The Culture and Foods of India
The culture and foods of India go hand in hand. In India, eating food is not just an activity that quashes hunger, it is an important social tradition and way for people ton connect intimately with friends and family. It’s true! People in India love to celebrate with their friends and family and enjoy using any appropriate opportunity to do so. India has a vibrant culture that is proud and colorful, just like the delicious food enjoyed by millions around the world!
Family Culture and Foods of India
Family culture is extremely important to Indian people. Eating meals as a family is an an important aspect of the culture. It is an opportunity for two or more generations of the family to gather, cook, converse, and eat traditional meals together. Many Indian families have multiple generations of family members living under one roof. In addition, it is common for cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and other family members to join together for meals. Most family social gatherings happen with little effort in India because of the fact that several generations of a family often live in the same home, or at least, very near one-another.
Festivals and Religion Include Culture and Foods of India
Another reason why the culture and foods of India are inseparable is that food is included in most any festival, religious ritual, or celebration. For example, gatherings, such as Pujah's at religious temples often include meals after worship. Celebrations, such as the Hindu dance celebration called Garba, often include delicious Indian food to accompany the beautiful music and energetic dancing. Feeding people at celebratory events serves to symbolize unity and a greater sense of a family, and extended family, and friends. Holidays like Holi, the festival of color, include gathering, fun activities, and food. Garba, which means dance, is a huge celebration of high energy dancing to celebrate and honor Hindu gods. After people have danced and worked-up a Garba-sized appetite, food is served.
Weddings Include the Culture and Foods of India
Another example of a major ritual and celebration that is bursting with the culture and foods of India is the Indian wedding. Weddings in any country are a big deal as they join two persons and their families together through the bond of marriage, however; in India, weddings are multi-day celebrations! Generally, there is a pre-wedding ceremony where women are tattooed with Henna in beautiful designs and men and others enjoy each other's company and eat Indian food. The second day generally includes a traditional wedding ceremony followed by eating more delicious Indian food. It is not uncommon for an India Wedding to include more that three-hundred guests! The third day of an Indian Wedding is often a Garba celebration where the wedding party and guests gather again for a night of dancing and eating more Indian food. If you are ever invited to an Indian Wedding, I recommend you attend, as you will experience the culture and foods of India in a wonderful celebration.
Food has been an important part of India’s culture since the days of the Indus Valley Civilizations, when people hunted and gathered for their villages and the culture and foods of India were inseparable when agriculture developed in early Indian villages like Harappa. Of course, Indian food and its ingredients have changed over time. In addition, Indian food is cooked differently, and with different ingredients throughout the large country. For example, in the Punjab State to the north, which borders Pakistan, the food is usually cooked in a thick and tasty gravy. Whereas, in the western State of Gujarat, the sauce is much thinner and liquid.
India is an enormous country and the population of India is now considered to have surpassed that of China. This means that as of now, India is believed to be the world’s most populated country! The majority of Indian people live below what many western countries consider middle-class. The sharing of food or ingredients of food and the activity of gathering to cook and eat together is something that all people in India can do, and it's something that some must do in order to survive.
Whatever reason you attribute the India food and culture going hand-inhand, you can always expect to expect a fantastic meal and experience rich, lively culture when invited to an Indian ceremony, celebration, or even when you are invited for dinner.
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