Indian lifestyle

 Indian lifestyle

 Indian culture:

 Indian culture encompasses the social norms and technologies that have their roots in or are linked to the ethno-linguistically diverse India. This includes the Indian subcontinent pre-1947 and the Republic of India post-1947. The term extends beyond India to nations and cultures with strong historical ties to India through immigration, colonization, or influence, particularly in South Asia and Southeast Asia. India's languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, food, and customs vary across different regions within the country. Often described as a blend of multiple cultures, Indian culture has been shaped by a history spanning several millennia, starting with the Indus Valley civilization and other early cultural regions. Various aspects of Indian culture, such as religions, mathematics, philosophy, cuisine, languages, dance, music, and cinema, have had a significant impact across the Indosphere, Greater India, and globally. Scholars note regional influences from Austroasiatic (Mon Khmer) groups on certain cultural and political elements of Ancient India, potentially introduced alongside the spread of rice cultivation from Mainland Southeast Asia. Even today, an ethnic minority in Eastern India continues to speak Austroasiatic languages, particularly the Munda languages. The British Raj also left its mark on Indian culture, notably through the widespread adoption of the English language and the development of local dialects.

Religious culture

Indian-origin religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are all rooted in the principles of dharma and karma. The philosophy of nonviolence, known as Ahimsa, is a significant tenet of these native Indian faiths, famously championed by Shri Mahatma Gandhi, who utilized civil disobedience to unify India during the independence movement. This ideology also served as inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr. during the American civil rights movement. Foreign-origin religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as Zoroastrianism and Baháʼí Faith, have also taken refuge in India over the centuries. India, with its 28 states and 8 union territories, boasts a diverse range of cultures and holds the title of the world's most populous country. The Indian culture, considered a blend of various cultures, stretches across the Indian subcontinent and has been profoundly shaped by a history spanning several millennia. Indian culture has been significantly influenced by Dharmic religions throughout its history, with contributions from East/Southeast Asian cultures impacting ancient India and early Hinduism. The birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and other religions, India is widely recognized for its rich religious tapestry, which includes major world religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. With Hinduism and Buddhism ranking as the world's third and fourth-largest religions, followers of Indian religions constitute a substantial portion of the global population. India stands out as one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse nations globally, housing deeply religious societies where religion plays a central role in people's lives. Despite being a secular Hindu-majority country, India accommodates a sizable Muslim population, with Hindus comprising the predominant demographic in most regions. Religious diversity in India has, at times, led to conflicts and tensions among different religious groups, prompting the formation of national-religious political parties. According to the 2011 census, Hinduism is practiced by nearly 80% of India's population, followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Various other religions, including tribal faiths like Sarnaism, coexist in India alongside major religions, albeit with varying degrees of influence. Atheism and agnosticism also have a presence in India, tracing back to ancient movements like the Cārvāka school, and are embraced alongside the country's tradition of religious tolerance.

Philosophy

Indian philosophy encompasses the various philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The orthodox Hindu philosophy is categorized into six schools: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṃsā, and Vedanta, while the heterodox schools include Jain, Buddhist, Ājīvika, and Cārvāka. Additional classification methods, such as that of Vidyarania, identify sixteen schools by incorporating those from the Śaiva and Raseśvara traditions. Since medieval India (around 1000–1500), Indian philosophical schools have been delineated by the Brahmanical tradition as either orthodox or non-orthodox – āstika or nāstika – based on their acceptance of the Vedas as an infallible source of knowledge. The principal Indian philosophical schools were primarily established between 1000 BCE and the early centuries of the Common Era. According to philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the oldest of these schools, dating back to the Upanishads' composition in the later Vedic period (1000–500 BCE), are considered "the earliest philosophical compositions of the world." There was robust competition and integration among the schools during their foundational years, particularly from 800 BCE to 200 CE. While some schools like Jainism, Buddhism, Śaiva, and Advaita Vedanta endured, others like Samkhya and Ājīvika either merged or disappeared. Subsequent centuries saw commentaries and reinterpretations, continuing as late as the 20th century. Modern authors like Shrimad Rajchandra, Swami Vivekananda, Ram Mohan Roy, and Swami Dayananda Saraswati have provided contemporary interpretations of traditional philosophies.