Indian craft and culture

Culture of India-
Art and Craft, Festivals, Folk Dances, Cuisine
By – Nargis M Inamdar

Jammu and Kashmir – Heaven on Earth

Art and Craft of Jammu and Kashmir
• Carpet weaving is one of the most expensive and renowned art in Kashmiri handicrafts. The art came from
the Samarkand in central Asia and then later on artisans from Iran modified the art of carpet weaving. The
person who initially introduced the skill of carpet weaving to Kashmir was Zain-ul-abidn.
• Basket weaving is done mainly by willow rushes which are found in abundance in marshes and lakes in
Kashmir. All the objects made from willow are expensive and can range from shopping baskets and
lampshade to tables and chairs.
• Namdas are the beautiful floor coverings which are made of woollen and cotton fibres which are given the
shape manually and are cheap as compared to other products. The price of namdas depends actually on the
percentage of wool used those with higher percentage are sold at a high price as compared to those with
low wool percentage in them.
• Papier-Mâché - Another famous product of Kashmir is Papier-mâché items. The Papier-mâché articles are
made layer by layer in a mould and in polished and painted with every layer until the desired shape of the
article is achieved. Papier-mâché is easier to carry. Gold leaf is used in papier-mâché to make patterns of
leafs or other items and the prices of papier-mâché is again dependent mainly on the amount of gold leaf
used.

Namdas
Papier-Mâché
Basket weaving
Carpet weaving

Art and craft of Kashmir cont..
• Kashmiri shawlas are known for their quality all over the world. There are generally three types of fibres
used in the making of the shawl - shahtoosh, pashmina and wool and for the decoration they are
embroidered in Sozni and Motifs type embroidery.
• Pure pashmina is really expensive which in turn makes shawls expensive but if mixed the cost can be
controlled. Pashmina is generally spun from the hair of ibex.
• In Srinagar shoes, boots and leather coats are made of suede which are also famous for their appeal and
quality.
• Suede coats that are beautifully embroidered are very famous. Fur is generally obtained from animals like
wolf, fox, jackal, brown, Marmot and black bear, lynx and leopard that are being hunted in Himalayas by
hunters and fur obtained is exported immediately to retain its softness and shiny nature.
• Walnut Wood Items
The Walnut wood items are made from either of three part of tree the root, the trunk or the branches
with three having different properties of their own. Veins are present in the trunks where as there no veins in
branches. Branches are light in colour where as the trunk has a very dark colour. The costliest object is those
made from the roots because of the kind of wood used.

Pure pashmina
Suede coats
Srinagar shoes

Folk dance of Jammu and Kashmir
The Dumhal is a famous dance in the
Kashmir valley, performed by men of the
Wattal region.
 The women perform the Rouff, another
traditional folk dance.

Himachal Pradesh, State of Apples
• The state of Himachal Pradesh is commonly called as 'Dev Bhoomi‘.
• The majority of lands are held by three dominating caste of the society: the Rajputs, Brahmins and the
Mahajans (High caste).
• This place witnesses frequent instances of snowfall during winter because of the height at which it is
situated. Himachal Pradesh is the country’s largest producer of apples, earning it the name “State of Apples”.
The state ranks No.2 on the list of states that have minimum corruption.
• Himachal Pradesh has a very diverse population that speaks Punjabi, Pahari, Hindi, Gojri, Kinnauri, Dogri and
Mandeali Kangri are some of the vernacular languages of the state. People here belong to various
communities like Brahmin, Kannet, Girth, Rathi, Gujjar, Gaddis, Rajput and Kohli.
• The state’s tribal population belongs to Lahaulis, Sulehria, Pangawal and Kinnar communities.
• Kangra and Dharamshala are two places where the miniature art work is very famous.
• Himachal Pradesh wears a festive look most of the times as there are some festivals or the other celebrated
all through the year here. These festivals are marked by folk dance and music performed in large numbers in
the state. There is a natural skating rink in Shimla, which tourists cannot find anywhere else in Asia.
• Due to its height, the state is famous for adventure tourism activities. Some typical foods of the state are
Pahri Aloo, Ambua, Khatti Dal, Pateer, Bhagjery, Mahni, Jhoul, Sidku, Chuck, Patrode and Madra.

Art and Craft of Himachal Pradesh
• Wood Carving –Amazing Beauty on Woods
 Himachal Pradesh still has a vivid tradition of wood Carving. Complex jalis, and other things are mastered by
the Pahari artist .
 Useful products like cradles, bedsteads, low settees, rolling pins, boxes, ladles, churners, wooden utensils
etc are made.
 Their indigenous variety of fruit bowls, wooden jewellery, decorative boxes and carved images are some of
the things that are famous nationally.
The Willow and Bamboo are also creatively stripped and made trays.
• Rugs & Carpets–Beautifully Designed
 Himachal and its furnishing can never be complete without carpets and blankets. Their colorful motifs and
traditional pahari design can even challenge the established Persian aesthetic.
 Garudas (Vishnu’s mount, the eagle) balanced on blossoming trees, Swastikas, dragons are some of the
themes that they depict in the carpet and in the blanket making them look fabulous.
 Made from the wool of Giangi Sheep, This wool is used to weave bags and Blankets which usually sport a
natural color and come with red and black borders.
 Known as 'Gudma', The Blankets are specially woven in the Kullu valley due to the presence of a particular
kind of clay which craftsmen use to perfect the same. The furnishing range includes thobis (floor coverings),
karcha (mattresses), which are made from goat hair, pattoo cloth (like shawls), carpets and yarn crafted from
ultra soft wool.

wood Carving
wooden utensils
Pahari design carpet

Garments & Accessories – Be a Pahari
• The Himachali garments are bright in color and echo their passion for dressing up. One often feels everyday
to be a festival there.
• The Gujjars in the Himachal adorn a bright Kurtas . They are finely embroidered with round and linear
pattern.
• Chamba and its people are extremely fond of jewellery.
• Apart from the classical Himachali Jewelery, The Women their love to carry and flaunt their embroidered
Rumals, Bangles and even the shoes are creatively designed.
• In Lahaul, people wear a special pair of socks as a part of their traditional footwear. These Socks are perhaps
one of its kinds in the world.
Embroidery – Fabulous Craft
• For the Pahari Women, Embroidery is perhaps the favourite past time. Every household has at least a woman
who spends her day with threads and embroidery needles
• Every house in Himachal is overflowing with rumals (scarves), coverlets, hand fans, caps, cholis (bodices),
Gurumukhi (prayer gloves) and other stuff.
• There, people insist on creating a life with these beautiful pieces as they believe it to be an essential element
in the pahari lifestyle.
Chamba is also famous for its richly embroidered Silk Rumals. Usually in the base color of Red and Orange,
The tradition of these rumals date back to over a thousand years. Unlike Handkerchiefs, the use of the rumal
is to cover the head like a small shawl.

Folk dance of Himachal Pradesh
Naati Dance
Kullu Nati Dance

Cuisine of Himachal Pradesh
• In Himachal, the Food preferences change from one region to another. Usually the people of Himachal prefer
having a non vegetarian meal full of spices that include cinnamon, Cardamom, red Chilies and Clove.
• The standard Himachali food cooks every sort of meat, pulses and cereal dishes.
• Celebrated ‘Sidu’ is a sort of bread baked out of the wheat flour. After being kneaded, The dough is set apart
for some hours to allow yeast to settle and make it rise. After a fat stuffing, The Bread is then cooked on a
sluggish bonfire and is later steamed. Normally eaten with Dal, Ghee or Mutton, Sidu is one of the famous
Himachal delicacies.
• In several regions, ankalos prepared with rice flour are cooked during festivities. In the dehydrated Lahaul-
Spiti valley, the plants of buckwheat are mix with wheat flour and made into cakes called aktori. Patande (a
sort of pancake) is a specialty in the Sirmaur area.
• Himachal during the high time of its festivals prepares itself to enjoy the savor brought with the Ankalos,
which are traditionally cooked with the gram flour. Patande, a type of warm cake dish is famous in the
Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh and is known for its rich taste.

The Plain Region India
The plains of India include Bihar, Chandigargh,Delhi,Haryana,MP,Punjab,UP
• Bihar – Land of Nirvana.
• Haryana-"Land of Mystical Splendor“.
• Madhya Pradesh- The Heart of India.
• Punjab - The Green Granary of India.
• Uttar Pradesh-"The Land of Diversity“.
• Chandigarh- The Fort of Chandi.

