INTRODUCTION:-India is home to several thousand ethnic groups, tribes, castes, and religions. The castes and sub-castes in each region relate to each other through a permanent hierarchical structure, with each caste having its own name, traditional occupation, rank, and distinctive subculture. Tribes usually do not have a caste hierarchy but often have their own internal hierarchical organization.
The Indian society is “regionally diverse (north/south/east/west), communally differentiated (Hindu/Muslim/Sikh/Christian/Buddhist, etc.), socially stratified (in terms of caste or class) and culturally discrete”. India is a multicultural country with multitudinous groups and subgroups. The total geographic area is 329 million acres, which is roughly the size of Western Europe and is inhabited by one million people. India is a vast country with diverse regional and sub-regional variations. The country abounds with economic, caste, ethnic, religion, and linguistic diversities. This further makes it an arduous task to understand the consumption pattern and consumer behavior in India. The discussion of values of any society is a difficult task, and the difficulty increases manifold when it involves India, where values vary based on religion, language, religion, sect, caste, class, and ethnicity. The social structure, religion, family, and kinship of the Indian society help in conceptualizing and comprehending its cultural profile to some extent. There are several components by which we identify the socio-cultural orientation of the people of the particular place. In the case of India, there is a lot of diversity like languages, race, religion, ethnic groups, food habitats, traditions, lifestyle, etc. Several components of socio-cultural aspects make it difficult to classify India in Socio-Cultural division. Further study of those things We select Some major components for our work report on the regionalization of India. Based on this component's language, race, caste, culture, Dress, Food habits, and religions classification of Indian people into Socio-Cultural groups. Depending on their location we try to classify them into different Socio-Cultural Regions.
(1) LANGUAGE: -People of India speak a large number of languages which are broadly divided into the following four families: -
A. Indo-European Family (Arya),
B. Dravidian Family (Dravida),
C. Austric Family (Nishada), and
D. Sino Tibetan Family (Kirata).
Indian linguistic regions are extremely heterogeneous and diverse. For our discussion, it has been divided based on four geographical regions: Northern, Central, Southern, Western, and Eastern.
(1) Northern Zone: This comprises the region between the Himalayas in the north and the Vindhya ranges in the south. This region includes states like Punjab (including western Punjab now in Pakistan), Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, part of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Assam, etc. In this area, the languages derived from Sanskrit are spoken by the majority of the population and the languages are Sindhi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Hindi, Bihari, Bengali, Asami, and Nepali. North India is dominated by the Proto-Australoid racial elements (Hasnain 2003). The main languages spoken in this region belong to Indo-European or the Aryan language. Punjabi identity is mainly defined by language.
(2) Central and Western Zone: This zone comprises regions between the northern and southern zones and includes states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Kathiwad, Maharashtra, and Orissa. The main languages spoken here are Rajasthani, Hindi, Gujarati, Kathiawadi, Marathi, and Uriya are spoken which are of Sanskrit origin, so there is a close affinity to the northern zone. But within this region, there are large segments of people who speak Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic languages. As this Zone lies between northern, southern, and eastern zones it is influenced by all these regions though not uniformly. In Rajasthan, Kathiawad, and Gujarat only Sanskritic languages are spoken. The Western region of India comprises regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra majority of the people speak the Sanskritic language, while many people in the east speak Dravidian languages and Marathi includes many words of Dravidian origin. In Orissa more than one-fourth of the population is tribal and the languages spoken here belong to all three linguistic families in India.
(3) Southern Zone: This region encompasses those parts of southern and central India where the languages of the Dravidian family are spoken and can be divided into five regions: Karnataka where the Kannada language is spoken; Andhra Pradesh or Telingana, where Telugu is spoken; Tamil Nadu where the language is Tamil; Kerala or Malabar where the Malayalam is spoken; the region from north of Andhra Pradesh through Bastar and Western Orissa into Southern Bihar where several mixed languages are spoken. The Dravidian languages are related in both form and history (Trautmann 1993).
