India and Her Uniqueness

All the countries in the world have something very unique about their culture, places, people or anything and I do respect that. Being a citizen of India, I would like to share some facts about this country with you, which has a rich history of culture going back to many, many years. Besides writing about people, places, festivals and also facts which you already know about, I will also be writing certain unique things which I have come across. These things may help you to a certain extent to know more about the country if you are planning to visit India because I know a first-time traveller to any part of the world will be a bit anxious and "concerned" when they are not sure about the new place. Don't worry, India is known for her hospitality and people here believe in one principle 'atithi devo bhavah' which means 'guest is God'. Namasthe, Welcome to India.

Vedas, the oldest writings of India, mention about Ancient India. It has been said that urban civilization first came into being with Indus Valley civilization in Ancient India as early as 5500 BCE. India has been at the forefront of world trade since ancient times as evidenced by different traveller's notes. The main source of trade was the well-known spices of India and the rich resources she possessed.

India - which is the second most populous country in the world - is the place of origin of 4 of the important religions in the world - Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. This has given birth to a diversified cultural heritage which in itself is very unique.

I would like to list some of the most important values that India believes in, which can bring peace and prosperity to the whole world:

- Atithi devo bhavah.

- Ahimsa - Nonviolence and respect to other living creatures or things.

- Vasudaiva kutumbakam - the whole world is a family.

- Unity in diversity - India is home to 22 official languages.

- Yoga, Ayurveda, Spirituality.

- India is the world's largest democracy.

India is home to a diverse geographic area coupled with a mix of all kinds of climates at different regions. In the north, there are a number of hill stations along the Himalayan mountain ranges, which can get lot cooler during winter with snowfalls making it favorite spot for the skiers. Going to the south you have 'God's Own Country' - Kerala with its greeneries and backwaters. Karnataka is known for Mysuru palace, Dussehra festival and Humpi to name some. Tami Nadu is famous for its rich cultural heritage. Kanyakumari is at the southernmost tip of India where 3 oceans - Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean merge. Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, which is the wealthiest temple in India, is a must-visit place. Maharashtra and Gujarat in the west and the much un-explored northeastern states have many unique gifts in store for the travellers. It has a long coastline with one of the famous beaches in Goa, Kovalam in Kerala down south.

India is known for a number of festivals which run throughout the year. Widely celebrated among them are Diwali - the festival of lights - October or November, Holi - the festival of colors - March, Navratri - October or November, Ganesh Chaturthi - September, Bihu, Pongal and Onam.

An article about India is not complete without mentioning about the food that India has to offer. India's spices are world renowned. Obviously, India is known for spicy, colorful, mouth-watering ethnic food and other delicacies. To name some biryani, butter chicken, chicken tikka, palak paneer, pani puri, samosa, tandoori chicken, sambar and rotis like naan roti, paratha, idli, vada, dosa. Sweets like Jalebi, gulab jamun, rasagulla, gajar ka halwa, laddu, are worth a try for the sweet-loving people.

I have made my sincere efforts to cover most of the aspects, but in an effort to keep the article concise might have omitted certain additional facts here.