Madhya Pradesh- Heart of India
• The state of Madhya Pradesh lies in the plain regions of the country. The state got its name from its
geographical location since “Madhya Pradesh” literally means “Central Region”.
• Famous festivals
- (Arwa Teej, Bhagoria Festival, Bhojali Festival, Chaitra Festival Dance, Chethiyagiri Vihara Festival, Chherta
Festival, Fair of Nagaji, Gana-Gour Festival, Ganga Dashmi, Ghadlya, Ghaila Ceremony, Gobardhan, Hareli or
Hariri, Jhansi Festival, Kajri Navami, Kaksar Dance, Karam Festival, Khajuraho Festival of Dance, Koqsar, Kujlaya
Festival, Laru Kaj Festival, Lavani Festival, Maanch, Madai Festival, Malwa Festival, Matki Dance
Festival, Meghnad, Navanna, Pandum Festival, Ras-Nawa Festival, Saila Dance Festival, Sanja
Festival, Shivaratri, Sugga Dance Festival, Suwata, Tansen Music Festival, Tejaji Fair).
• MP cuisine is a blend of kebabs, biryani, korma, fish, meat and keema. Places such as Indore and Gwalior
will provide you with various delicacies prepared from milk. One of famous cuisine is Bafla made of wheat
and is served with ghee and daal.
• The vegetarian fare includes popular dishes like Dal Bafla (resembling Rajasthan's Dal Bati) which is
commonly served with desi ghee and ladoo (instead of churma), Kaju Curry, Papad ki Sabji, Mattar Pulao,
Sabudana Khichdi and Palak Poori with Aloo Sabji, then of course there is the Mughlai fare with all-time
favourite dishes like Korma, Haleem, Biryani, Kofta, Kebabs, Rogan Josh and Murg Chaap .For meat lovers,
the Chatori Gali in old Bhopal is a must-visit to sample traditional Muslim fare such as Paaya and Nali Nihari,
and desserts like Shirkhand and Phirni.

Art and craft of MP
Beads & Feathers
– Accessory of
Adivasis
The ornaments
made in MP are a
little weird in their
appearance as
they are made
especially for the
tribal women and
men. There is
extensive use of
beads, cowries,
cotton threads and
even feathers to
add the effect.
Malwa, Nimar and
Bastar regions
where this art is
carried out in
vigour.
Bamboo & Cane – Tradition
&Technique
Shahdol, Balaghat, Mandla
and Seoni regions of Madhya
Pradesh are main bamboo
producing centers in Madhya
Pradesh. Baskets, hunting
tools and fishing traps from
these are one of their kinds.
Bamboo thickets are used
bountifully and doors of the
houses in Madhya Pradesh
too are made of bamboo.

Khajuraho dance festival
Gond tribe dance festival

Uttar Pradesh-"The Land of Diversity"

Uttar Pradesh-"The Land of Diversity"
• The state of Uttar Pradesh is part of northern areas of the country that shares its border with the
capital of the country, New Delhi. It has been ranked among the top most tourist locations in the
country. The state is packed with richly existing historical forts and also has many religious and
divine place to visit.
• The major attractions of state can be listed as Taj Mahal in Agra that is also part of Seven Wonders
of the World and hence attracts many tourists, Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, divine ghats of Varanasi.
The capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh is Lucknow. The city is also named as the city of
Nawabs since the existence of this location is because of Nawabs.

Festivals in Uttar Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh is a land of festivals. The most important ones celebrated here are
Diwali, Eid, Mahakumbh Mela, Mahashivratri, Janmashtami, Dussehra, Buddha
Purnima, Hanuman Jayanti etc.
• Festival (Bateshwar Fair, Agra, Deva
Mela,Barabanki, Holi, Janmashtami, Kailash Fair, Agra, Kampil Fair,
Kampil, Kartik Poornima and Lolark Shasthi, Varanasi, Karwa Chauth, Kumbh
Mela, MahaKumbh, Magh Mela, Allahabad, Muharram, Rambarat,
Agra, Ramlila, Ramnavmi Mela, Ayodhya)
• The common state-languages of Uttar Pradesh are standard Hindi. While
standard Hindi (Khari boli) is the official language, several important regional
Hindi 'dialects' are spoken in the state and among these
are: Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Braj, Bagheli and Bundeli, besides several local dialects
that do not have a formal name.
• Urdu is prominent in Uttar Pradesh as Lucknow was once the centre of Indo-
Persianate culture in north India. The language of Lucknow ("Lakhnavi Urdu") is
a form of high literary Urdu.
• The people of Uttar Pradesh wear a variety of native- and Western-style dress.
Traditional styles of dress include colourful draped garments – such as sari for
women and dhoti or lungi for men – and tailored clothes such as salwar
kameez for women and kurta-pyjama for men. Men also often sport a head-gear
like topi or pagri. Sherwani is a more formal male dress and is frequently worn
along with chooridar on festive occasions.

Art and Craft of Uttar Pradesh
• Agra since the Mughal era has been home to numerous Mughal crafts, including the Pietra Dura, still
practised today.
• Aligarh is famous for its Lock around the world; Aligarh boasts for its Zari work, (a type of fabric decoration),
'Jhumka' – an intricate ear-rings or ear-pendants, Manja and Surma (Kohl (cosmetics)), despite all these craft
work, painter S. A. Jafar represent Aligarh in the field of fine arts across the India and abroad.
• Firozabad, the city of bangles, is also a hub for crafting many glass accessories. The glass artefacts produced
in its factories are of high value and are exported all over the country and around the world.
• Kannauj is well known for oriental perfumes, scents and rose water and also for traditional tobacco
products.
• Khurja is famous for its ceramics pottery; in fact, the entire state is famous for its pottery not only in India
but also around the world.
• Lucknow, the capital, boasts of its cloth work and embroidery (chikan) work on silk and cotton garments.

Banarasi Brocade, Chikankari, Zari work
Marble Zali work
kundankari

Art and Craft Cont..
• Allahabad is known for its National Institute of Art & Craft College.
• Bhadohi is known for its carpets, a craft which dates back to the 16th century, during the reign
of Mughal Emperor, Akbar and is believed to have established when centuries ago,
some Iranian master weavers stopped at Madhosingh village, near Khamaria, in Bhadohi while
travelling in India, and subsequently set up looms here.
• Bhadohi carpets received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2010 and also known as dollar-city;
beside this, it is one of the highest revenue generating districts of UP.
• Moradabad is well known for its metal-ware, especially brass artefacts.
• Pilibhit is known for its wooden footwear (locally called Paduka or Khadaon) and also for flutes made of
wooden pipes. Flutes are exported to Europe, America and other countries.
• Saharanpur is known all over India and abroad for its wood-carving items produced there.
• Varanasi,Mubarakpur, Azamgarh is famous for its Banarasi saris and silk. A banarasi sari is an essential
part of any marriage in the state.
• Gorakhpur is famous for its beautiful terracotta statues and handcraft cloths.
• Nizamabad is famous for black pottery.

Punjab – Land of five waters
• The word Punjab means, “Land of five rivers”. The state has got this name because of the presence of rivers Beas, Ravi,
Sutlej, Chenab and Jhelum that flow into it.
• The word "Punjab" is composed of two Persian words, 'Panj' meaning five and 'Aab' which means water. The invigorating
and culturally rich state of Punjab is located in the area in proximity to the confluence of 5 rivers Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas
and Chenab.
• The state is so colourful because of its popular Bhangra dance and music. Baisakhi festival is celebrated with lots of joy,
sharing, music, dance and positive energy, as this marks the arrival of the spring season in Punjab.

Cuisine of Punjab –
Punjabi Cuisine preparation involve use Desi Ghee and spices. Punjabi food varies widely in terms of taste,
appearance, preparation and flavour but everything is famous and worth trying.
Vegetarian Dishes
• Sarson ka Saag (Mustard leaves curry)
• Dal Makhani/ Dal Handi (curry of pulses)
• Choley (generally eaten with Naan)
• Punj Ratani Dal (a mixture of 5 lentils)
• Kadhai Paneer
• Shahi Paneer
• Sheer Korma
• Non-Vegetarian Dishes
• Tandoori Chicken
• Butter Chicken
• Bhuna Ghosht (dish made of lamb)
• Kebab
• Amritsari Fish
• Tandoori Fish
• Fish Tikka
• Chicken Biriyani
• Lamb biriyani
• Keema Naan
• Reshmi Tikka
• Malai Tikka
• Pork Pickle

• Khalla is the name given to a form of Gidha popular in the western Punjab.
• Pharuha is the fast from of Gidha popularly known in Malwa area. As the dance reaches its high
pitch the dancers usually cover their faces with dupattas and produce a fricative sound of phoo
phoo with their sucked-in lips. This particular sound made to the rhythm of the dance, too, is
known as Pharuha.
• Sammi another major dance form of the women of western Punjab particularly Sandal Bar area.
Danced in moonlight, it is a circular dance accompanied by Sammi songs.
• Ghoomar is danced in the western Punjab particularly in Shahpur area and it is also known
as Dhris. It is performed in the same style as Jhummir of men but is danced separately.
• Dhamaal is the trance dance of Hindu women. It is danced to propitiate a goddess or any
powerful spirit. Circular movement of the head along with waving of the upper part of the body is
the main movement of this dance.
• Jaagran is performed in the areas of Punjab adjoining the Jammu region. A dance of family
celebrations especially on the occasion of a boy's marriage, it is performed on the lines of the
dance of the same name popular among the women-folk of the nearby hills.
Folk dances of Punjab

Art and craft of Punjab
Decorative Craft
• At Kartarpur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, craftsmen
and women create pidhis (low, four legged woven
stools), which are both functional and artistic.
• Other lacquer ware products of Punjab include table
lamps, dolls, and attractive scratch work surahis.
• Wood workers at Hoshiarpur and Kartarpur specialize
in making artistic furniture with intricate designs. I
• wood workers of Hoshiarpur are specialists in inlaying
ivory. With motifs and ornamentation drawn from life
around them
• Pulkari duppata - Punjabi women were known for
embroidery with superb imagination. Needle work on
Pulkari is done on a deep coloured cotton cloth with
striking silk threads. The threads is pierced upwards
from underneath the cloth into free-hand motifs,
while in the Baghs and Rummals such cloth is worked
on the top side only.
• Jootis
• Colour, beauty and utility combine to form the
central theme of the well-known leather jootis
(shoes and slippers) of Punjab.
• Rich gold and multi-coloured threads are used to
decorate and impart a royal touch to a variety of
jootis crafted from leather of different shades.