(4) Eastern Zone: This zone comprises regions of regions in the east and northeast where languages belonging to the Austro-Asiatic family of languages are spoken. The Eastern region is dominated by the Mongoloid race (Hasnain 2003 p.153). The Sino-Tibetan family languages are spoken mainly by the tribal belts of the North-East but Bengali which belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family is predominately spoken in West Bengal
(2) FOOD HABITS: - Food habits are based on which crops are grown in that definite region. Whatever is grown in that region is easily and locally available and hence food recipes would be based more on that particular grain grown in that region. Since India is meant for unity in diversity, there are different cultures following the different styles of food habits. Though they are all Indians, the style of cooking and taste preference varies based on the region. Some of the cultural differences of the Indian food habits are mentioned below-
(A) Northern Zone:- Food in north India, to begin with, Kashmiri cuisines reflect strong Central Asian influences. In Kashmir, mostly all the dishes are prepared around the main course of rice found abundantly in the beautiful valley. Rogan Josh is a delicious non-vegetarian item on the menu of Jammu & Kashmir which is a simple yet the most royal item. Another delicious item cooked here is the 'Saag' that is prepared with a green leafy vegetable known as the 'Hak. But on the other hand, states like the Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh show high consumption of chapatis as a staple food. Again, these chapatis are prepared with a variety of flours such as wheat, rice, Maida, besan, etc. Besides chapatis, other closely related slices of bread baked in these regions include Tandoori, Resmi Kabab, Rumaali and Naan, etc. In Punjab‘Makki Roti’ is a cornmeal Indian bread that tastes fabulous with ‘Sarson saag’ – mustard green and a glass of Lassi. However, in the northern region impact of Mughlai food is quite obvious. Lots of oil mostly peanuts oil, ghee, butter along with rice spices are used as the medium for cooking which led the north Indian food to very strong flavor. Meat also enjoys a special place in north Indian cosine. A variety of kebabs and biriyanis bear with the Mughal legacy. Samosa is possibly the most popular snack in north India. Lassi is another beverage made from curd, which has an overwhelming taste. Gulab jamun, Motichur laddu are popular in this region.
(B) Central and Western Zone:-In western India, the desert cuisine is famous for its unique taste and varieties of food. Rajasthan and Gujarat are the states that represent the dessert flavor of Indian food. Here an immense variety of dals and achars (pickles/preserves) is used that simply substitutes the relative lack of fresh vegetables in these areas. Gujarat is heaven in India for vegetarians. Traditional Gujarati food is adored for its distinctive flavor that maintains an interesting balance between spices and sweetness. Famous foods consist of Undhiyu, Handvo, Khandvi, Khaman Dhokla, Thepla, Muthiya, Fayda, Khicho. Just as the people of Gujarat; their dishes are also very traditional. The flavors are basically a beautiful amalgamation of sweet, sour, and spicy tastes. The state of Rajasthan isn't only distinguished in light of its immense deserts, wonderful palaces, and dynamic history—it is likewise celebrated for its luscious cuisine. The state presents an assortment of delicacies when it comes to food. A standout amongst the most tempting dishes is the daal-baati. In the states like Maharashtra, the food is usually a mix of both north as well as south cooking styles. Here people use both rice and wheat with the same interest. Along the coastline of Mumbai, a wide variety of fish is available. Some of the delicious preparations include dishes like the Bombay Prawn and Pomfret. In Goa, which is further down towards the south, one can notice Portuguese influence in the cooking style as well as in the dishes. Some of the major dishes of this region are the sweet and sour Vindaloo, duck baffled, sorpotel and egg molies, etc.
