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Submitted by: Rochelle D'souza

Life in India existed during the Common Era. But due to natural calamities, these cities have been destroyed or submerged under water. The information about such cities has been restored due to archaeological excavations. The Archaeological Survey of India have conducted various excavations which tell us that cities since 3700 B.C.E have existed. These remains help us to understand the architecture, lifestyle, household, economy, and culture of those cities and  help us to differentiate with the situations prevailing then and even now.  The excavations of these Lost Cities in India happen to reveal many mysteries buried under the sand of time.

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Submitted by :Cecelia Gracias.

Located on the sandy shores of Bay of Bengal, Velankanni Church is considered as one of the holiest Christian pilgrimage destinations. It is said that Virgin Mary appeared here along with Baby Jesus around the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century, after which Velankanni became a revered site for the Christian community. Declared as the holy city by the Pope, it draws devotees in large number from all over the world.
This small hamlet is renowned for its Roman Catholic shrine,Basilica of Our Lady of Good health which is also known as the Velankanni Church. Also fondly known as 'Lourdes of the East', the shrine represents a melting pot of many cultures, international and religious harmony.The Church is completely dedicated to Virgin Mary and the Heavenly Mother. It is believed by the devotees of the church that Lady of Health or Madonna of Velankanni possesses miraculous powers. People of every religion, caste and creed visit the church to pay their respect to the great lady.

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Submitted by : Prerna Munis

Velankanni Shrine Uttan a miraculous place located on a scenic beach where nature and faith unite...
A place where you are guaranteed to find peace...
A place where faith meets nature.

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India is a country where people live with more than one religious culture. India has large diversity in culture,traditions,flora & fauna,food,craft and architecture. The Indian culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world evolved around 5000 years ago. India is a huge combination having 29 states and 7 union territories across all the four directions. Some of the major religions of the country are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism. Indian culture is the oldest in the world with cultural diversity throughout the country which can surprise anybody. Clothing is also a part of Indian culture where “Saree” is worn by women and men wear “Kurta-Pyjama” or “Dhoti-Kurta” etc. Art is also one of the special dimensions of Indian culture as each state has its different form of dancing and singing like Kathak, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Bharatnatyam etc. The food and eating habits of India changes from place to place as each state of India has its own specific food and eating style. Indian culture is the soul of nation and is way of life for Indians.

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Submitted by - Serah Dodti.

I am proud to be an INDIAN- also mainly because i am fascinated by infinite unique aspects of INDIA, hence here are few personal favorite that also make me proud to be a citizen of Majestic INDIA .

- Joyital Mondal is the First intersex (transgender) judge of Lok Adalat and a social worker from West Bengal.
- Double Statue of Mephistopheles and Margaretta- is a sculpture carved out of a single log of Sycamore Wood and has two distincit image on either side, Salar Jung Museum, INDIA.
-  Hanging Pillar Temple - a tonnes of weight pillar is hanging above the surface in Lepakshi Temple.
- JATAYU - Largest bird sculpture in earth is in India.
- There are total eight most notable Banyan Trees in India - Thimmamma Marrimanu ( worlds largest tree according to Guinness world record), Kabirvad, The great banyan, Pillalamarri ( 800 year old), Dodda Alada Mara,  1000 year old banyan tree located in maharajpur, etc.
- The longest mustache measures 14 ft and belongs to Ram Singh Chauhan from India.
- Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies which originated in India.
- The second largest number of scientists and engineers in the world are in India.
- Indian national kabaddi team has won all world cups.

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Traditions and Customs - Atithi Devo Bhavah

In India, the saying 'Atithi Devo Bhavah' means 'the guest is equivalent to god'. It is a Sanskrit verse taken from the Hindu scriptures, which later became a part of the 'Code of conduct for Hindu society since the guest has always been of supreme importance in the Culture of India.!
In the days of yore the Athiti or guest was a much awaited and welcome person. His needs were meticulously met, indeed the host’s entire household revolved around him during the visit. Right from  selection of the food to be cooked, to the way his bed was to be made was the topic of serious debate. Funds were set aside for the expenses of the visit which included take away gifts  not only for the guest but his family. Also, visits to places of interest were planned and the guest was duly escorted by one or more of the family. In fact a family member took leave on different days to keep the guest company, lest he be bored!
The phrase “Atithi Devo Bhavah” has come into a new avatar, thanks to Amir Khan and his series of tourism "Satyamev Jayate". Awareness is being created within our country about forgotten courtesies that were symbolic of this ancient land of ours.!!