Bihar and Jharkhand - Land of forests
In ancient and classical India, the area that is now Bihar was considered a centre of power, learning, and
culture. From Magadha arose India's first empire, the Maurya empire, as well as one of the world's most
widely adhered-to religions, Buddhism. Magadha empires, notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties,
unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule.Another region of Bihar is Mithila which was an early
centre of Brahmanical learning and the centre of the Videha kingdom.

BIHAR – The land of Nirvana
Bihar-"Land of Nirvana"
• Bihar is a heavily populated state of India with Gangaji flowing in the
middle of the state.
• Bihar is believed to be one of the most ancient places inhabited
by people.
• It has some of the popular historic monuments and remains
of the Buddhist culture.
• Bihar is visited by approximately 6 million tourists every year.
• The places like Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Nalanda and Patna (earlier Pataliputra)
are some of the popular tourist destination in the state.
• The state is located in the Gangetic plains.

Cuisine Of Bihar and Jharkhand
• As Jharkhand was divided from Bihar since 2000 that’s the big reason the
dishes are familiar of both the states. And Thekua is a common snack of
Bihar which is now very popular in Jharkhand. It’s a sweet snack which is
prepared as Prasad during Chatth Puja. It’s prepared from wheat flour and
sugar
• Litti along with chokha is a complete meal originated
and popular in Indian state of Bihar and common to
Jharkhand as well.

• Chilka Roti is one of the finest dishes of Jharkhand.
It’s prepared with Rice and besan and mostly on every
festive season or special occasion. It’s just so
appetizing to eat Chilka Roti with Chutney. It resembles
to the regular Dosa’s but their taste is purely different
and unique.
• The desi pancake or the Malpua is synonymous with
Holi in Jharkhand and Bihar.
• There is not a single household in Jharkhand where the
sweet smell of malpua fills the air on the eve of Holi.
• It is rather a famous delicacy which is found in all the
States across the country, but actually is a part of the
tradition of Bihar and Jharkhand.

Art and culture of Bihar
Pen Stand - Tribal Art
of Bihar
 Sikki work is a craft whereby the craftsmen turned these
once unnecessary riverside weed into beautiful decorative
objects.
PAPER-MACHE CRAFT : The word 'Paper- machie' is of French
origin. It is quite prevalent in Bihar, especially in its mithila,
bhojpur and tribal belts

Art and craft of Jharkhand
• Dhokra Pendents - Dhokra is a tribal art &
craft of Jharkhand, the craft is well known for
its beautiful motifs and forceful forms.
• One of the oldest tribal paintings in India, these are
also called scroll paintings due to its appearance,
depicts life after death. This form of painting is in the
process of extinction due to lack of funds for promoting
it.

Folk dances of Bihar
Jat-Jatin Dance
• Theme of the Jat-Jatin dance of Bihar explains the story of
the lovers Jat-Jatin, who were separated and living in
difficult situations .
• The Jata-Jatin dance has for its theme songs invoking rains.
It is also known as Yakaha Nirtya and mostly is in
accompaniment to the songs.
3. Jhijhia dance
Jijya or Jhijhia is one of the most eminent dances of Bihar, Jhijhia depicts a band
of young belles adoring and offering.
• Rain plays crucial role in agriculture. When there is a total drought and there
is not even a single drop of water anywhere, the lands are cracked and
parched, the sky is lifeless without clouds and the people are awaiting rains-
this is the time when the village women pray to lord Indra for rain.
• They sing and dance to please the Lord of Rain with their deep devotion.
Such type of dance and singing is called jhijhia.

Folk Dance of Jharkhand
Jhumar-most prominent of folk dances of Jharkhand
This dance is performed mainly during the harvest season. The
harvest season is usually accompanied with the monsoon
season i.e. from August to September. It mainly portrays the
happy lives of the tribal folk.
Santhal is a very popular folk dance of Jharkhand. It is a
group dance performed by Santhal tribes of Jharkhand.
• This dance was performed by the Santhal tribes during
all special festivals and occasions.
• This dance not only reveals the culture or traditions of
the local tribes but also showcases the strength of
unity.
• The main attraction of the Santhal dance in Jharkhand
is the colorful costumes worn by the tribal people.

Western India
• The exquisite deserts and cities like Goa, Bikaner, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaipur together with the biggest city
of India Mumbai (formerly called Bombay), the tranquil beaches and the Bollywood film industry also
attracts people to visit India.

Dadra & Nagar Haveli - The Land for all Seasons
• The Union Territory, Dadra and Nagar Haveli are present in the western part of India. Dadra serves as an
enclave that is about 1 km NW bounded by Gujarat, whereas Nagar Haveli lies between Gujarat and
Maharashtra. They share Silvassa as their capital.
• It is composed of two separate geographical entities: Nagar Haveli, wedged between Maharashtra
and Gujarat, and, 1 km to the northwest, the smaller enclave of Dadra, which is surrounded by Gujarat. The
capital city is Silvassa.
• The region includes tribal lifestyle and consumption of sea food.

Goa - "Queen of Beaches"
• In terms of size, Goa is the smallest in the country, but in terms of contribution to the country’s GDP, it is the
highest. In terms of most-populated state, Goa ranks fourth from the bottom. This beautiful state is located
in Western India in the Konkan area.
• The culture of Goa is an amalgamation of Indian and Portuguese culture. The long Portuguese rule has
influenced the culture in more ways than one and many of the Portuguese traditions are reflected in the
Goan culture even today.
• Dance and music is deeply embedded in the Goan culture. The most popular dance forms in Goa are Fugdi
and Dhalo, which are traditional dances, performed only by women.
• Some dances are specific to an occasion or festival they are performed in. The Dhangar is performed during
the Hindu festival of Navaratras and during the Shigmo festival women perform a lamp dance.
• Goa comes alive in the festive season and it is then that you see the splendid blend of cultures that coexist
beautifully over here.

Goan Cuisine
• Goan cuisine is the end result of the blending of local Konkani and Portuguese food styles.
• This culinary amalgamation and adaptation has created fiery, coconut based curries and stews using pork
(unusual in India) and beef and rich cakes and pastries, as well as an interesting range of port and red and
white wines.
• Rice with fish curry (Xit kodi in Konkani) is the staple diet in Goa. Goan cuisine is renowned for its rich variety
of fish dishes cooked with elaborate recipes.
• Coconut and coconut oil is widely used in Goan cooking along with chili peppers, spices and vinegar giving
the food a unique flavour.
• Pork dishes such as Vindaloo, Xacuti and Sorpotel are cooked for major occasions among the Catholics. An
exotic Goan vegetable stew, known as Khatkhate, is a very popular dish during the celebrations of festivals,
Hindu and Christian alike.
• Khatkhate contains at least five vegetables, fresh coconut, and special Goan spices that add to the aroma. A
rich egg-based multi-layered sweet dish known as bebinca is a favourite at Christmas.
• The most popular alcoholic beverage in Goa is feni; Cashew feni is made from the fermentation of the fruit
of the cashew tree, while coconut feni is made from the sap of toddy palms.

Goan Dance and Music
• Mando and dulpod are traditional goan musical forms.
• Goan Hindus are very fond of Natak, Bhajan and Kirtan.
• Many famous Indian Classical singers hail from Goa, such as, Kishori Amonkar, Kesarbai Kerkar, Jitendra
Abhisheki, Prabhakar Karekar.
• Some traditional Goan dance forms are dekhnni, fugdi, corridinho and dashavatara.
• Western social dancing is a part of most celebrations.
• Goans are very fond of theatre and acting. Kalo and dashavatar were popular art forms.
• Konkani Marathi Nataks have been very popular among Hindus in Goa for the past two centuries.
• Tiatr is the major Goan form of theatre common amongst Catholics and is the most commercial offering as it
has entertained Goans not only in Goa but also in Mumbai and Pune(which are major cities of India and
have a sizeable Goan population) and in the Gulf regions of UAE, Kuwait and so on.
• Some traditional Goan dance forms are dekhnni, fugdi, corridinho and dashavatara.

