Indian Culture and Music

1. Indian Culture and MusicIndian Culture and Music
2008 Fulbright Summer2008 Fulbright Summer
Seminar to India & Sri LankaSeminar to India & Sri Lanka

2. India-South Asian Adventure!India-South Asian Adventure!
““Unity throughUnity through
diversity” is thediversity” is the
theme of thetheme of the
approximatelyapproximately
oneone billionbillion peoplepeople
that live in athat live in a
country that is socountry that is so
big, it’s called abig, it’s called a
subcontinentsubcontinent!!

3. India’s People Come in All ShapesIndia’s People Come in All Shapes
and Sizes, Just Like American Peopleand Sizes, Just Like American People
 People withPeople with
different clothingdifferent clothing
 People withPeople with
different religionsdifferent religions
 People withPeople with
different foodsdifferent foods
 People withPeople with
differentdifferent
celebrationscelebrations

4. India’s GovernmentIndia’s Government
India is theIndia is the
world’sworld’s
largestlargest
democracydemocracy

5. Famous IndiansFamous Indians
Gandhi,Gandhi,
India’s greatestIndia’s greatest
peacemaker,peacemaker,
who influencedwho influenced
Martin LutherMartin Luther
King, Jr.King, Jr.

6. Where People Live in IndiaWhere People Live in India
Many IndianMany Indian
people live inpeople live in
villages invillages in
rural Indiarural India

7. Where People Live in IndiaWhere People Live in India
 Other people in IndiaOther people in India
live in large cities, likelive in large cities, like
– New Dehli, the capitalNew Dehli, the capital
– Mumbai (West)Mumbai (West)
 Home of Bollywood,Home of Bollywood,
India’s HollywoodIndia’s Hollywood
– Kolkata (East)Kolkata (East)
– Deccan (SouthernDeccan (Southern
Plateau), with citiesPlateau), with cities
like Bangalore andlike Bangalore and
ChennaiChennai

8. India’s People Eat Many FoodsIndia’s People Eat Many Foods
 RiceRice
 VegetablesVegetables
 SeafoodSeafood
 Meat-however, cowsMeat-however, cows
are considered sacredare considered sacred
by Hindus, many ofby Hindus, many of
whom are vegetarianwhom are vegetarian
 Masala-spicesMasala-spices
 Tea-common drinkTea-common drink

9. India’s People Have DifferentIndia’s People Have Different
Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs
HinduismHinduism
BuddhismBuddhism
Islam (Muslims)Islam (Muslims)
SikkhismSikkhism
ChristianityChristianity
JudaismJudaism

10. India’sIndia’s
HistoryHistory
 Indian civilization is ancientIndian civilization is ancient
 The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first civilizations on earthThe Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first civilizations on earth
 The Vedic period was a time in Indian history when the Hindu religion andThe Vedic period was a time in Indian history when the Hindu religion and
caste system began in Indiacaste system began in India
 Mughal Empire was the last and the strongest Islamic empire in IndiaMughal Empire was the last and the strongest Islamic empire in India

11. Agra & the Taj MahalAgra & the Taj Mahal
Agra is a largeAgra is a large
city in northerncity in northern
IndiaIndia
It is the home ofIt is the home of
India’s greatestIndia’s greatest
historicalhistorical
monument, themonument, the
Taj MahalTaj Mahal

12. Transportation in IndiaTransportation in India
 PlanesPlanes
 TrainsTrains
 CarsCars
 RickshawsRickshaws
 Camel & donkeyCamel & donkey
cartscarts
 BicyclesBicycles
 WalkingWalking

13. Traditional Music of IndiaTraditional Music of India
HindustaniHindustani
means classicalmeans classical
music of Northmusic of North
IndiaIndia
Carnatic meansCarnatic means
classical musicclassical music
of South Indiaof South India

14. Traditional ElementsTraditional Elements
of Indian Musicof Indian Music
MelodyMelody (raga)(raga)
DroneDrone
(harmony)(harmony)
RhythmRhythm (tala)(tala)

15. Indian InstrumentsIndian Instruments
StringString
WindWind
PercussionPercussion

16. India’s People and the MusicalIndia’s People and the Musical
Instruments of India Are Very Diverse!Instruments of India Are Very Diverse!
India, theIndia, the
land ofland of
“Unity“Unity
throughthrough
diversity!”diversity!”