &

donkey cartsdonkey carts BicyclesBicycles WalkingWalking

Traditional Music of Traditional Music of IndiaIndia

Hindustani Hindustani means means classical music classical music of North Indiaof North India

Carnatic Carnatic means means classical music classical music of South Indiaof South India

Traditional Elements Traditional Elements of Indian Musicof Indian Music

Melody Melody (raga)(raga)

Drone Drone (harmony)(harmony)

Rhythm Rhythm (tala)(tala)

Indian InstrumentsIndian Instruments

StringStringWindWindPercussioPercussionn

India’s People and the Musical India’s People and the Musical Instruments of India Are Very Instruments of India Are Very

Diverse!Diverse!India, the India, the land of land of “Unity “Unity through through diversity!diversity!””