GOAN ART AND CRAFT
Wooden Laquerware/ Wood Turning: Cradles, baby carts, toys, corner stands, etc. are some of the most
exquisite items produced in Goan woodcraft include which are used mostly by Hindu families on religious
occasions.
Crochet & Embroidery: Works such as tablecloths, children and ladies garments, pillow and cushion covers,
linen form a breathtaking apparel range.
Bamboo Craft: It is considered to be one of the major craft industries of Goa. The list of popular Bamboo
products includes flower baskets, mats, and letter-holders, pen stands, fans and other decorative items.
Fibre Craft: Shopping bags, ladies purses, coasters and wall hangings, and other essential accessory items used
in daily purposes are made of banana or sisal fibre and the major fibre craft centre is situated in Corlim.
Jute Macramé Craft: Jute craft is known to be one of the most unique crafts of India and items such as
decorative bags, belts, wall hangings, lamp shades, flower pots, hangers, etc are popular Goan souvenirs.
Coconut Mask Carving & Sea Shell Craft: Mask carving has got a whole new look in Goa as it is done on
coconut shells. Sea shell craft produces ashtrays, lamp shades, coasters, chandeliers, curtains, pot hangers,
table mats, clocks, mirror frame, etc.

Gujarat – Jewel of the west
• Acknowledged as the seventh largest state of India, Gujarat is nestled in the western region of our country
that has a coastline of approximately 1600 kilometres.
• Well recognized for its rich culture, Gujarat has its folk arts which form a main part of the Indian culture.
• Gujarat's folk art forms a main part of India's culture. It has extremely rich tradition of dramas, dance, song
etc.
• The handicrafts of Gujarat include - pithora, rogan painting, namda, pottery, metal crafts, woodcrafts,
embroidery, block printing, bamboo crafts, khadi, kutchhi work, patolas of patan, bandhani and many other
kinds of such work.
• Acting as an abode to numerous devotional temples and centers particularly the religious centers such as
the Lojpur, Sattadhar, Tulsi Shyam, Narayan Sarovar, Swaminarayan Mandir - Bhuj, Ashapura Mataji Madh
temple in Kutch, Sudama Mandir, Hindu Temples, Jain temples, Ahmadabad, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir,
Akshardham Gandhinagar, Modhera, Sun temple, Kabirvad, Pavagadh, Bahucharaji, Shamalji, Somnath,
Shankheshwar, Mahudi, Palitana, Ambaji, Dakor, Dwarka etc.

Festivals of Gujrat
• Kutch festival that takes place from November to February. The festival epitomises Gujarat’s rich culture,
with beautiful performances, both by artists and handicraft makers.
• Vautha Mela - An animal trading festival, it is here that you will find animals and their owners dressed
ornately and elaborately to attract buyers. People set up tents near the fair and enjoy the delicious cuisine
that is prepared; everyday a different menu is at your service. The place is brimming with activity as people
graze over the beautiful handicrafts being sold as well as marvel at the decorated animals. As the night falls,
the rivers light up, with deeyas floating on its surface, bringing the starry sky down on Earth.
• The Kite festival in Gujarat is an internationally acclaimed festival. It hosts kite lovers from all over the
country and the globe, who bring kites of all colours and shapes for some friendly competitions and to
simply experience this magnificent joy. Everyone in Gujarat is taken by the kite fever and kites can be seen in
every nook and corner in the month of January.

Gujarat Festival cont..
• Held at the architectural marvel of Sun Temple, the Modhera Dance Festival opens the doors to the rich
classical dances of India for its visitors.
• Professional dancers, dancing with skill, precision and expression will leave you inspired and refreshed.
Added to that, the beautiful Sun Temple can also be explored at this festival.
• The modhera festival showcases the local history of the vicinity, and the beautifully lit premises with the
mesmerising dances take you back to the past.
• A fun and frolic fair, dedicated to Lord Shiva is a significant event for the people of Gujarat. At Bhavnath
Mahadev Fair, which lasts for five days is started with a procession of majestically decorated elephants.
• The entire Mahadev fair is filled with people enjoying the religiosity in the air, with stalls selling idols, sweets,
other offerings. The festival even has dance and music performances.
• A religious festival, the Bhadra Purnima Fair is dedicated to the Goddess Ambaji and is held at Ambaji
temple on the full moon day of August or September.
• Beach Festival - Organised at the Tithal beach, the beach festival is an upbeat affair that is a fun event for
tourists and locals alike. In the festival, the beach is decorated with twinkling lights and it hosts a number of
activities, ranging from water sports to music events.
• There are also magic shows and volleyball competitions organised to keep the attendees entertained. Nights
are filled with dancing and musical fests, that will leave you wanting for more.

Gujarat art and craft
• Garments
The garment factories located in Gujarat not only create employment for the people, but earn revenue for the
State here. You can buy kurtas, colourful Ghaghara's, designer cholis, skirts, jackets, and odhanis. All the
garments are differently designed through a technique called block print.
• Handicrafts
The rich heritage and practices are still retained and followed with pride. Craftsmanship and their work and
their techniques are still preserved and taught to the upcoming generations. Every craft and handwork is
designed with remarkable colours, which make it extraordinary and eye catching. Some of the works looks are
simple, while others are intricate in appearance.Every woman loves to shop for Patola silk, which is exclusively
hand woven.Thereare many industries in Patan, where you can find experienced weavers.
Every sari is designed with precision and creativity.
• Textiles
-The Gujarat textile industry is quite famous all over the world.
-The designers specialize in manufacturing unique materials, which are
transported to different parts of the country.
-They use different types of raw materials and yarn them creatively.

Mirror work Embroidery Gujarat Kutch mirror-work embroidered cloth

Rajasthan – The land of Kings
• Rajasthan-The Land of Kings
Rajasthan is well renowned as "Land of Kings". The literal meaning of its name also depicts the same thing. As
far as its area is concerned, it is the largest Indian state.

Crafts of Rajasthan
Handmade Jewellery
In Jewellery, meenakari, kundankari is one of the
most attractive and popular forms, which are mostly
enamelled gold and silver jewellery.
Blue Pottery
There are many craftsmen in Jaipur who prepare blue
pottery in Rajasthan by using blue, green and white
colors.

Rajasthan Quilts
The unique selling point of these Jaipuri quilts (dohar)or
Jaipur rajais is that these are light and soft as well as of high
quality.
Mojaris/Jutis
These are beautifully embroidered pieces with varied patterns and
designs. Jodhpur and Jaipur manufactures some very pretty
mojaris and jutis.
Crafts of Rajasthan cont..

Marble Crafts
This craft produces marble carved wall hangings,
sculptures, statues, furniture, flower vases, fireplaces,
statues, and so on.
Ivory
Ivory bangles of Rajasthan is popular crafts of the state.
Crafts of Rajasthan cont..

Dance Forms of Rajasthan
Ghoomar Dance
Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan and also a State Dance
Fire Dance
This is a very difficult dance to perform and is carried out by the Banjara
community.

Pabuji Ki Phach
This Performing Art is associated to the life and the gallantry activities
of Pabuji.
Kathputli
It is the old tradition of stories from mythology and legends are told
through puppets
Dance Forms of Rajasthan Cont..

Kachhi Ghodi
This dance is performed by men on dummy horses.
Terah Taali
This folk dance is performed by the Kamada tribes who are
traditional snake charmers.
Dance Forms of Rajasthan Cont..

• The beautiful silvery beaches that expand across calmly over the coastal line are a sheer delight.
• Maharashtrian, Konkani and Varadi are the three most reputed cuisines in the state.
• Maharashtrian cuisine is quite hot as there is a lot of pepper content in it, whereas the Konkani and Varadi
are simply out of the world.
• The sea food cooked in Konkani style can please even the harshest food critic.
• There is no dearth for entertainment in Maharashtra as the dance forms of Lavani, Koli and Povada are
performed during festivals in accompaniment with musical instruments that play rhythmic music.
• Commonly performed folk dances performed in this region are Kala, Tamasha, Dhangri Gaja and Dindi.
• The local language of Maharashtra is Marathi but Konkani is also found in coastal areas.
• This state is known as land of traditions and culture where people celebrate religious festivals with great
enthusiasm.
Maharashtra - Land of Rocks

Dances in Maharashtra
• Dance in Maharashtra
- Enriched with beautiful traditions and culture, Maharashtra consists of various kinds of dance forms.
- There is Povada showcasing lifetime achievements of the king of Maratha, Shivaji Maharaj.
- Koli and Lavani forms of dance are quite entertaining.
- The Dhangri Gaja dance is a mark of respect to God of Dhangars of Sholapur.
- Kala and Dindi have been the religious folk dances expressing the religious significance of Lord Krishna.
There is a folk dance, Tamasha which is famous throughout the state. Following are the different types of folk
dances performed in the state of Maharashtra:
• Lavani Dance
• Dhangari Gaja
• Povadas
• Koli
• Tamasha
• Dindi
• Kala

Images of dance forms of Maharashtra

Most famous dishes of Maharashtrian cuisine
• Pohay (Pohe)
• Misal Pav
• Pithla Bhakri
• Sabudana Khichdi
• Bharli Vangi (Stuffed Eggplant)
• Wada / Vada Pav
• Aamti (Maharashtrian-Lentils/ Dal)
• Rassa (Taambda/ Pandhra/ Varhadi)
• Puran Poli
• Shrikhand

Southern India
• The south of the country has islands off mainland, Ghats of Karnataka, backwaters of Kerala, the tropical
forests and the colourful Hindu Temples.