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Submitted by- Fravela Gonsalves

India is a land of diversities. This diversity is also visible in the spheres of religion. The major religions of India are Hinduism (majority religion), Islam (largest minority religion), Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism  Faith. India is a land where people of different religions and cultures live in harmony. This harmony is seen in the celebration of festivals. The message of love and brotherhood is expressed by all the religions and cultures of India.
Whether it's the gathering of the faithful, bowing in prayer in the courtyard of a mosque, or the gathering of lamps that light up houses at Diwali, the good cheer of Christmas or the brotherhood of Baisakhi the religions of India are celebrations of shared emotion that bring people together. People from the different religions and cultures of India, unite in a common chord of brotherhood and amity in this fascinating and diverse land.

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Submitted by : Calista D'mello

Spices and aromatics are the very heart of Indian cooking. They have been used since ancient times. Indian spices include a variety of spices grown across the Indian subcontinent (a sub-region of South Asia). With different climates in different parts of the country, India produces a variety of spices.
Flowers, leaves, roots, bark, seeds and bulbs (the simplest of natural ingredients) are used in endless combinations to produce an infinite variety of flavors : sweet, sharp, hot, sour, spicy, aromatic, tart, mild, fragrant or pungent. Their tastes and aromas combine to create a kaleidoscope of exotic flavors to delight the plate.

Indian spices spices offer significant health benefits and contribute towards an individual's healthy life. They add flavor and nutrients to dishes without fat or calories!

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Submitted by- Neelprabha Barla
The Cellular Jail, also known as Kālā Pānī (Hindi for black waters), was a colonial prison in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The prison was used by the British for the express purpose of exiling political prisoners to the remote archipelago.
The Cellular Jail situated at the Atlanta point in Port Blair, capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is one of the spots in India that have a lot of historical background in the context of the British rule.

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submitted by -Oriana Machado
‘Strength does not come from physical capacity .It comes from an indomitable will ‘- By Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
In India the concept of the visitor as scared -atithi devo bhava-is a very ancient one as is the tradition that when a guest is under your roof you have a duty to protect him or her.These two factors lie at the Taj ethos .It is this sense of home and family that made the terrorist attack that began on the evening of Wednesday 26 nov 2008 so deeply shocking but it was the response of the taj family to that attack that showed the world precisely what values were being defended and with what courage.

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Lavani, Maharashtra

This is one of the most popular dances in Maharashtra.
The word Lavani derived from Lavanya, meaning beauty. This form is a combination of dance and music, which is dealt with different and varied topics such as society, religion, politics, romance, etc. Women perform this dance in their traditional attire called nauveri or a nine yard saree.

Women dance to the beats of the dholak or the instrument similar to a drum. In the 18th and 19th century, it came to be performed to entertain as well as motivate the tired soldiers of Maratha battle.

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Submitted by:- Miss Sophiya Gonsalves

Topic:- India- land of multilingualism.

India is socially, culturally, and linguistically very diverse. Hindi and English are widely spoken and recognised for official purposes. Other than, there are 22 scheduled languages recognised by the constitution of India. However, more than 400 languages and dialects in India are still not known. Dialects change even with a few kilometres of travel in the state. Over the years, about 190 languages have become endangered due to very few surviving speakers.

There exist thousands of traditions and culture in India, and quite a few of them would leave outsiders rather curious.

But the crux of Indian society and culture has always been to be well mannered, polite, respect others, and progress together.
This is the Only unique country in the world with so many languages and dialects.

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Submitted by Tejasvi Rajan Adivarekar

Indian music 🎶 culture

Gandharva mahavidyalaya was India's first music school

Each state produces a different kind of folk music. A few examples are Dandiya from Gujarat, Bauls from Bengal and Lavani from Maharashtra.

Bageshwari Qamar is the first shenai vadak of India.

Sarod is an instrument that is exclusively Indian.

