Top 12 Things India is Famous for
India is a mystical land of dreams in which about a seventh of our world’s population resides. It is also a country which has one the richest and most vivid history and heritage. The country’s economy is currently the tenth largest in the world and, as said by many, it has the huge potential to become a superpower of the world in the coming years. It is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of area and the largest democracy in the world. Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent- comprising of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh – has been identified with its commercial wealth for a long time. Geographically, the country is currently divided into 29 states and is governed by a two-tier government.
The country is famous across for hundreds of things. Here are a few of them:
Culture
India is probably the most culturally diverse country in the world. From North to South and East to West, there are thousands of different cultures followed in the country. India’s languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, and customs differ from place to place in the country. This is not very well known, but four of the major religions of the world- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism originated in India and almost all the different religions are followed by the people in India. Perhaps the rich and deep history is the reason for such a strong cultural diversity. This aspect attracts thousands of tourists to visit it various states every year.
Cricket
India has one of the most cricket frenzy populations in the world. Although hockey is the national sport of the country, cricket is the most popular among Indians. The Indian cricket team or the Men in Blue have won three major world championships in different formats of the game. India has produced some of the finest cricket players in the world, including the likes of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev among many others. Recently started, the Indian Premier League is one the most watched sporting events around the world. The sport is played by kids, teenagers and adults in the streets and open spaces of almost every locality in the country. This crazy love Indians have for this sport is recognized by people across the globe.
Bollywood
India is also home to the Hindi Film Industry, more popularly known as Bollywood. The film industry was originally started in Mumbai and its presence is still the strongest there. Earlier, the films produced by the industry used to be released and viewed by domestic audiences only, but probably since the last decade, the films have started being released and also praised internationally in many countries. The film industry has given the world some of the finest actors and film makers. People like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Hritik Roshan started their careers in this industry. FIlm makers of the likes of Satyajit Ray also made their first films here. Apart from the Hindi Film Industry, the country also has film industries which produce films in various languages like Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and Bhojpuri, to name a few.
Trains
India has one of the oldest and most widespread railway systems in the world. Spanning across the country in all directions, the Indian Railways has trains connecting almost all the major cities in different cities to each other. The country has city-wide train system like the Delhi Metro as well. Every day, about 23 million people every year, about 1050.18 tons of freight are transported by the railway network; making it the world’s busiest. The intricately planned railway lines and train schedules is mesmerizing to everyone, including tourists and other people who visit the country.
Festivals
India celebrates more festivals than probably any other nation in the world. Being a secular nation, India celebrates the festivals of all religions and that too with a lot of enthusiasm. Some of the more popular festivals include Holi, Diwali, Rakshbandhan, Dussehra, Durga Puja, Christmas, Gurupurab, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Zuha. Indians are really serious when it comes to preparations for a festival and that can be seen in the way they celebrate: with open hearts and wide smiles. People travel from various nations across the globe to join in and experience the celebration of the different Indian festivals.
Spirituality
India is one of the spiritual hotspots of the world. People travel from far off nations to India in search of spirituality. They come to here to give up whatever is happening in their lives and live in ashrams of gurus in order to learn from them and seek enlightenment. Most of them come seeking ‘the meaning of life’. Some live in these ashrams for years as well. The novel turned movie, ‘Eat Pray Love’ depicts a similar case. Some also come to visit the spiritual and architecturally mesmerizing temples spread all over the country.
Jewelry
Indians have this inexplicably crazy love for precious metals and jewelry, and it’s not just the women. Don’t get me wrong, it’s like not like people in other countries don’t love jewelry and precious metals, but Indians just take it to another level. India has produced and continues to produce some of the most exquisite and intricate jewelry designs and handiwork be it gold, silver, platinum or diamond, the world has seen. Indian jewelry designs are loved and bought on order all over the world.
Population
India is currently the second most populous country in the world and is giving tough competition to the first. With a population of 1.2 billion, it makes up for about a seventh of the world’s entire population. There are a lot of problems that are caused by such a large population in India. Diseases, overutilization of resources, food shortage and poverty are some of them. However, it is also the reason that India has one of the cheapest and most skilled labor forces. It still amazes a lot of people how an administration is able to govern so many people at a time.
Freedom Struggle
India’s fight for freedom is popular across the globe. It was the unique nature of this struggle- the non-violent principle followed- that grasps the admiration of many across the globe. People also admire the actions of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and their contribution in the struggle. The events and actions that led to the freedom of India from British rule is also taught in many schools as a part of world history.
Food
Indian food is loved by most people across the globe. Food from various regions is popular in many nations. Every state in India has its own signature recipes which have been passed on from generation to another, with subtle improvisations. North Indian food is the most popular in other nations. The one common people tend to face with Indian food is the spiciness aspect of it. The variety seen in Indian cuisine is unparalleled and unmatched by any other cuisine.
Contribution to mathematics
Albert Einstein once said “We owe a lot to Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made”. Famous Indian mathematicians including Aryabhatta and Ramanujam made some of the most important and essential contributions to mathematics, including giving the world the concept of ‘zero’ without which the world simply would not have advanced. These contributions are admired and respected by scientists and mathematicians across the globe. Ask yourself this: Can you imagine a world without “zero”
Taj Mahal
The country is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World- Taj Mahal. Located in Agra, near the country’s capital New Delhi, Taj Mahal is one the most beautifully designed and constructed monuments in the world. It was built in the seventeenth century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz. It has been called “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage” by UNESCO. The white monument consists of four long pillars or minars at the four corners of a dome which is actually the tomb and final resting place of Mumtaz Mahal.