Crafts and culture of south India
Woodcrafts of South India
• Woodwork is a popular craft in South India.
- Wooden handicrafts includes items like carved figurines, decorative pieces,
furniture and accessories, utensils, beads, panels and many more.
- Woodcraft of South India has distinct styles which are known across the world.
- Channapatna in Karnataka and Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh are known across
the world for its wooden toys.
- Karnataka is famous for carvings and exquisitely beautiful decorative pieces
made from sandalwood.
Stone Carving of South India
• Stone carving is another major handicraft of South India.
- Made up of yellow lime stone and colored white marble.
- Some of them are in filigreed, fretted marble or sandstone.
- Best of stone carvings are present in South Indian temples like Meenakshi
and Rameshwaram Temple of
Tamil Nadu, Tirupati and Gundala Mallikarjuna Swami Temple of Andhra
Pradesh and Cave and Vithala Temple of Karnataka.
• South India is the area encompassing states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and
Kerala. These four states are famous across the globe for its natural and cultural
diversities. These states are also famous across the globe for its arts and crafts.

Handicrafts of Tamil Nadu
• Tamil Nadu is known across the globe for its wide range of South Indian silk saris which are famous for its
fabrics, design and colourful compositions.
• Among all the silk garments Kanchipuram silk is the most popular one.
• The other popular handicrafts of this state are objects made from palm leaves and Palmyra fibres, metal
ware, brass and bronze statues, hand woven clothes and beautiful jewellery.
Handicrafts of Kerala
• Kerala popularly known as God's Own Country is renowned for its speckled charm of nature.
• Along with the natural beauty this state is also known for its handicrafts which are popular across the globe.
• Some of the popular handicrafts of Kerala are ivory, gold and silver jewellery, bamboo mat paintings,
different types of lamps, Kathakali masks and dolls.

South Indian Cuisine
• Tamil Nadu, is one of the important states of South India.
• Besides its rich cultural past it reminds us that unique taste of yum cuisines such as Idlis, Dosas, Uttappam,
Rassam, Sambhar and Vada etc, which are extremely popular here and throughout the world as well.
• Kerala, is another significant state of South India. In this state the staple food of localities is fish
accompanied with steaming rice of usually large size grains.
•
• Here banana trees and jackfruit trees are very common in sight. The people here prepare special snacks with
these fruits like banana chips and jackfruit chips.
• Andhra Pradesh is yet another mentionable state of South India. One can easily notice a clear Mughal
impact on the cuisines of this state. The state has Grilled kebabs, Kurmas and the delicious Biriyani.

South Indian Dance forms
Folk Dances of South India
• Padayani (Kerala)
- Padayani is one of the most colorful and popular dances of Southern Kerala. Padayani is
associated with the festival of certain temples, called Padayani or Paddeni.
- Such temples are in Alleppey, Quilon, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. The main
Kolams (huge masks) displayed in Padayani are Bhairavi (Kali), Kalan (god of death), Yakshi (fairy) and Pakshi
(bird).
- Padayani involves a series of divine and semi divine imitation, putting Kolams of
different shapes and colors.
- In the performance of Padayani, dancers, actors, singers and instrumentalists play an
important role. The actors or dancers wear Kolams that are huge headgears, with many projections and devices
and a mask for the face or a chest piece to cover the breast and abdomen of the performer.
• Kummi (Tamil Nadu)
- Kummi is a popular folk dance of Tamil Nadu.
- Kummi dance is performed by tribal women during festivals.
- Kummi is a simple folk dance where dancers form circles and clap in rhythmic way.

South Indian Dance forms cont..
Padayani (Kerala)
Kummi (Tamil Nadu)
Kolattam(Tamil nadu)
Thapetta Gullu (Andhra Pradesh)

South Indian Dance forms
• Kolattam
- 'Kollattam' or the stick dance is one of the most popular dances of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Kolattam is derived from Kol (a small stick) and Attam (play).
- It is also called as Kolannalu or Kolkolannalu.
- Kolattam dance is a combination of rhythmic movements, songs and music.
- The Kolattam group consists of dancers in the range of 8 to 40.
- The stick, used in the Kolattam dance, provides the main rhythm.
• Perini
- The Perini Thandavam is a male dance of the warriors.
- As a part of tradition, the warriors performed this dominant dance in front of the idol of Nataraja or Lord
Shiva, before leaving for the battlefield.
• Thapetta Gullu (Andhra Pradesh)
- Thapetta Gullu is a folk dance form of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.
- In the Thapetta Gullu dance more than ten persons participate.
- The participants or performers sing songs in the praise of local goddess.
- While performing the Thapetta Gullu dance, the dancers use drums, hanging around their necks.
- The dancers wear tinkling bells around their waist.

North-Eastern India: 7 Sisters
North-eastern India mostly known as The Seven Sister States. The Seven Sisters of India refers to
the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
They are home to some magnificent terrains, exotic flora and fauna, and diverse culture. We take
you on a fact-ride through this amazing sisterhood!

Arunachal Pradesh - "The Land of Dawnlit Mountains
• The cluster of states located in North East India is known as Seven Sister States. Of these, Arunachal
Pradesh is the biggest. Due to its beauty and picturesque appeal, the state has got many nicknames like
“Paradise of the Botanists”, “Orchid State of India” and “Land of the dawn-lit mountains”.
• The presence of abundant rivers in state, make it a hub for adventure activities like river rafting and hiking.
The serene snow-clad peaks, thick and green forests and the quiet valleys make it a huge tourist
destination.
• Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh, is the birthplace of the sixth
Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, an unconventional one
known for his love of wine, women, and poetry. His poetry is
widely read among Tibetans even today.
• Also, Bum la pass, a little ahead, is where the current Dalai
Lama, 14th in succession, entered India, escaping from
Tibet.

Art and craft of AP..
• Arunachal Pradesh has a rich tradition of Bamboo and Cane Handicrafts and also Wood Carving and Carpet
Weaving.
• Traditional Male and Female Wooden figure are depicted as main subject, warriors / head hunters are
popular in Tirap District Wood Carving, originally such wood carvings were used to decorate “MORANG”
(Youths Dormitory ) & modernized as decorative collection items where as different types of Wooden Musk
and goddess figure are depicted as main subject considering the cultural & religious value, which are popular
in the district of Upper and East Siang , Lohit & Tawang.
• Beads ornaments of various types are found in all over Arunachal Pradesh .
• Weaving or decorating small beads ornament are predominately found in Tirap District.
• The unique beads ornaments and grass necklace products are mainly available in Tirap & Changlang districts.
• "GRASS NECKLACE" making practiced by female folk of Wangcho tribe of Tirap District.
• The main raw-material used in a kind of reed , grown near stream and river side during September to
February.
• The Arunachal Pradesh’s carpet has been acclaimed to be of National & International repute by considering
the quality of carpet weaving in different motive and design.
• Arunachal Pradesh can be called “Store House of Handloom Designs” as its 20 major tribes and more then
100 sub-tribes has got unique and appealing Handloom designs.
• The products are , Skirt (Gale), Shirt (Galuk) , cotton shawl, side bag, curtain cloth etc, in different pricing
pattern according to the quality, traditional value, motive and design.

Art and Craft of Arunachal Pradesh
"GRASS NECKLACE"
Wood Carving
Bamboo and Cane Handicrafts
carpet

Cuisine Of Arunachal Pradesh
• khao hai, Tai Khampti is a delicious dish which includes steamed rice wrapped in a local leaf. "The Tai
Khampti people call the leaf tong while other tribes call it ekkam,accompanied by nou kai noo som, a
chicken prepared with tender fermented bamboo shoots, nou moo phan, pork blended with local herbs, and
nou moo shen, fried pork prepared with bamboo shoots.
• For fish lovers there is paa nung, fish blended with local herbs and wrapped in tong/ekkam and steamed.
• For vegetarians too, there are dishes like, The noo phan - boiled fresh tender bamboo shoots flavoured with
ginger leaves - and the phak kho - seasonal green leafy vegetable - tastes just divine. The pi koi tome or
banana flower gravy with colacasia was another vegetarian addition.
• With Arunachal Pradesh being home to 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, organic dishes are majorly
found in the cuisine of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Lukter or powdered chilli prepared with chicken or pork and bamboo shoots, amin or gravy rice granules
prepared with meat, and baka/kopi boil, a wild egg plant.
• Then of course there are various types of bamboo shoot pickles to add to the taste.

