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 People
 People 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 Indians
Gandhi,
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 Beliefs
Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam (Muslims)
Sikkhism
Christianity
Judaism
India’s
History


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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 Mahal
Agra is a large
city in northern
India
It is the home of
India’s greatest
historical
monument, the
Taj Mahal
Transportation in India
 Planes
 Trains
 Cars
 Rickshaws
 Camel & donkey
carts
 Bicycles
 Walking
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
String
Wind
Percussion
India’s People and the Musical
Instruments of India Are Very Diverse!
India, the
land of
“Unity
through
diversity!”