Indian Culture and Music

2008 Fulbright Summer Seminar to India & Sri

Lanka

India-South Asian Adventure!

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

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

American PeoplePeople with different clothing

People with different religions

People with different foods

People with different celebrations

India’s Government

India is the world’s largest democracy

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

Where People Live in India

Many Indian people live in villages in rural India

Where People Live in India

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

capital– Mumbai (West)

Home of Bollywood, India’s Hollywood

– Kolkata (East)– Deccan

(Southern Plateau), with cities like Bangalore and Chennai

India’s People Eat Many Foods

Rice Vegetables Seafood Meat-however,

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

Masala-spices Tea-common

drink

India’s People Have Different Religious BeliefsHinduismBuddhismIslam (Muslims)

SikkhismChristianityJudaism

India’s History

Indian civilization is ancient The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first

civilizations on earth The Vedic period was a time in Indian history when the

Hindu religion and caste system began in India Mughal Empire was the last and the strongest Islamic

empire in India

Agra & the Taj MahalAgra is a large city in northern India

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

Transportation in IndiaPlanesTrainsCarsRickshawsCamel &

donkey cartsBicyclesWalking

Traditional Music of India

Hindustani means classical music of North India

Carnatic means classical music of South India

Traditional Elements of Indian Music

Melody (raga)

Drone (harmony)

Rhythm (tala)

Indian Instruments

StringWindPercussion

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

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