Arunachal Pradesh’s Cuisine
The noo phan
paa nung

Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh
Rikham Pada Paru Folk Dance
Arunachal Pradesh Ho Ajina folk Dance
•Most folk dances of AP depicts the victory of
good over evil. According to the local beliefs,
forces — both good and evil, rule mankind. The
tribes believe that in one year, twelve different
types of unfavourable things, representing evil
forces, appear each month and get together.

Meghalaya - "The Abode of Clouds"
• Meghalaya, the name derived from two Sanskrit words ‘Megha’ and ‘Aalaya’ stands for “the abode of
clouds”. It is the 23rd most populous state of the Indian Union located in the North Eastern part of the
country.

Cuisine of Meghalaya
• Meghalaya is home to three Mongoloid tribes;
• It has a unique cuisine, different from the other Seven Sister States of northeast India.
• The staple food of the people is rice with spicy meat and fish preparations.
• The popular dishes of Khasis and Jaintia are Jadoh, Ki Kpu, Tung-rymbai, and pickled bamboo shoots;
bamboo shoots are also a favourite dish of the Garos.
• Garos eat most non-domesticated animals, though their everyday staples are simple foods such as rice
with kapa, cooked with a special ingredient called karchi which is made up of filtered ash water.
• Kapa can be of different kinds, such as with various kind of meats, vegetables, etc. Besides these, for Garos
eat minil (sticky rice prepared by steaming), sakkin gata, and other dishes. These steamed foods are
prepared like dumplings (momo).
• Garos also eat dried fish (nakam) and other dried smoked meats (gran). Like the other tribes in the
northeast, they also ferment rice in order to prepare rice beer, a traditional drink which is consumed in
religious rites and at major ceremonies and celebrations.

Meghalayan art, craft and culture
Bamboo Weaving in Meghalaya
Khasi designs, a
hit at London
fashion show.
Garments were made
from eco-friendly
fabric of “Ryndia”
(eri silk) from
Ri-Bhoi district of
Meghalaya.
khasi tribe

Folk Dance of Meghalaya
 Wangala is also known as Dance of Hundred Drum festival.
 It is an important festival of the people of Garo hills.The
festival takes place annually in November.
 This is a week long festival.
 This festival marks the end of a period of work, indicating a
yield of good harvest.
 The festival is celebrated in an honour of 'Satyong', the God
of fertility.
 Young and old people dressed in their colourful costumes
and feathered head dress, dance to the beat of long
cylindrical drums.
 This is a religious dance form performed as a thanksgiving to
God for good harvest, peace and prosperity among the
community.
 This dance is generally held during months of October and
November.

Manipur – Jewel of India
• Manipur has a long and glorious history from before the beginning of the Christian era. The recorded
history of kingship started from 33 AD, which marked the coronation of Pakhangba.
• After Pakhangba a series of kings ruled over the kingdom of Manipur. The independence and sovereignly of
Manipur remained uninterrupted until the Burmese invaded and occupied it for approximately seven years
in the first quarter of the 19th century (1819-1826).
• Then came the British Parmaountcy in 1891. Manipur regained independence along with the rest of India in
1947.
• Jawahar Lal Nehru gifted the title to Manipur as Jewel of India

Folk Dance of Manipur
• Manipuri is the classical dance from the Manipur region in the North East. Slow and gracious movements
differentiate Manipuri from other dance styles. The delicate arm movements and gentle foot work
characterise this dance.

Manipur
Different categories of Manipur handicrafts
 Cane and bamboo crafts
Kauna Crafts
Pottery
Black pottery
Ceramic pottery
Textile Weaving (Hand-woven and embroidered textiles)
Woodcarving
Block Printing
Natural fiber crafts
Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur are widespread due to
the wide availability of the raw material.
 Moreover, the constant demand of this craft in the
international market is another reason for the same.
 There is large number of artisans associated with creating
bamboo craft.
 Products such as sofa sets, stools, mats, basketry, tray,
chairs, tables, flower vases, ashtrays and many other
decorative and utility articles are made out of this craft.

Kauna Craft
Kettle made of black stone
Cane and bamboo craft

Manipuri cuisine
• The staple diet of Manipur consists
of rice, fish, large varieties of leafy
vegetables (of both aquatic and
terrestrial).
• Manipuris typically raise vegetables
in a kitchen garden and rear fishes
in small ponds around their house.
• Since the vegetables are either
grown at home or obtained from
local market, the cuisines are very
seasonal, each season having its
own special vegetables and
preparations.

Cuisine of Manipur
• Eromba- Vegetables boiled or steamed with a lot of red chillies or umorok (king chilli) with ngari (fermented fish),
smoked or roasted fish and mashed together. "U-morok" – literally ‘tree chilli’ u = tree; morok = chilli. It is
garnished with herbs like maroi ( maroi nakuppi, phakpai, mayang-ton, toning-khok, kaanghumaan, lomba,
tilhou, chaantruk, coriander leaves and many more).
• Singju is a salad which may be prepared with finely chopped banana stem, laphu tharo (banana flower), cabbage,
lotus stem, komprek (a kind of scented herb), kollamni (another herb), tree beans, coriander leaves, sinju pan,
ginger, heibi mana and lots of seasonal vegetables mixed with ngari. Boiled kidney beans are optional and the
dish is seasoned with red chilli flakes, salt to taste, with roasted sesame powder and roasted chick pea powder.
• Chamthong or Kangshoi is a stew of any seasonal vegetables with coarsely chopped onions or spring
onion, maroi - both yennam nakuppiand napakpi, ginger, ngari and salt, topped with ngari,[5] dried fish, or fried
fish pieces and water. It is soupy in consistency and is eaten with rice.
• Morok metpa is a coarse paste prepared with green or dry red chilies mixed with chopped onions, coriander
leaves and other local herbs for garnishing. The chilies are steamed or roasted with ngari[5] or simply crushed and
then mashed with salt and ngari; fried fish pieces can also be added to it. This is something which accompanies
both the meals as a routine side dish.
• Other dishes include kang-ngou or kaang-hou (various vegetables stir fried with traditional
spices), nganam (prepared with fish and maroi on a pan) or paaknam (sort of a pancake prepared with a mixture
of pea flour, maroi napaakpi, laphu tharo, awa phadigom, and ngari wrapped in turmeric and banana leaves and
baked in a pan or steam it first and then roasted it for sometime), nga-thongba (fish curry), ooti (a typical
Manipuri vegetarian dish), pakoura thongba, chagem pomba (made with fermented soya, mustard leaves,
roasted or smoked fish and other herbs), keli chana, alu kangmet (boiled potato mashed with fried red chilli
and nakuppi with salt and/or dressed with mustard oil), sana thongba which is prepared with paneer in Manipuri
style, a-nganba (steamed vegetables, such as pumpkin, peas, carrots, French beans, etc.).

Nagaland - "Land of Festivals"
• Manipur and Nagaland were the only two states where WW2 was actually fought in
India? In 2013, the Battle of Imphal and Kohima were voted to be ‘Britain’s Greatest
Battle’ by the British National Army Museum.
• The state of Nagaland is commonly called as land of festivals as various tribes
celebrate their beautiful and unique seasonal festivals with a feast of music and
pageantry of zeal.

Art and craft of Nagaland
• Blacksmithy is the second most important craft particulary of Angamis. The smiths produce dao, axe,
sickle, knives, spear etc. The Rengmas are considered the best Naga blacksmiths. In the olden days
Rengmas were probably the only Naga tribe who smelted iron by boiling and heating the stone, which
contained iron-sand.Nagas are deeply attached to their weapons. Probably because their survival in
the past depended on it. The spear and dao are important weapons of Nagas.
• Wooden log-drums or huge wooden gongs are one of the amazing creation of the Aos, the Konyaks, the
Sangtams, the Phoms,the Changs and the Khiamngan and the Yimchungers.The size of the log drum
varies from place to place.
- They are hollowed out from a single tree trunk sometimes as much as 12 meters and 3 meters in
circumference, carved at one end with huge figure head leaving a long slit on the top running down the
whole length of the body of the drum.
- It involves observance of rituals or rules like working in jungle till the process of making log-drums is
finished.
- The drum pulling ceremony is one of the greatest ceremonies. It is celebrated by singing, dancing,
shouting and dragging the drum to the sacred place usually installed by the side of the morung or the
morung hall.
• Wanchos, Konyaks and Phom tribes are some of the finest wood-carvers in the entire frontier area.
Wood-carving finds expression mainly under three heads- firstly with headhunting, secondly with the
decoration of the morungs or men`s communal houses, and thirdly, the funerary images erected or other
important person.

