The Diversity of India

India is truly a complex nation, that's why it is often referred to as a sub-continent. The
diversity of India has posed tremendous integration problems since its formation, yet in
the very diversity that her population finds enormous pride and joy.
The following is an introduction to the diversity of India in terms of geography, religions,
races, food and living habits of her people.

Geographic Diversity
Spanning an area of 3,287,263 square kilometers, India is a vast country and includes
dry desert areas, evergreen forests, snowy Himalayas, a long coast, and fertile plains.
The unique geographic demographics also hosts a unique eco-system rich with
vegetation, wildlife, rare herbs, and a large variety of birds. Hence foreigners prefer
coming to INDIA as they get to almost all types of geographic situations .

Diversity of Religions
Virtually every major religion has a strong connection with India (including Christianity -- some
people claim Jesus Christ meditated in India in his early years). Buddhism was born in India (not
China), so were Sikhism, Jainism, and of course Hinduism. God is Indian - India is the most religious
country in the world. A profile of India's great religions, and influence of some of the foreign faiths.

Diversity of Languages
There is no such thing as the Indian language. By some counts there are over 200 languages in
India (almost 1600, if you include dialects), with about twenty of them being very prominent ones.
Imagine a nation where the population does not understand their national anthem or the President's
address to the nation. That is India for you.
The Indian currency is printed in 15 languages. Most forms (like job application, tax forms) in India
are hence printed in three languages -English, Hindi, and a prominent local language

Diversity of Clothing and Attire

Perhaps India remains the only country where unstitched clothing is still popular. The Saree, Lungi,
Dhoti, Turbans are all worn this way. It is the way of wearing is where the styles differ. Tailored Indian
clothing includes Salwar-Kameez, collarless jackets, Kurtas, and western attires for both men and
women. Many types of headgear are prevalent in India - these include rumals, topics, and
turbans. The food habits of the one billion Indians varies by the availability of raw materials, cooking,
traditions, local spices, and interestingly their religious faiths. For instance, some Jain communities
do not kill life to feed themselves -- including plants! This means they only consume fruits, milk and
leaves only. There are so many spices to appeal to different parts of the body that the English
language does not have adequate adjectives to describe them. For example, the hotness that
touches the taste-buds is different than the hotness that makes your gums swell ! India also has a
number of sweet dishes, mostly based on sugar, milk, and unbleached sugar (called jaggery in
India). The Bengal is famous for its milk-based sweets.
In general Indian food is rich in oil and in spices. Rice and wheat are the primary bases for Indian
food. The coastal areas fashion seafood delicacies, while the desert areas have mastered cooking
with minimal use of water. In general Indian food is rich in oil and in spices. Rice and wheat are the
primary bases for Indian food. The coastal areas fashion seafood delicacies, while the desert areas
have mastered cooking with minimal use of water.

Cultural Diversity
The years of foreign rule, religious movements, and spiritual discoveries in the ancient land of India
has given way to a rich potpourri of social habits, festivals, and customs. To appreciate the Indian
culture, an introduction to the religious heritage of India is necessary. India also has a very rich
native or tribal culture.