5.Control 8.S.St.Respecting Regional Differences

Control 8

Respecting Regional Differences Anitam in In Bhogpur district of Punjab, people belonging to different castes, religions live in harmony.  There are no signs of any discrimination among different communities.  They respect all the religions.  They celebrate festivals like Deepawali.  Holi, Eid, Guru Bhogpur Nanak Jayanti, Mahaveer Jayanti, etc.  , together.  They speak different languages ​​like Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bhojpuri, etc.  Most people here are vegetarians but they respect the choice of those who enjoy non vegetarian food.  Alike, people wear different types of dresses.  The women wear salwar - kameez, sarees and lahenga - choli.  The wear kurta - pyjama, tehmad - shirt, salwar - kameez or pant - shirt.  Map of Punjab Leth SAN Pasaia men India is a vast country.  People living in different regions of our country have different food habits, wear different dresses, speak different languages, and follow different religions, customs and traditions.  The food habits of the people of a region depend upon the geographical location, climate and agriculture.  For example, an amazing variety of rice dishes are cooked in South India as rice is 48

cultivated widely in this region.  Almonds grow in Kashmir and henco, form an important ingredient of many Kashmiri dishes.  In this chapter we will discuss about Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the state of Rajasthan to highlight the diversification of cultures in India.  The understanding and respect for the food habits, languages, culture, faiths and beliefs of others have made Indian culture rich and unique.  ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS North Andamon Middle Andaman Andaman and Nicobar is a group of 527 islands in the Bay of Bengal.  But only 38 islands are inhabited mainly by six groups of tribals like the Great Andamanese, the Jarawas, the Sentinelese, the Onges, the Nicobarese and the Shompens.  They still maintain their traditional life - style and live in harmony with nature.  Lower Andomon Port Blair seuns.  yule Andaman ANDAMAN ISLANDS Tride Cor Nicobar NICOBAR SLANDS Food habits Bompoka Tarasa Nancowry In earlier times all the tribes Kotcholl here were hunters.  Hence, there Unte Great Nicobar miles Nicobor was no particular form of cuisine.  Map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands But sea food like fish, prawns, crabs, lobsters, etc.  , is quite popular.  The increasing touch with the rest of India has popularized a great variety of food here.  You can easily find North Indian and 49

Bengali food here.  Vegetarian South Indian food is as common.  Rice is the staple diet of the people.  The main crops grown here are pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, coconut, areca nut, mango, sapota, orange, banana, papaya, pineapple and cashew.  Spices like pepper, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon are important ingredients of the food of the people.  Dress earlier the tribals did not wear clothes.  The Sentinelese tribe does not wear any clothes even now.  The Jarawas use a lot of jewellery to adorn their bodies.  These include necklaces made of shell and barks of trees, arm bands and waist bands.  The Shompens use clothes only below their waist.  But many tribals have now started wearing proper clothes.  Tribal people Religion The religion of the inhabitants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is called Animism.  The tribals believe that their deity Paluga earlier lived at the highest mountain peak of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands - the Saddle Peak, but now the deity lives higher up in the sky.  Followers of Animism the followers of this religion believe in souls, ghosts and spirits.  Many people follow Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism as well.  50

Dance and Music The islanders celebrate most Indian Do you know?  festivals like Durga Puja, Pongal, the harmonious blend of different Panguni Uthiram, Onam, Mahashivaratri, religions, languages ​​and ethnic groups Janmashtami, Holi, Diwali, Christmas has made the Andaman and Nicobar and Good Friday with dance and music.  Islands famous as 'Mini India'.  Nicobari dance is the traditional dance of Andaman and Nicobar.  It can be seen during the Ossuary Feast which is commonly known as the Pig Festival.  The Andamanese are fond of their own original music.  The Onge tribe sings to accompany the dancers.  Languages ​​The most common languages ​​in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Hindi and English.  People also speak Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Oriya, Gujarati and Karen.  The Karen language has Burmese script and alphabets.  The tribals have their own dialects.  Only the Nicobarese dialect has a script of its own.  RAJASTHAN Rajasthan is a favorite tourist destination for Indian as well as foreign tourists.  They are attracted to its colorful history, folk music, dances, palaces, forts and havelies.  Jaipur, the capital city, is famous as the 'Pink City'.  Food habits The cuisine of Rajasthan is mainly dependent on pulses, beans, gram and spices as it is difficult to grow Hawa Mahal.  Jaipur 51

vegetables because of scarcity of water in the desert.  Hence, the traditional dishes like Gatte - ki - kadi, Pakodi and Dal - Batti - Choorma are based on grains and pulses.  Do you know?  Khud Khargosh (rabbit meat cooked in a pit) is a famous Rajput specialty.  Most people in Rajasthan today are vegetarian although the Rajput warriors were fond of eating dishes made from their hunts.  Dress the dyers of Rajasthan are masters in the art of tie and dye.  The colorful dresses made from bandhini, lehariya and motra are world famous.  There is a great demand for Rajasthani ghagras, odhinis and cholis with embroidery, mirror and gota work.  The Rajasthani men wear traditional dresses like dhoti, banda and angarkha.  Art of tie and dye Do you know?  The style of wearing a turban differs from one part of Rajasthan to another.  Styles of wearing a turban Religion The Hindus worship God Agni, Vishnu, Varuna, Sun, Shiva and Goddess Shakti.  Brahma temple in Pushkar attracts thousands of pilgrims.  Many people follow Jainism, Christanity and Islam.  They celebrate Brahma temple, Pushkar 52

a variety of festivals like Tee), Gangaur, Diwali, Dusshera, Christmas, Id, etc.  Do you know?  The famous shrine of Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, is in Ajmer.  Dance and Music Rajasthanis celebrate life with song and dance.  The songs of poets like Kabir, Malookdas, Meera are an important part of the folk music of Rajasthan.  Some Rajasthani communities like Bhats, Charans, Bhopas and Dholis are famous musicians.  The popular dances of Rajasthan are Ghoomer, Charl, Kachi Ghodi, etc.  Bhats of Rajasthan Ghoomer dance of Rajasthan Languages ​​The main language of Rajasthan is Hindi but many dialects like Marwari, Mewari, Mewati, Dhundhari, etc.  , are spoken here.  Isn't it wonderful to have such a variation in one country?  We must respect the regional differences as they are an integral part of Indian heritage.  53