India is a place of color and culture, with rich history and traditions. Proof of the people of India’s love of their culture is the mass participation of Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi celebrates youth, vitality, and vigor, and the victory of Indian mythological figure Prince Prahlad over the demon Holika. Every year, millions of people come together to make bonfires and cover each other in dyed water and colorful dusts and spices. Other national holidays include Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, which is arguably the biggest celebration of the year. During the five-day festival, bonfires and decorative lights are lit. It’s meant to symbolize the inner light of people that keeps the spiritual darkness at bay (Zimmermann). These beautiful occasions attract lots of tourists and allow the people of India to come together for a days of wonder and fun.
Other parts of Indian culture include the arts. Performance art such as dance, music, and theater, have existed for more than two thousand years, and some classical performance art traditions still persist through Bollywood (Zimmermann). Visual art is also stunning, producing architectural masterpieces such as the famous Taj Mahal. The arts in Indian culture serve to add to the country’s unique beauty.
Borrowed from "Student Universe"
Life:
For the average Indian citizen, life is simple, but generally happy. Family is considered “the most important social unit,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica, and many things in life revolve around family. For instance, many marriages still are arranged by family elders, despite many western societies believing it to be an outdated custom. This is still effective though, as partners are wisely chosen and divorce is a rarity in India, with only 13 in 1000 couples separating, as opposed to the US’s 500 in 1000 ("Divorce"). Included in this content simplicity is the food. Cuisine is not the typical extravagant food with copious exotic spices we associate with India in the US, but rather basic with few variations day-to-day. Depending on location, one usually eats either rice, flat wheat bread, or pearl millet bread, supplemented with a legume puree, and, perhaps, with a small bowl of yogurt on the side. Meat is a rarity, as most of India is Hindu and consider cows, the most common meat, sacred (“Daily”). Though not as luxurious as a Bollywood movie, life is good for the average Indian citizen.
Borrowed from "Quatr"
Issues:
Of course, not all is well in India. Like other countries, India has a slew of problems it must take care of. Despite the “chalta hai” or “let it be” attitude many Indians take, government and personal action is necessary to remedy any of these problems. Some issues are more extreme in the rural areas of India, such as illiteracy. Despite previous government attempts to build public schools in villages, the illiteracy rate is still alarmingly high. Five out of ten people in India do not know how to read (Kaur). Other problems include basic hygiene and access to medical care. Though the healthcare system is large and their constitution guarantees free healthcare for all its citizens, healthcare in India is inaccessible to most people due to the lack of nearby hospitals (“Healthcare”). In rural areas, 50% of citizens don’t have access to healthcare (Kaur). And, as previously mentioned in the essay, pollution is a problem, making the more urban areas dangerous as well. Though beautiful, India has several issues that need addressing.