(C) Eastern Zone:- In eastern India, the Bengali and Assamese styles of cooking are noticeable. The staple food of Bengalis is the yummy combination of rice and fish. Usually, the Bengalis love eating varieties of fish. A special way of preparing the delicacy known as 'Hilsa' is by wrapping it in the pumpkin leaf and then cooking it. Another unusual ingredient that is commonly used in Bengali cooking is the 'Bamboo Shoot'. Various sweets prepared in this region, by using milk include the 'Roshogollas', 'Sandesh', 'Cham-cham' and many more. In eastern India, mustard oil is mostly used as cooking oil. Like many other parts of the country, rice is a staple in Assam too. Laksa is a delicious noodle soup that is made using rice noodles. The rice noodles are mixed with chicken, prawn, or fish with a blend of coconut milk, tamarind, and spices to come up with a delightfully soul-satisfying broth. Thukpa is known to have originated in Tibet but the dish has traveled far and beyond and is now a favorite amongst the locals of Arunachal Pradesh and Darjeeling people. It is prepared with flat noodles along with meat or locally available hill veggies. one of the smallest states in India, Tripura is not smaller in any aspect as compared to other states especially when it comes to food and delicacies. The culture and rich food of Tripura speaks for itself and one such delicacy is Mui Borok a traditionally cooked fish and The Naga cuisine is famous for its meats and fish which are often cooked through the process of smoking, fermenting, etc.
(D) Southern Zone:- In southern India, the states make great use of spices, fish, and coconuts, as most of them have coastal kitchens. In the foods of Tamil Nadu use of tamarind is frequently made to impart sourness to the dishes. Tamil Nadu is always meant for idle and dosas served with a different types of chutneys and sambars. It simply distinguishes Tamil Food from other cuisines. The cooking style of Andhra Pradesh is supposed to make excessive use of chilies, which is obviously to improve the taste of the dishes, Hyderabad biryani is unique among all the types, and Pesarattu, different varieties of upma are unique to Telegu state. In Kerala, some of the delicious dishes are the lamb stew and appams, Malabar fried prawns, Idlis, Dosas, fish molie, and rice puttu. Another famous item of this region is sweetened coconut milk. Yet another dish is Puttu, which is glutinous rice powder steamed like a pudding in a bamboo shoot. Coconut oil along the western coast, especially in Kerala. Gingelly (sesame) oil is common in the south since it imparts a fragrant, nutty aroma.
(3) DRESES: -India is a land of diversity but also an embodiment of unity in just the most inclusive of ways. With different cultures prevalent in the different states of India, it is only evident that each region will have its own separate identity- food, language, dress, etc. Some of the cultural differences of the Indian Dreses are mentioned below-
(A) Northern Zone: - A major part of North India like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal experience extreme cold climate most part of the year, that requires proper clothing. In Jammu and Kashmir colorful Pherans and Shawls are worn by women, which are popular for the intricate embroidery styles and the stuff they are made of. They also wear Poots or double gowns that look colorful due to the unique threadwork as part of the embroidery. They cover their heads with well-tucked embroidered scarves. It is said that a Kashmiri dress is incomplete without the accessories that comprise Kashmiri earrings known as Jhumkis or Chand-baale. The men wear long robes made of pure wool known as Goucha, which is tightened at the waist. They wear long boots made of animal skin which keep their feet warm to manage the extreme cold. But in Punjab and Haryana, women wear short Ghaghras or skirts, Kurtis and Chunder or Chunris to go well with them. These Chunders may be of various colors and tucked with lovely laces. They are used to cover the head which is a ‘Riwaaz’ for married women here. The men wear Dhoti, Kurta, and Pagri. Holding their Lathh, they look typical Haryanvi. The Pagri or headgear is usually the same but is tied and worn in different ways by people of different regions and that makes it look different. Apart from these, the usual lehengas and ghagras, and laches are also worn.
