Find out which songs, dances, festivals and special food preparationsthat representdifferent cultures of India. Do they have some commonality with other regions of India?

A. Dances:

a. Bharatnatyam: This is a multi-dimensional dance form that has been able to retain the principles enunciated in Bharata's Natya Bhasha. It has survived in the precincts of South Indian temples. It is a solo dance by women. This dance form has three aspects at functional level; namely Nritta, Nritya and Natya. Kerala, Tamil Nadu states are the regions where this dance is performed.

b. Manipuri: As the name itself implies, this dance is originated from Manipur state of India. The Manipuri dance form is called Jagoi is considered to be one of the major dance forms of the country. Only movement of body and not codified gestures and expressions are incorporated with this dance. The dancer puts on a gorgeous dress covering her face with a veil and a skirt embedded with mirrors.

c. Kathkalli: This dance is performed in Kerala state. A story is expressed through the gestures and expressions with this dance. It embodies in a high degree the principles laid down in the ancient Hindu scriptures of dance and drama.

d. Kathak: It is performed in north India (Delhi, Haryana, U.P., Rajasthan etc.). It was patronized by the rulers of the north Indian princely states during the British regime.

B. Languages:

a. Hindi: Throughout India barring some southern states.

b. Urdu: It is spoken in Muslim majority states.

c. Bengali: It is spoken mostly in West Bengal and some parts of Orissa and Bihar. (iv) Gujarati: In Gujarat state,

d. Marathi: In Maharashtra state.

e. Dravidian Languages: It is a group of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam spoken inthe states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

C. Festivals:

a. Diwali: Diwali, the most prominent Hindu festival of India, is celebrated with a lot of pomp and show. Diwali is a festival of lights and decoration.

b. Holi: Holi signifies the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring.Holi is the festival of colors. This festival is celebrated all over the country.

c. Durga Puja: One of the important festivals of India, Durga Puja is celebrated with grandeur by Bengalis, throughout the country. It commemorates Lord Rama’s invocation of Goddess Durga before going to war with the demon king Ravana.

d. Guru parb: The most important Sikh festival of India, special assemblies on the lives and teachings of the gurus, and langars (community meals) are organized in the gurudwaras. Karah Prasad is distributed among all, and hymn chanting processions are held in the city.

e. Eid: Eid is one of the major festivals of India for the Muslim community. People dress up in fineries, attend a special community prayer in the morning, visit friends, and relatives and exchange sweets. Children are given idi(money or gift) by elders.

f. Bihu: Popular among the festivals of India celebrated in the North East, Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam.

g. Pongal: The four-day long harvest festival of South India is one of the most famous festivals of India. People prepare Pongal dish and wear their traditional attire. Celebrities include bonfires, dance, cattle races, sweets, and savories.

Note:- We can sum-up these dances in context to the states they performed as under:

Note: Students are advised to ask their parents, teachers or read concerned literature on Indian folk lore and seasonal cuisines. Generally, every child knows what types of diets/foods are prepared by his mother commiserating with the changing seasons. Similarly, there are songs like Chaiti, Malhar, Sravani, Barakha-Geet and Viraha etc. Thus, they may enhance their knowledge about the songs, cuisines, festivals and seasonal arts associated with the changing seasons particularly in their respective villages, districts and states.