Ancestral Naga Tribal Beads
Naga traditional ornament
Animal Figures from Bamboo roots
Type of Spears

Folk Dance of Nagaland
Music and dance play a huge part in Naga culture. The people of Nagaland believe in togetherness hence you will
notice all their dances are presented in groups. Nagaland has multiple tribes each having their own uniqueness,
dance forms, cultures, language and more.
Major folk dances of Nagaland include - Modse, Agurshikukula, Butterfly Dance, Aaluyattu, Sadal Kekai, Changai
Dance, Kuki Dance, Leshalaptu, Khamba Lim, Mayur Dance, Monyoasho, Rengma, Seecha and Kukui Kucho, Shankai
and Moyashai etc, however, the prominent ones are War Dance and Zeliang Dance.
The men in Nagaland perform War Dance with an outburst cry and humming tune. It can be said, this dance form
mocks war scenario by involving dangerous war movements.
A single wrong step could ruin an entire act, it's martial and athletic style requires a performer to whirl his legs while
keeping the body in an upward posture.
Besides the traditional attire worn by the performers are simply unique. Apart from War Dance being popular in
Nagaland, there is another artistic dance of the Zeliang Naga tribe, Zeliang dance.
Tuensang District. Kiphire Lotha Tribesmen dance

Folk Dance of Nagaland
• Most of the Naga dances are predominantly performed by men but this tribe allows their women to partake
in the dance as well. Nothing too instrumental but with only beating of the drum in a synchronized melody
along with leg movement makes men and women merge together forming a circle, chanting some chorus.
• This chanting, clapping and shouting of words, thumping of feet, gracefully endowed with traditional
headgear and clothes inspires every member of the group and the spectators as well. In order to add vigour
to the dance, the performers are garnished in metal ornaments.
• Chang Lo or Sua Lua is a traditional dance of the Chang tribe of Nagaland state. Similar to the Zeliang dance,
this tribe is gracefully performed with men and women both geared up with traditional war weapons like
dao, shield and spear.

Singpho tribe
Lui-ngai-ni, Naga seed sowing festival at Chandel
The many colours and splendours of Nagaland's Hornbill Festival

Cuisine of Nagas
Nagaland Pork w/ Dry Bamboo Shoots - One of the most famous Nagaland food dishes is dry
bamboo shoots cooked with pork. In Nagaland, just like in Thailand or Korea, they are serious
when it comes to pork. So you won’t be eating thin strips of bite sized pork, they cook with
huge chunks of pig. Often the pork is quite fatty, often big cubes of pork belly mixed in.
To make this dish, the pork is fried with the Naga signature dry bamboo shoots and lots of
chilies. The bamboo gives the pork a lovely aroma and unique flavour. I thought it was
wonderful.
Kongshia Lon – Eel Chili Sauce
Of all the Nagaland food I was able to sample on my weeklong visit to Nagaland, it was the
different assortment of chili sauces and garnishes that I enjoyed most.
This eel chili sauce was excellent, dry eel pounded with lots of chilies, garlic, and salt
Beans Mix - This healthy earthy mixture included beans, tomatoes, peas, cabbage and
all sort of other natural Nagaland ingredients. It is a delicious concoction which is not
overly strong in flavor, but more of a garnish for rice and is to be eaten with other
stronger chili sauces and curries.

Chicken Glutinous Rice Soup
Just like many other Nagaland foods, it is not cooked overly spiced, and
is served along with some chili sauce which provides extreme flavour.
Naga Ghost Chili Sauce-
A dish specifically from deep village in Nagaland. This is a blend of
ingredients, 4 Naga ghost chillies (the world’s hottest chili) within this
sauce.The entire chili sauce tastes kind of like mashed beans mixed with
all sorts of herbs, onions, garlic and the Naga ghost chillies.
Bamboo Steamed Fish
Bamboo grows everywhere in Nagaland, and it has many different uses. One of
the common ways to cook is using tubes of bamboo. Cooked by stuffing fish into
a hollow tube of bamboo with a few light spices and then placed in the ash of
the fire to cook.After the fish is cooked,it is simply emptied out of the bamboo
into a bowl and ready to be served. A nice flavour of bamboo blends in fish and
good to eat with and spicy sauce.

Mizoram - "The Land of Blue Mountains"
Mizoram appears like a small island towards the south of
North-East India. Due to the presence of many mountains here,
it is known as the “Land of Blue Mountains”.
• A leading producer of bamboo in India, Mizoram is known
for Mautam,a Mizo word for ‘Bamboo Death.’ The problem
is caused by the synchronous flowering of bamboo.

Mizoram - "The Land of Blue Mountains"
• There are many peaks in the state, with the Phawngpui or the Blue Mountain being the tallest of all.
Mizoram is known for its dense bamboo growth that covers almost all the entire plains of Assam and
spreads into Mizoram as well. Serene Waterfalls with crystal-clear water and natural streams and rivers
aggravate the beauty of the state.
• The people of Mizoram are known as Mizos and they are known for their hospitality and warmth. There
are large number of tribal festivals and functions celebrated here.
• The folk dance, music, culture, handicrafts, arts and artefacts, natural extravaganza, pleasant climate,
exquisite flora and fauna and the lively atmosphere of the state are some of the major factors that have
contributed to the tourism sector of the state.
• Mizoram has a whopping 87% literacy rate (2nd rank in India after Kerala) and it is a fact that every Mizo
takes immense pride in.
• The people of the state are aware of their cultural heritage and treat men and women equally.
Christianity is the main religion here, however, the people have also kept alive their tribal culture and
customs till date, in addition to the Christian customs.
• The months between May and September bring in a lot of rainfall to Mizoram. Other than this, the
climate is pretty pleasant with cool summers and mildly cold winters.
• During winters, the mist-capped mountains, clear, blue skies and the pleasant aura of the state attract
many tourists to the state. Except the rainy season, Mizoram can be visited during any part of the year.
• Until Mizoram started functioning as an independent Union Territory during the year 1971-72, it was
embedded into the state of Assam and was known as Lushai Hills. After it was given independent status,
Mizoram broke open its wings and started working vigorously towards its development with the aim of
making it one of the hot tourist destinations of the country.

Craft and culture of Mizoram
• The art and craft forms of Mizoram occupy a very important sector of the industrial market of the state. The
primary section of arts and crafts in the state is textiles, bamboo and cane works as well as basketry.
• The womenfolk of Mizoram are involved in weaving. Some of the traditional products include are puanspuon
dum, puon pie, thangou puon, puon laisen, jawl puon, thangsuo puon, hmarm and zakuolaisen, bamboo and
cane products like jewellery and jewellery. Basketry is also an important art and craft form practiced by the
people of Mizoram.
• Bamboo and Cane in Mizoram: Mizoram is expert in making crafts out of bamboo. People are skilled in
making bamboo and cane products in Mizoram. This also plays a major role in developing the economy of
the state. The major works of bamboo and cane are animal and fish traps cone, hats, wide range of local
jewellery and japis. Bamboo and cane industry is a very significant domain of Mizo men. In their flawless
bamboo works can be seen both unique and decorative piece which shows pride in its beauty.

Folk dance of Mizoram
Khuallam: Khuallam literary means 'Dance of the Guests'. It is a dance usually performed
in the ceremony called 'Khuangchawi'. In order to claim a distinguished place in the
society and to have a place in paradise or Pialral one has to attain the coveted title of
'Thangchhuah'.
• Traditional hand woven Mizo cloth known as Puandum is wrapped over the shoulders
and the dance is performed by swaying the cloth.
• Puandum has the colors black, red, yellow and green stripes. Significantly Puandum is
an indispensable item which every girl has to take along with when she gets married. It
is used when her husband dies to cover the dead body.
• As most other folk dances of the Mizos, this dance is accompanied by a set of gongs
known as Darbu and no song is sung. It is generally performed in large numbers.
Mizo people have a number of dances which are accompanied with few musical instrument like the gong and drum.
Cheraw is a very old traditional dance of the Mizos.Men sitting face to face on
the ground tap long pairs of horizontal and cross bamboo staves open and close in
rhythmic beats.
• Girls in colourful Mizo costumes of 'Puanchei', 'Kawrchei'. Vakiria' and 'Thihna'
dance in and out between the beats of bamboo.
• This dance is now performed in almost all festive occasions. The unique style of
the 'Cheraw' is a great fascination everywhere it is performed. Gongs and drums
are used to accompany the dance. Today modern music also complements the
dance.