(B) Western Zone: - The western region of India comprises Rajasthan and Gujarat that experience very hot and dry summers and chilly winters. Rajasthan is also known for an opulent sense of colors as seen in their lively and radiant costumes. Unlike the somber and sandy backdrop, the amazing mirror, bead, and stonework on them make them dazzle reflecting a wide array of colors. Due to extreme weather conditions, the people cover themselves adequately. The village belles wear bright-colored Ghaghra-Cholis and Odhnis that are adorned with explicit gota and zari work. Rajasthani women also wear Bandhini tie-n-dye sarees. They wear head-to-toe ornaments like Maang-teeka, Matha-Patti, Rakhdi or Ghundi for forehead, Kanthi for the neck area, Pajeb or anklets, Arsi or ring, and Kanghan or bangles. These jewelry items are either made of gold, silver, or brass. The Kundan and Lac jewelry of Rajasthan is quite popular. The men wear Dhoti, Portia, Angrakha, Banda, Dhabla, Pachewara, and Bugatari. The most essential part of clothing is that headdress or turban or Pancha or Safa, tied uniquely. Both men and women wear Jootis, either made of animal skin or hard cloth. They are embroidered to match up well with the costumes worn. `In rural parts of Gujarat, the men wear cotton-made Chrono or shorts that are worn as lower and Angarakhu the upper clothing. Along with this, they wear a thickly folded turban that is called Fenton. Women wear the heavily embroidered Chaniyo the petticoat and the equally embroidered bodice known as Choli. They cover their head and upper body with Odhni the colored piece of cloth. They also wear saris in colorful Gujarati prints. Males wear Dhoti, coat, and turban. Ornaments worn both by males and females include kanthi round the neck, kandora at the waist, and vintage worn-in fingers. They are usually made of silver. Maharashtrian men wear Dhoti and shirts along with the headgear Pheta or Patka or Rumal. The women wear a typical Maharashtrian sari known as Lugade with a mega-sleeved Choli or blouse. They wear the sari differently by tucking it between the legs. They get that traditional Marathi look by wearing the typical Nathni or nose-ring.
(C) Eastern Zone: - In the Eastern part of India, Traditional Bengali women wear a white saree with a red border, especially during festivals or special occasions. The men wear dhoti-kurta which is again the traditional attire of Bengal though most men of today hardly know how to wear one. The traditional costumes of north-east India comprising of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, are far different from that of the rest of Indian clothes. Women in Assam wear special Assam silk sarees. They also wear the three-piece dress known as Mekhla Chador. There are many tribals in Arunachal Pradesh. The Buddhist Monpas tribal women wear sleeveless chemise and a jacket over it. A printed cloth is tied over their waist. Along with the dress, they wear lots of artificial jewelry. The women of the Naga tribe wear a lovely woven petticoat and a blouse. Manipuri women wear Innaphi the shawl, a wrap-around called Panek, and a hard-stuff skirt called as Sarong. During the festive season, for bridals and for dance performances, the women wear Potlois. In Meghalaya, the Garo tribal women wear an unstitched cloth known as Jensen and a wrap-around. They wear the lovely Endi shawls which are quite popular for the fine work done on them. The Khasi women wear ankle-length Jensen with a blouse and a cotton shawl known as tap-moh khlieh. They wear lots of gold and silver ornaments on special occasions. The Mizo women wear bright-colored Puan that looks like regular churidar-kurta. For weddings, they wear Puanchei. They wear head-dress in dance performances. The Hallam, Khalkloo, Lushei, and Kuki-Chin wear lovely woven clothes. The Khakloo tribe wears Rinnai a draped cloth around the waist, along with Risa worn in the upper part.
(D) Southern Zone: - The clothing styles of all the states of south-India are almost the same. The traditional dresses of Indian women in Kerala are white-colored silk sari with a broad golden zari border. As the trends have been changing now, the people wear lots of colors and designs. Men wear Lungis and shirt or short Kurta. On special occasions, they wear Mundu and Neriathu which match with the female costume in white color and golden zari border. There are many tribals in Karnataka and the attire they are found in depict their love and experimentation with colors. Men wear Lungis and a shirt along with a piece of silk or cotton cloth known as Angavastram that is kept casually on their neck, covering the shoulder area. Women wear Saris of various color combinations. The Kodava women in the state wear sari differently with pleats at the back. They also wear lovely scarves on their heads, which is a rare and strange combination. In Andhra Pradesh, women commonly wear Sarees and men wear Dhoti-Kurta. Some Muslim women wear Salwar and Kameez while men wear Kurta-Pajama with a special Fez cap. The Lambadi tribe of Andhra is known for the lovely colors of beads and mirror-studded costumes they wear. They wear scarves on their shoulders. The women wear long-sleeved Choli and Sarees or Dhotis. Most south-Indian women wear Kanchipuram silk sarees that look beautiful with bright borders and heavy goldwork. Cotton, chiffon, and crepe are also worn by the women. With a wide range of costumes that people wear in India, the fashion trends about western outfits have been bringing about several changes in clothing style. Yet, the traditional wears are seen during special occasions like festivals and marriages, and in villages. The explicit artwork on these costumes of India makes them unique. No matter how westernized we may turn, our traditional outfits have always enticed and will stay in demand even among people across the borders and seas.
