# data[].attributes.body
Indian weddings are unique as they have various rituals, besides the wedding ceremony itself. The vara yatra (Groom's party) arrives at the ceremony amid music, singing and dancing and are greeted by the bride's family and friends. The groom is given a garland or flowers, a tilka (dot on the forehead) and a lighted lamp.
Other traditions include  Ganesh Poojan (invocation to the god Ganesh), and the Kanyadan (where the bride and groom's feet are washed to purify them).
- Hindu Traditional Weddings

Below is a photo from Soma Chatterji's wedding.

# data[].attributes.body
Indian dance, much like Indian culture itself, is vibrant and wonderful. There are various types of Indian dance that are used to tell religious stories and are performed as temple dances or for entertainment. The video clip below is performed by an Indian dance group and is from a popular Bollywood movie.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nimbooda Nimbooda, Indian Dance Group Mayuri, Russia, Petrozavodsk

# data[].attributes.body
The current president of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind [left], being greeted during Diwali celebrations on October 19, 2017.

"A lawyer, veteran political representative and long-time advocate of egalitarianism and integrity in Indian public life and society, Shri Ram Nath Kovind was born on October 1, 1945, in Paraunkh, near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh...

Before assuming charge of the office of the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017, Shri Kovind served as the 36th Governor of the state of Bihar from August 16, 2015, to June 20, 2017."
- The President of India

# data[].attributes.body
The Ganges is associated as the holy River in Hinduism and has a length of 1,560 miles. It is surrounded by fertile land and a dense population. Cremations occur at the river and its water is used in funeral rites.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Physiography

The Ganges rises in the southern Great Himalayas on the Indian side of the border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Its five headstreams-the Bhagirathi, the Alaknanda, the Mandakini, the Dhauliganga, and the Pindar-all rise in the mountainous region of northern Uttarakhand state. Of those, the two main headstreams are the Alaknanda (the longer of the two), which rises about 30 miles (50 km) north of the Himalayan peak of Nanda Devi, and the Bhagirathi, which originates at about 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) above sea level in a subglacial meltwater cave at the base of the Himalayan glacier known as Gangotri. Gangotri itself is a sacred place for Hindu pilgrimage. The true source of the Ganges, however, is considered to be at Gaumukh, about 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Gangotri.

The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers unite at Devaprayag to form the main stream known as the Ganga, which cuts southwestward through the Siwalik Range (Outer Himalayas) at the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain to emerge from the mountains at Rishikesh. It then flows onto the plain at Haridwar, another place held sacred by Hindus.

The volume of the Ganges increases markedly as it receives more tributaries and enters a region of heavier rainfall, and it shows a marked seasonal variation in flow. From April to June the melting Himalayan snows feed the river, and in the rainy season, from July to September, the rain-bearing monsoons cause floods. During winter the river's flow declines. South of Haridwar, now within the state of Uttar Pradesh, the river receives its two principal right-bank tributaries: the Yamuna River, which flows through the Delhi capital region and then roughly parallels the southeastward flow of the Ganges before joining it near Prayagraj (Allahabad), and the Tons, which flows north from the Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh state and joins the Ganges just below Prayagraj. The main left-bank tributaries in Uttar Pradesh are the Ramganga, the Gomati, and the Ghaghara.

The Ganges next enters the state of Bihar, where its main tributaries from the Himalayan region of Nepal to the north are the Gandak, the Burhi ("Old") Gandak, the Ghugri, and the Kosi rivers. Its most-important southern tributary is the Son River. The river then skirts the Rajmahal Hills to the south and flows southeast to Farakka in central West Bengal state, at the apex of the delta. West Bengal is the last Indian state that the Ganges enters, and, after it flows into Bangladesh, the Mahananda River joins it from the north. In West Bengal in India, as well as in Bangladesh, the Ganges is locally called the Padma. The westernmost distributaries of the delta are the Bhagirathi and the Hugli (Hooghly) rivers, on the east bank of which stands the huge metropolis of Kolkata (Calcutta). The Hugli itself is joined by two tributaries flowing in from the west, the Damodar and the Rupnarayan. As the Ganges passes from West Bengal into Bangladesh, a number of distributaries branch off to the south into the river's vast delta. In Bangladesh the Ganges is joined by the mighty Brahmaputra (which is called the Jamuna in Bangladesh) near Goalundo Ghat. The combined stream, there called the Padma, joins with the Meghna River above Chandpur. The waters then flow through the delta region to the Bay of Bengal via innumerable channels, the largest of which is known as the Meghna estuary.

The Ganges-Brahmaputra system has the third greatest average discharge of the world's rivers, at roughly 1,086,500 cubic feet (30,770 cubic metres) per second; approximately 390,000 cubic feet (11,000 cubic metres) per second is supplied by the Ganges alone. The rivers' combined suspended sediment load of about 1.84 billion tons per year is the world's highest.

