India, officially Known as Republic of India
(In Hindi Known as Bharat or Hindustan), is a country in southern Asia, It is bounded on the north by Afghanistan, China,
Nepal, and Bhutan; on the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the Bay of Bengal; on the south by the
Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar (separates it from Sri Lanka)and the Indian Ocean ; and on the west by the Arabian Sea
and Pakistan.
India is divided into 26 states and 6 union territories.
It is the worlds seventh largest country. New Delhi is the countrys capital and
one of its largest cities.
With nearly 1 billion inhabitants, India ranks second only to China among
the world's most populous countries. Its people are culturally diverse, and religion plays an important role in the life of
the country.
FACTS ABOUT INDIA
Capital
: New Delhi
Largest City : Calcutta (9,165,650)
Language
: Hindi, English, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese
Currency : 1 rupee = 100 paisa
Population
: 843,930,861; 689 persons per square mile
Main Religions :
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism
Government :
Republic
Area :
1.3 million square miles
Agriculture Crops :sugarcane, rice, wheat, sorghum,
millet, mangoes, corn (maize), peanuts Livestock cattle, buffalo, goats, camels, sheep, poultry
Industry
: Petroleum products, cement, crude steel, sugar, jute, paper and paperboard, cotton yarn, sulfuric acid,
woven cotton fabrics, electric fans, bicycles, software business
Interesting Facts
Divali
Divali
(Dih-vah-LEE) is an autumn festival celebrated throughout India for two days in October or November, at the time of the new
moon. The night is very dark. The festival represents that good reigns over evil. People buy new clothes and decorate their
homes with flowers and flour designs. Small oil lamps made from baked mud are filled with oil. They are then lit and placed
on every windowsill, along walkways, and on roofs. At night, there are fireworks. A large ten-headed creature named Ravana
(RAH-vah-nah) is filled with firecrackers and set off.
Flour Designs
According
to Hindi custom rice power is used to create geometric designs of the floors and entrance ways of houses. Designs are make
of white rice paste, but sometimes red is used. Flowers and colored powders are used to decorate the inside of the design.
Indian Music
Indian
music has a distinctive sound. The Indians use many types of drums, some played with the hand and others with sticks. Flutes
are made from bamboo instead of metal. Clarinets and tambourines are often used. The popular music usually contains
sitars. Sitars are stringed instruments with long, broad necks made of wood and pear-shaped bodies make from large gourds.
Another Indian instrument is the jaltarang. It contains thirteen thin glasses filled with different amounts of water. These
instruments make a unique sound.
The TajMahal
In
northern India there is a beautiful tomb called the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was built of white marble, inlaid with semi-precious
stones. It rests on white marble surrounded by four minarets. Floral patterns cover the walls. There are intricate inlays
and relief carvings of floral designs. It was built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1629. She was the favorite wife
of the Indian ruler, Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan's tombs are in the basement of this monument.
Indian Clothing
Cotton
is grown in India. Wearing cotton is practical because the climate is hot. For special occasions the girls and women wear
saris (sah-REES). These are pieces of cotton or silk fabric about 6 yards long. They wrap the material around the body over
blouses and skirts. The boys also wear two pieces of cotton fabric. One piece is wrapped around the waist and legs and the
other is thrown over the shoulders and neck.
Elephants and Tigers
The
Indian government has set aside land for two hundred and forty-seven wildlife sanctuaries and 53 national parks. Some wild
animals that can be found in these parks are bears, elephants, monkeys, yaks, wild birds, and tigers. The Bengal tiger was
the reason behind a program called Project Tiger which was begun in 1973. This program is dedicated to the preservation of
the tigers in their natural habitats. Elephants are also losing their natural habitat. They live in the forests and jungles
of India.
The National Bird
The
peacock is the national bird of India.
Tea
India is the
world's largest producer of tea. Along the streets people sell a wide variety of teas in stalls. One common type is masal
chay (spiced tea).
Spices
Indian
food is full of spices. Some of the main spices used in India are cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, chilies,
fennel, and turmeric.