The Tabla , too is a musical instrument that was made first in India

Banjaran was the first folk album of India that contained folk songs from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The National Anthem was written by Rabindranath Tagore and first sung in a rally at Kolkata.

The Veena  is a beautiful instrument that was first made in India.

The Ladybirds was the first India band that only had women.

Carnatic music is one of the oldest classical forms of music.

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LOKTAK LAKE, MANIPUR
Loktak Lake in Manipur is known as the world's floating lake. This lake is known for its cluster of organic matter,  vegetation and soil which is in huge amounts. Its spreads across 300 square metres and is a source of livelihood for the inhabitants.  It also has the KEIBUL LAMJAO NATIONAL PARK, which is the world's only floating National Park and houses around 424 animal species and around 100 species of birds.

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The art of Madhubani paintings in Bihar

Madhubani art (or Mithila painting) is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. This painting is done with a variety of tools, including fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks and using natural dyes and pigments. It is characterized by its eye-catching geometrical patterns. There is ritual content for particular occasions, such as birth or marriage, and festivals, such as Holi, Surya Shasti, Kali Puja, Upanayana, and Durga Puja.

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Summited by Poonam yadav

Indian Handicrafts

In India there is something undoubtedly magical about Indian handicrafts. Unique, intricate, eye-catching and expressive, each item has a story behind it.
India's rich cultural heritage and centuries of evolutionary tradition is manifested by the huge variety of handicrafts made all over the country. Indian Handicrafts are a mirror of the cultural identity of the ethnic people who make it.         It's impossible to come to India and return home empty-handed..

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Pashmina Shawls

Pashmina is a fine type of wool. Its textiles are first woven in Kashmir. Kashmir hand made pashmina shawl is 100% pashmina because the thread is hand spun. All steps from combing and spinning, to weaving and finishing, is entirely carried out by hand by dedicated craftsmen and women.
The major centre of Pashmina fabric production is the old district of Srinagar. The approximate craft time put into producing a single Pashmina shawl is 180 hours. They come in beautiful vibrant colours and have exquisite embroidery on them and at the same time can keep you warm and are also known for their softness.

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Colourful Clothing
Bright colours are the very soul of India. A country that is so diverse and culturally vibrant, it is perhaps the common simple expressions of colour that holds together the multitudes of outlooks and lifestyle together. Wherever you travel in India, you will witness that neither men or women are afraid of colour. One just routinely picks up yellow saree and green shirt and go about their business without worrying about how bright their clothes are. The people of India are colourful and so are clothes.

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Bharatanatyam Dance
Bharatanatyam is a dance of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. It is also known as the Mother of all other classical dance styles and is considered the oldest dance forms in the country India.
The dance form is known for its beautiful body movements which are unique and gestures which are called as Mudras in the traditional language. They share elements with other classical Indian dances, but aren't found in any western dance style.

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Kiran Raphayel Salve

Saffron of Kashmir.

Saffron, here I am not talking about the colour saffron or saffronization but a spice that is smaller than a mustard seed, expensive and highly in demand.

Indian-administered Kashmir is known for its high-quality saffron, a spice derived from the crocus flower. More than 75,000 crocus flowers are needed to produce one pound of saffron.

The spice is used extensively in medicines and cooking in Kashmir with some claiming that saffron is an aphrodisiac.

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Patrika Gate,Jaipur
The Patrika Gate in Jaipur is a famous monument and tourist attraction in the capital city of Rajasthan.The Patrika Gate is the Ninth Gate of Jaipur. The number nine holds great significance in  traditions and beliefs such as the Nine Gates, Nine Planets, Navratra (Nine Nights) etc.

While the gate is just one of the many architectural wonders in Jaipur, the opulent design is genuinely awe-inspiring. And the vibrant and intricate walkways serve as a true reflection of Rajasthani culture.

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Keibul Lamjao National Park
The world's only floating wildlife sanctuary, known for patches and rings of biomass called Phumdis.

This floating national park on our planet is naturally grown over Loktak Lake in Manipur, which is the only home to an endangered deer subspecies 'Sangai' ( Rucervus eldii eldii) or the dancing deer of Manipur.

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DISCOVER KASHMIR
Kashmir a place of pristine beauty, unique cuisine...truly a paradise on Earth.