(4) DANCE: -India has had a long romance with the art of dance. The Hindu Sanskrit texts Nātyaśāstra (Science of Dance) and Abhinaya Darpana (Mirror of Gesture) are estimated to be from 200 BCE to the early centuries of the 1st millennium CE. The Indian art of dance as taught in these ancient books, according to Ragini Devi, is the expression of inner beauty and the divine in man. It is a deliberate art, nothing is left to chance, each gesture seeks to communicate the ideas, each facial expression the emotions. Indian dance includes eight classical dance forms, many in narrative forms with mythological elements. The eight classical forms accorded classical dance status by India's National Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama are: Bharatanatyam of the TamilNadu, kathak of Uttar Pradesh, kathakali and mohiniattam of Kerala, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, yakshagana of Karnataka, Manipuri of Manipur, Odissi (Orissa) of the state of Odisha and the sattriya of Assa
(A) Northern Zone: -In northern India, some unique dance is most popular among the northern community which makes their culture different from other regions of India.
(I)Bhangra: -Bhangra is a type of traditional dance of the Indian subcontinent, originating in Sialkot in the Majha area of Punjab. The dance was associated primarily with the spring harvest festival Baisakhi. In a typical performance, several dancers executed vigorous kicks, leaps, and bends of the body to the accompaniment of short songs called boliyan and, most significantly, to the beat of a dhol (double-headed drum). A syncopated (accents on the weak beats), swinging rhythmic character that has generally remained the hallmark of any music that has come to bear the bhangra name
(ii)Kathak: -Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakas or storytellers. The term Kathak is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Katha meaning "story", and kathaka in Sanskrit means "he who tells a story", or "to do with stories". Kathak evolved during the Bhakti movement, particularly by incorporating childhood and amorous stories of Hindu god Krishna, as well as independently in the courts of north Indian kingdoms. It transitioned, adapted, and integrated the tastes and Persian arts influence in the Mughal courts of the 16th and 17th century, was ridiculed and declined in the colonial British era, then was reborn as India gained independence. Kathak is found in three distinct forms, named after the cities where the Kathak dance tradition evolved – Jaipur, Benares, and Lucknow. Stylistically, the Kathak dance form emphasizes rhythmic foot movements, adorned with small bells (Ghungroo), the movement harmonized to the music, the legs and torso are generally straight, and the story is told through a developed vocabulary based on the gestures of arms and upper body movement, facial expressions, stage movements, bends, and turns.
(B) Southern Zone: -In south India we notice some ancient Indian culture performance of dance art some are mentioned below-
(I)Bharatanatyam:-Dating back to 1000 BC, Bharatanatyam is a classical dance from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music. Bharatanatyam is a major genre of Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions. Traditionally, Bharatanatyam has been a solo dance that was performed exclusively by women, and expressed Hindu religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism, but also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism. Bharatanatyam and other classical dances in India were ridiculed and suppressed during the colonial British Raj era. In the post-colonial period, it has grown to become the most popular classical Indian dance style in India and abroad, and is considered to be synonymous with Indian dance by many foreigners unaware of the diversity of dances and performance arts in Indian culture.
(II)Kathakali:-Kathakali (Katha, "story"; kali, "performance") is a highly stylized classical dance-drama form that originated from Kerala in the 17th century. This classical dance form is another "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by its elaborately colorful make-up, costumes, and face masks wearing actor-dancers, who have traditionally been all males. Kathakali primarily developed as a Hindu performance art, performing plays and mythical legends related to Hinduism.[56] While its origin is more recent, its roots are in the temple and folk arts such as Kutiyattam and religious drama traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE. A Kathakali performance incorporates movements from the ancient martial arts and athletic traditions of south India. While linked to the temple dancing traditions such as Krishnanattam, Kutiyattam, and others, Kathakali is different from these because, unlike the older arts where the dancer-actor also had to be the vocal artist, Kathakali separated these roles allowing the dancer-actor to excel in and focus on choreography while the vocal artists focused on delivering their lines.
