India is the seventh largest country by Geographical area, the second most populous county and the most populous democracy in the world. India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west, the Indian Ocean on the south,
India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers. It is bordered by Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east, Pakistan to the west, People’s Republic of China (PRC), Nepal, and Bhutan to the north, and India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean. India has four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. India’s history goes back to 3,200 BC when Hinduism was first founded. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism. Judaism. Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam all exist within the country today.
India got its independence from Britain in 1947 after a long struggle led mostly by Mahatma Gandhi. Marked by widespread nonviolent resistance In the process of becoming independent, India became, two countries instead of one (India and Pakisthan). In the years since independence India has made huge progress and coped with great problems, and has developed its industry and its agriculture, and has maintained a system of government which makes it the largest democracy in the world. India is a republic consisting of 28 states and seven union territories with a parliamentary system of democracy.
Home to the Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Economic reforms since 1991 have transformed it into one of the fastest growing economies. However, India still suffers from high levels of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition. Its ancient monuments are the backdrop for the world’s largest democracy where atomic energy is generated and industrial development has brought the country within the world’s top ten nations.
Indian Temples were raised to the house the Gods and became the focal point for the community. They also became centers of learning and contributed to the advancement of such arts as sculpture, painting, music and dance. Most of the Indian temples are built by kings encouraging continuity and enriching rituals of worship.
Culture of dancing raised from the temple dancers who performed dance for the lord. Kulvantalu in Andhra Pradesh, Devdasi in Tamilnadu, Maibi in Manipur and Mahari in Orissa, all trace their roots to the temple. The countless sculptures of dance poses in the temples show a path to spiritual exaltation, it is said that the greater part of vocabulary of Odissi dance is preserved in stone.
Indian festivals are packed with fun and excitement, festivals serve as an occasion to clean and decorate houses, to get together with friends and relatives and to exchange gifts.