Dhaka (Dacca), the capital of Bangladesh, stands on the Buriganga ("Old Ganges"), a tributary of the Dhaleswari. Apart from the Hugli and the Meghna, the other distributary streams that form the Ganges delta are, in West Bengal, the Jalangi River and, in Bangladesh, the Matabhanga, Bhairab, Kabadak, Garai-Madhumati, and Arial Khan rivers.

The Ganges, as well as its tributaries and distributaries, is constantly vulnerable to changes in its course in the delta region. Such changes have occurred in comparatively recent times, especially since 1750. In 1785 the Brahmaputra flowed past the city of Mymensingh; it now flows more than 40 miles (65 km) west of it before joining the Ganges.

The delta, the seaward prolongation of sediment deposits from the Ganges and Brahmaputra river valleys, is about 220 miles (355 km) along the coast and covers an area of some 23,000 square miles (60,000 square km). It is composed of repeated alternations of clays, sands, and marls, with recurring layers of peat, lignite, and beds of what were once forests. The new deposits of the delta, known in Hindi and Urdu as the khadar, naturally occur in the vicinity of the present channels. The delta's growth is dominated by tidal processes.

The southern surface of the Ganges delta has been formed by the rapid and comparatively recent deposition of enormous loads of sediment. To the east the seaward side of the delta is being changed at a rapid rate by the formation of new lands, known as chars, and new islands. The western coastline of the delta, however, has remained practically unchanged since the 18th century.

The rivers in the West Bengal area are sluggish; little water passes down them to the sea. In the Bangladeshi delta region, the rivers are broad and active, carrying plentiful water and connected by innumerable creeks. During the rains (June to October) the greater part of the region is flooded to a depth of 3 or more feet (at least 1 metre), leaving the villages and homesteads, which are built on artificially raised land, isolated above the floodwaters. Communication between settlements during that season can be accomplished only by boat.

To the seaward side of the delta as a whole, there is a vast stretch of tidal mangrove forests and swampland. The region, called the Sundarbans, is protected by India and Bangladesh for conservation purposes. Each country's portion of the Sundarbans has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, India's in 1987 and Bangladesh's in 1997.

In certain parts of the delta there occur layers of peat, composed of the remains of forest vegetation and rice plants. In many natural depressions, known as bil s, peat, still in the process of formation, has been used as a fertilizer by local farmers, and it has been dried and used as a domestic and industrial fuel.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ganges River | History, Map, Location, Pollution, & Facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ganges River, Hindi Ganga, great river of the plains of the northern Indian subcontinent. Although officially as well as popularly called the Ganga in Hindi and in other Indian languages, internationally it is known by its conventional name, the Ganges. From time immemorial it has been the holy river of Hinduism.

# data[].attributes.headline
Classroom practices in Indian Education 

# data[].attributes.subject
Classroom practices in Indian Education 

# data[].attributes.body
Teachers in India are revered, as the idea of the guru is sacred. Children are taught to respect their elders and work together, as community is important in Indian society. Teachers face challenges of large student to teach ratios (as they can teach classes of 40 students), lack of resources and teacher training.

Amita Gupta speaks about education, classroom practices and Indian ideals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Early Childhood Education, Postcolonial Theory & Teaching Practices in India

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Speaker: Amita Gupta Conceptualized within a socio-cultural constructivist and postcolonial paradigm, the book explores a definite tension between "Western" theories of child development and the "Indian" ways of being and thinking.

# data[].attributes.body
"India, a union of states, is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government. The President is the constitutional head of Executive of the Union. In the states, the Governor, as the representative of the President, is the head of Executive. The system of government in states closely resembles that of the Union. There are 29 states and 7 Union territories in the country. Union Territories are administered by the President through an Administrator appointed by him/her. From the largest to the smallest, each State/UT of India has a unique demography, history and culture, dress, festivals, language etc."
- Tribal Cultural Heritage in India Foundation

# data[].attributes.body
"India is the birthplace of some of the world’s largest religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. As well as these, modern India also has a significant amount of Christians and Muslims. Some rural Indian tribes also have unique religions and beliefs. Each religion’s traditions are recognised and celebrated by Indian people; India has over 60 public holidays a year to commemorate significant days or events in each religion, such as Good Friday for Christian belief and the End of Ramadan for Muslims."
- Intercultural Communication

# data[].attributes.body
Interviewed for the project, Pranitha was happy to share about her experiences in India. She is pictured far left, with her two daughters and husband dressed traditionally. The family lives in Florida, where both parents are employed as engineers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Get an Up-Close Look at the Colorful Holi Festival | National Geographic

# data[].attributes.body
Interviewed for the project, Soma was very excited when I mentioned I would be doing a study of India's culture. We met during our years attending Albright College and I was excited to touch base with her after all these years. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and is employed at the Carnegie Science Center. Soma is also a mendhi artist and creates beautiful designs for her clients.