(III)Mohiniyattam:- Mohiniyattam developed in the state of Kerala, gets its name from Mohini – the seductress avatar of Vishnu, who in Hindu mythology uses her charms to help the good prevail in a battle between good and evil. Mohiniyattam follows the Lasya style described in Natya Shastra, which is a delicate dance, with soft movements and feminine. It is traditionally a solo dance performed by women after extensive training. The repertoire of Mohiniyattam includes pure and expressive dance-drama performance, timed to soprano (slower melody) styled music, with recitation. The songs are typically in the Malayalam-Sanskrit hybrid called Manipravala.
(C) Eastern Zone: -
(II)Odissi:-Odissi originated in the Hindu temples of Odisha – an eastern coastal state of India. Odissi, in its history, was performed predominantly by women, and expressed religious stories and spiritual ideas, particularly of Vaishnavism (Vishnu as Jagannath), but also of other traditions such as those related to Hindu gods Shiva and Surya, as well as Hindu goddesses (Shaktism). Odissi is traditionally a dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artist(s) and musicians play out a mythical story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from the Hindu texts, using symbolic costumes, body movement, abhinaya (expressions), and mudras (gestures and sign language) set out in ancient Sanskrit literature.
(II)Sattriya:-Sattriya is a classical dance-drama performance art with origins in the Krishna-centered Vaishnavism monasteries of Assam, and attributed to the 15th-century Bhakti movement scholar and saint named Srimanta Sankardev. One-act plays of Sattriya are called Ankiya Nat, which combine the aesthetic and the religious through a ballad, dance, and drama. The plays are usually performed in the dance community halls (Namgar) of monastery temples (sattras). The themes played relate to Krishna and Radha, sometimes other Vishnu avatars such as Rama and Sita.
(III)Manipuri:-Manipuri, also known as Jagoi, is named after the region of its origin – Manipur, a state in northeastern India bordering with Myanmar (Burma). It is particularly known for its Hindu Vaishnavism themes, and performances of love-inspired dance drama of Radha-Krishna called Rass Lila. However, the dance is also performed to themes related to Shaivism, Shaktism, and regional deities such as Umang Lai during Lai Haraoba. The Manipuri dance is a team performance, with its own unique costumes notably the Kumil (a barrel-shaped, elegantly decorated skirt), aesthetics, conventions, and repertoire. The Manipuri dance drama is, for the most part, marked by a performance that is graceful, fluid, sinuous with greater emphasis on hand and upper body gestures.
(B) Western Zone: -In the western zone of India garb is the most popular dance it is a traditional dance of Gujrati people.
(I)Garba: -Garba is a form of dance that originates from the state of Gujarat in India. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term Garbha ("womb") and Deep ("a small earthenware lamp"). Many traditional garbas are performed around a centrally lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti. Traditionally, it is performed during the nine-day Hindu festival Navarātrī . Either the lamp (the " garbha Deep) or an image of the Goddess, Durga (also called Amba) is placed in the middle of concentric rings as an object of veneration
(5) MUSIC: -Music is an integral part of India's culture According to it we also divide India into some cultural regions.
(A) Northern Zone: -
(I)Himachali:-Himachal's folk music varies according to the event or the festival. One of the most popular styles of music is Nati Music, where nati is the traditional dance that is done on the song. Nati Music is usually celebrated, and done in fairs or other occasions such as marriages.
(II)Uttarakhandi:-Uttarakhandi folk music had its root in the lap of nature and the hilly terrain of the region. Common themes in the folk music of Uttarakhand are the beauty of nature, various seasons, festivals, religious traditions, cultural practices, folk stories, historical characters, and the bravery of ancestors. The folk songs of Uttarakhand are a reflection of the cultural heritage and the way people live their lives in the Himalayas. Musical instruments used in Uttarakhand music include the Dhol, Damon, Hudka, Turri, Ransingha, Dholki, Daur, Thali, Bhankora, and Masakbhaja. Tabla and Harmonium are also sometimes used, especially in recorded folk music from the 1960s onwards. Generic Indian and global musical instruments have been incorporated in modern popular folks by singers like Mohan Upreti, Narendra Singh Negi, Gopal Babu Goswami, and Chandra Singh Rahi.