# data[].attributes.body
An important festival celebrated in India between October and November. The festival represents the triumph of good over evil and references the story of the battle between the exiled king Rama and the demon king Ravana.

Diwali is a busy shopping time, as various gifts are exchanged between families and friends (gold, as it is though to bring wealth, and new clothes). Families clean the house and decorate it with colorful lights and diyas (candles), gather for a large feast with many Indian sweets and a magnificent fireworks display.

# data[].attributes.body
Regarded as one of the "Wonders of the World", the Taj Mahal stands as a memorial to  Mumtaj Mahal. The structure was built by the famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1648, according to Cultural India (http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/index.html ).

# data[].attributes.body
The former president of India Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil was the first Indian woman president. Prior to her candidacy, she already held office as the first woman Governor of Rajasthan. Patil held office from July 25, 2007 to July 25, 2012.
- Pratibha Devisingh Patil

# data[].attributes.body
According to her Facebook artist page, "Raja Kumari ('The daughter of the king’ in Tamil), is an Indian American songwriter, rapper and recording artist." Raised in America, she struggled to come to terms with her Indian culture. Now, she proudly mixes an American hiphop sound with Indian influences.

In this music video, Raja shares video of her experience in traditional dance in her childhood.Pranitha Jakilinki, interviewed for this cultural project, also dances traditionally in America and raises her two daughters to do the same.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Download "The Come Up" on iTunes: http://bit.ly/RajaTCU Stream "The Come Up" on Spotify: http://bit.ly/RKTCUSpotify Produced by JULES WOLFSON. Co-written by @kmajormusic. Includes interpolation of "Why This Kolaveri Di" by Dhanush. Directed by Shawn Thomas Visuals and Raja Kumari.

# data[].attributes.body
In 2016, 2.6 million graduated with majors in the STEM field in India.
- Forbes.

# data[].attributes.body
The capital city of India is located in north central part of the country.

# data[].attributes.body
According to New World Encyclopedia, the Constitution of India recognizes 23 languages, spoken in different parts the country.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Indian Street Food Tour in Mumbai, India | Street Food in India BEST Curry

# data[].attributes.body
Bollywood refers to India's Hindi language films production and is only a part of India's Indywood, or cinema. Most are musicals in nature, with music and dancing, and center in romance.

It is a family tradition for Pranitha's American family to enjoy Bollywood films together on weekends, even though they do not speak Hindi.

# data[].attributes.body
"The difficulty of math is such a severe problem throughout India that last month, the Bombay High Court asked educational boards to consider making mathematics optional in Class 10."
- Hindustan Times, 07/2017

Pranitha described mathematics in India as 2-3 years ahead of her classes in the U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
Many believe in reincarnation; that each living thing has a soul, and when it dies its soul will become a new living thing.

Thus, many Indians are vegetarians. An animal could be an ancestor, passed friend or family member. Eating meat before an Indian may be considered highly disrespectful.

# data[].attributes.body
Bhubaneswar

# data[].attributes.body
Learn some Hindi vocabulary.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
General dictionary || Learn Hindi Through English for kids || Spoken Hindi Basic for kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn Hindi Through English for kids || Spoken Hindi Basic for kids Pebbles presents ''Basic Hindi Words & Sentences Thro' English , to enable the children and new comers alike to speak Hindi freely through English. Fluency in any language leads one to acquire knowledge and face the world confidently.

# data[].attributes.body
Education is still revered and tied in with financial standing, many Indian parents wish to send their children to private schools. The passage of the Right to Education Act 2009 gave free and compulsory education to children ages 6-14. Unfortunately government and public schools are understaffed, underfunded and have inadequate infrastructure. (https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/india/family/schooling-education/school-system )

In my interview with Soma Chatterji, she mentions this about the study of the sciences in India, "As a science student in New York City, had Bio in 9th grade, Bio and Chem in 10th, and would be offered physics in 11th or 12th. In the school i went to in India, by the time you were in 7th grade, students were already doing all three core sciences."

# data[].attributes.body
[from Sandskrit: Bindu]
Often seen as a red dot between on the forehead on Hindu and Jain women, bindu is considered "the point at which creation begins and may become unity." It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state."

The area between the eyebrows was considered the third eye chakra, and is present in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The bindi is said to retain energy and help concentration. From Vedic times, men and women wore it to worship one's intellect.

Modern day, bindis can be worn for decorative purpose without religious affiliation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First time in India! - India Vlog Part 1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uploaded by Daniele Lemmi on 2014-09-04.

# data[].attributes.body
A pre-wedding tradition in Indian culture, in which a mehndi artist applies the intricate designs to the bride's hands and feet. The designs can often include the name or initials of the groom.

This photograph is used with permission of Soma Chatterji (a mendhi artist) during an event at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.