(III)Bhangra and Giddha:-Bhangra is a form of dance-oriented folk music of Punjab. The present musical Tamak' and Tumdak' - style is derived from non-traditional musical accompaniment to the riffs of Punjab called by the same name. The female dance of the Punjab region is known as Giddha.
(IV)Haryanvi: -Haryana folk music has two main forms: classical folk music of Haryana and desi folk music of Haryana (country music of Haryana). Haryana is rich in musical tradition and even places have been named after ragas, for example, Charkhi Dadri district has many villages named as Nandyam, Sarangpur, Bilawal, Brindabana, Todi, Asaveri, Jaisri, Malakoshna, Hindola, Bhairvi, and Gopi Kalyana
(B) Western Zone: -
(I)Rajasthani: -Rajasthan has a very diverse cultural collection of musicians castes, including Langas, Sapera, Bhopa, Jogi, and Manganiyar. Rajasthan Diary quotes it as soulful, full-throated music with harmonious diversity. The melodies of Rajasthan come from a variety of instruments. The stringed variety includes the Sarangi, Ravanahatha, Kamaitachi, Morsing, and Ektara. Percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the tiny Damirus. The Daf and Chang are a favorite of Holi (the festival of Colors) revelers. Flutes and bagpipers come in local flavors such as Shehnai, Poongi, Algoza, Tarpi, Been, and Bankia. Rajasthani music is derived from a combination of string instruments, percussion instruments, and wind instruments accompanied by renditions of folk singers. It enjoys a respectable presence in Bollywood music as well.
(II)Dandiya:-Dandiya or Raas is a form of Gujarati cultural dance that is performed with sticks. The present musical style is derived from the traditional musical accompaniment to the folk dance. It is practiced mainly in the state of Gujarat. There is also another type of dance and music associated with Dandiya/Raas called Garba.
(C) Eastern Zone: -
(I)Bihu and Borgeet:- Bihu is the festival of New Year of Assam falling in mid-April. This is a festival of nature and mother earth where the first day is for the cows and buffaloes. The second day of the festival is for the man. Bihu dances and songs accompanied by traditional drums and wind instruments are an essential part of this festival. Bihu songs are energetic and with beats to welcome the festive spring. Assamese drums (dhol), Pepa(usually made from buffalo horn), Gogona are major instruments used. Borgeets are lyrical songs that are set to specific ragas but not necessarily to any tala. These songs, composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva in the 15th–16th centuries, are used to begin prayer services in monasteries, e.g. Satra and Namghar associated with the Ekasarana Dharma; and they also belong to the repertoire of Music of Assam outside the religious context. They are a lyrical strain that expresses the religious sentiments of the poets reacting to different situations, and differ from other lyrics associated with the Ekasarana Dharma.
(II) Manipuri: - Music of Manipur and Manipuri dance are heritage of Manipuri people. According to the tradition of the Manipuri people in the Himalayan foothills and valleys connecting India to Burma, they are the Gandharvas (celestial musicians and dancers) in the Vedic texts, and historic texts of Manipuri people calls the region as Gandharva-desa. The Vedic Usha, the goddess of the dawn, is a cultural motif for Manipuri women, and in the Indian tradition, it was Usha who created and taught the art of feminine dance to girls. This oral tradition of women's dance is celebrated as Chingkheirol in the Manipuri tradition. The ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Mahabharata epic mentions Manipur, where Arjuna meets and falls in love with Chitragada. Dance is called Jagoi in a major Meitei language of the region and it traces a long tradition in Manipur. Lai Haraoba dance likely has ancient roots and shares many similarities with dance postures of Nataraja and his legendary disciple called Tandu (locally called Tangkhu). Similarly, as does the dance related to commoner Khamba and princess Thoibi – who perform as pan-Indian Shiva and Parvati, in the legendary tragic love story of Khamba-Thoibi found in the Manipuri epic Moirang Parba.
(B) Southern Zone: -
(I)Karnatak Music: -Karnatak music, also spelled Karnatic or Carnatic, music of southern India (generally south of the city of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh state) that evolved from ancient Hindu traditions and was relatively unaffected by the Arab and Iranian influences that, since the late 12th and early 13th centuries, as a result of the Islamic conquest of the north, have characterized the Hindustani music of northern India. In contrast to northern styles, Karnatak music is more thoroughly oriented to the voice. Even when instruments are used alone, they are played somewhat in imitation of singing, generally within a vocal range, and with embellishments that are characteristic of vocal music. Fewer instruments are used in Karnatak than in northern Indian music, and there are no exclusively instrumental forms.
(II)Marfa Music: -Hadrani Marfa, or simply Marfa music, introduced during the 18th century in Hyderabad State by the East African Siddi community from Afro-Arab music of Hadhramawt in Yemen, is a form of celebratory rhythmic music and dance among the Hyderabadi Muslims, played with high tempo using Marfa instrument, daff, Dhol, sticks, steel pots and wooden strips called thapi.
(III)Patriotic music: -Patriotic feelings have been instigated within Indians through music since the era of the freedom struggle. Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem of India by Rabindranath Tagore, is largely credited for uniting India through music and Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay as the national song of India. Patriotic songs were also written in many regional languages such as Biswo Bizoyi No Zuwan in Assamese. Post-independence songs such as Aye mere Watan Ke logo, Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, Maa Tujhe Salaam by A.R.Rahman have been responsible for consolidating feelings of national integration and unity in diversity.
(6) RACE AND RELIGION: - India is a land of different races and religions which are characterized by various religious practices and beliefs. The spiritual land of India has given birth to many religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. These religions together form a subgroup and are known as Eastern religions. The people of India have a strong belief in religion as they believe that they add meaning and purpose to their lives. The religions here are not only confined to beliefs but also include ethics, rituals, ceremonies, life philosophies, and many more. Today, a wide range of religions are practiced in India
(A) Northern Zone: -Indo Aryan They also called Nordics or the Vedic Aryans came to India during the second millennium BC. Their elements are found in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh among the higher castes. Their main physical traits are fair Complexion, tall structure, and sharp nose. Nordics Indo Aryans speaker and they are a majority of Muslims.
(B)North-Eastern Zone: -The Mongoloids and Sino Tibetan are mainly found in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan belts eastern part of India. They have modified Mongoloid features like a light yellow color, oblique eyes, short structure, and Flat face. Monologed race and Sino-Tibetan speakers and probability of Christian and majority of Hindu.
(C) Southern Zone: -Paleo Mediterranean are reached South India where their representative are still found in Karnataka and Tamandu. They are also found in the tribal build stretching from Gujarat to West Bengal . They have medium stature, brown to the black complexion, and are slightly built. They are a Dravidian speaker and Paleo or Advance Mediterranean race group and the majority of Hindu.
(D) Central-East Zone: - Negritoes who are the oldest inhabitants of India, but have left virtually no trace on the mainland of the subcontinent. Some of the retrospectives of the Negritoes are found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and among some of the Nagas. Central Highland and Eastern highland of India Proto-Australoid Group of them are Dravidian speaker people and some belong to Indo-Aryan speaker group and a majority of Hindu. And Austric speaking people and few of them are Negritos and now a day's majority belong to Hindu religion
(E)WESTERN ZONE: -Early Mediterranean script group Indo-Aryan racial groups are the majority of Hindu they are the inhabitant of Gujrat.
Conclusions: -It is difficult to division based on the socio-cultural aspect of India because of India is a mixed cultural region. Physiographic variation, climatic variation means physical aspects of the land is the main determinant of population. In human geography race, migration, language, caste, religion, lifestyle, the value of life, food habitats, traditions, etc. are the main purposes but we take only three aspects for our work, so much overlap, errors was done by Us lack of right data and information but on the overview perceptions, We try to classify Indian as a mixed socio-cultural region.
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