Pawai - A popular fold dance of one of the Mizo communities known as Pawi. This dance is
performed in two different occasions.
(i) It is performed by a husband to mourn the death of his wife. The husband would be
continuously performing this dance till he gets tired. Friends and relatives would relieve him
and dance on his behalf. This signifies that they mourn with the bereaved.
(ii) Chawnglaizawn' is performed on festivals and also to celebrate trophies brought home by
successful hunters.
Chailam - a popular dance performed on the occasion of 'Chapchar Kut' one of the most
important festivals of the Mizos.
• In this dance, men and women stand alternatively in circles, with the women holding
on to the waist of the man, and the man on the women's shoulder.
• In the middle of the circle are the musicians who play the drums and
the mithun's horn.
The king, then seeing the utter disappointment of his men, rose to the occasion and
consoles them by inviting them for a drink of rice beer at his palace.
On being intoxicated by the drinks, the party then culminated by singing and dancing
followed by a sumptuous feast.

• BAI - This popular Mizo dish is made of steamed vegetables along
with pork, spinach and bamboo shoot, and spiced with local herbs.
• Though it’s mostly prepared with pork sauce (made out of pork and
mustard), it can be made with butter as well to make a vegetarian
dish. Bai is one of the most easily available dishes in the capital of
Mizoram- Aizawl.
• Koat Pitha are deep fried fritters with rice flour and
banana similar to the Unni appam in Kerala, but with
the addition of fish.
• It has a crispy outer and a soft inner layer. It’s the best
dish to pair with Zu, the Mizo chai.
Mizoram Cuisine

Sanpiau - If you are a street food fan, then you cannot miss out on this Mizo
snack. It’s cooked with rice porridge and is plated up with fresh coriander paste,
spring onions, crushed black pepper, fish sauce and finely powdered rice.
Misa Mash Poora - is the best way to treat yourself when in
Mizoram. The dish cooked with shrimps, onions, coriander,
peppercorns and lime juice, its bold flavors and will make every
foodie’s mouth water.

Tripura - Near Water, the land of charming beauty, myths and legends
• The third-smallest state in the country, it has the highest number of primate species found in any Indian
state. Due to its geographical isolation, economic progress in the state is hindered. Poverty and
unemployment continue to plague Tripura, which has a limited infrastructure. Most residents are involved in
agriculture and allied activities, although the service sector is the largest contributor to the state's gross
domestic product.

Art and Craft of Tripura
Cane and Bamboo
Handicraft

Cuisine of Tripura
Wahan (Pork) Mosdeng /Bangoi:
A mixture of ginger, garlic , coconut, pea-nuts and pork boiled in packets of
banana leaf with a special and sticky variety of rice known as ‘Binny’.
Wahan mosden, is a fried dish from Tripura that makes
for a great appetiser
Tripura’s cultural diversity is reflected in the food habits of the tribal and non-tribal people. Leaving aside the rich spicy
food or even two or three varieties of Chinese cuisine served in restaurants in urban centres , the non-tribal Bengalis of
Tripura live on rice , fish , chicken ,mutton and pork.

Folk dance of Tripura
• Garia
This is a Dance form of Koloi, Tripuri and Jamatia communities. This dance is performed on the beats of
drums during Garia Puja festival which begins on the last day of the month of ‘Chaitra’.
• Lebang Boomani
This is a dance form performed by the Tripuries before the monsoon season. This is a dance festival in
which Tribal youths gets indulge in catching charming colourful insects called ‘Lebang’.
The male folks make a peculiar rhythmic sound with the help of two bamboo chips in their hands, the
womenfolk run tottering the hill slopes to catch this Lebangs.

• Hozagiri dance –
A dance form performed by the women of Reang Community.This is a dance of balance, dediction and subtle
expertise.
This type of dance is generally performed during new harvest and worship of Goddess Laxmi.
This is basically a female dance. The experts have related it to the Kuchipudi and Manipuri dance forms. It has
the potential to be compered with any classical dance of our country.

Dhamail –
Dhamail is a dance of harmony. This is a very popular group dance of the womenfolk irrespective of caste and
community.
This is not an instrument oriented dance, but is dominated by good rhythm and tune maintained by clapping and
stepping. It is performed to praise God and also give festive mood to happy occasions like marriages and other
ceremonies.
This is performed by the Tripura- Bengalis, this dance form is also famous and an important part of Bangladesh.

Sikkim-"Land of Mystical Splendour"
• Sikkim is a beautiful state that is located at the backdrop of the mighty Himalayan Mountain Range. The
state contains interesting places in its boundaries like Bhutan (towards its east), Tibet Autonomous Region of
China (towards its north and east), West Bengal (towards its south) and Nepal (towards its west). Teesta
River is the main river of Sikkim, it flows into the state along with its main tributary of Rangeet. 33% of the
state is covered with forests.

Art and craft of Sikkim
• Carpet Making • Woolen carpets of Sikkim are very famous. The
weavers use different colored wool and designs in the
carpets.
• Landscapes of clad mountains or flowering valleys,
animals, orchids and some other designs are decorated
in the carpets.
• Formal carpets of this state are also famous. The state
has some private institutes that teach the method of
carpet making.
Handicrafts
The 'thankas' (traditional tapestry), leather works, dolls,
multi-colored applique work, batiks, a fine collection of
dolls and a range of fashionable garments are the
additional specialties of Sikkim.
• Choktse is a kind of foldable table and has become a
special product of Sikkim.
• Choktse Tables are renowned here as well as outside
India.
Choktse

Folk dances of Sikkim
Tashi Yangku dance
The Bhutias believe that there are several Gods and Goddesses
who control the seasons and natural phenomenon like floods,
landslides, draughts, torrential rains, snowfalls etc.
• It is in the hands of the Gods to give natural bounty and
prosperity ad also in their hands to give draught and famine.
• The Tashi Yangku dance is meant for appeasing the Gods
and praying for continuing prosperity and pace in the region.
• The dancers move rhythmically too the sacred hymns and
chants uttered by monks. The Tashi Yangku is believed to
bring in good fortune to the land.

This Singhi Chaam dance revolves around the majestic and
mythical snow lion which is only found in the snowy climes of
the trans Himalayan region.
• The sacred Kanchendezonga and its four associate peaks
represent the majestic snow lion which is one of the most
important symbols of Sikkim.
Chu Faat Dance by the Lepchas
Chu Faat Dance -The life force of Sikkim is believed to be 
Mount Kanchenjunga and it is celebrated by the Lepcha
community in a glorious way.
• This special dance is dedicated to this mighty peak along
with its companions Mt Pandim, Mt Narshing, Mt Kabru
and Mt Simbrum.
• These peaks are believed to contain treasures like sacred
texts, minerals, medicine, salt and food grains and their
power is celebrated by the dancers.

Cuisine of Sikkim
• People of Sikkim are mostly the rice lovers. Meat and other dairy products are also consumed.Sikkim has its
own unique specific cuisine and food recipes. Here food habits have evolved from experiments from
generations after generations.
• Momo : Momo is a very popular Tibetan delicacy in Sikkim. It is prepared with ground/minced meat filling.
These days, momo is prepared with virtually any combination of ground meat, vegetables, paneer cheese,
soft chhurpi (local cheese) and vegetable and meat combinations. Momos are taken along with soup and
home made chilly sauce.
2.Thukpa
Thukpa is a noodle soup having vegetables. It is readily available in
most of the local restaurants.

3.Phagshapa
Phanghapa is a famous dish from Sikkim. Compared to other curries, it is not
so spicy as the only spice used is Chillies. It is lightly flavored, the radish and
the pork makes a wonderful combination and goes really well with just plain
rice.
Sael Roti
Sel roti is a traditional home-made, sweet, ring-shaped rice bread/doughnut. It
is mostly prepared during Tihar, a widely celebrated Hindu festival in Nepal. It
is made of rice flour with adding customized flavours.

Assam- Gateway to the seven sisters
• Assam is considered as the head of seven sisters' state of North Eastern India.
• Assam has been enriched with rich culture, languages, ethnic groups, dialects spoken as well as literature.
• It is popular for its Assam tea along with huge and old resources of petroleum as the premier oil reserves.
• There is Assam silk and the rich biodiversity making Assam a more popular state.
• The state has saved one-horned Indian rhinoceros from extinction and also conserves tigers and
innumerable bird species by facilitating them with natural habitats. It has become one of the most preferred
places for wildlife tourism as Manas and Kaziranga both are World Heritage Site
• s. The state was also known for its forest products and the Sal trees which have depleted now. Assam has
been adorned with lush greenery due to high rainfall and Brahmaputra River having its tributaries offering a
great hydro-geomorphic as well as aesthetic ambience.

Folk Dances Of Assam
•Bihu Dance - This is the most popular folk dance of Assam and as the very name suggests, is related to the Bihu
festival, which is celebrated with much pomp and glory throughout the state.
•Jumur Nach - This is a typical folk dance performed by the tea community in the state, locally called ‘Chah
Baganar Jumur Nach’ or the Jumur dance of tea garden. Boys and girls hold each other’s waist and dance to the
tunes of the Jumur dance, with exact precision of foot work.
•Ali Ai Ligang dance - The Mishing community of Assam performs a dance while making an offering to their deities
during the Ali Ai Ligang festival. This form of dance is seen only in the north-eastern parts of the state, namely
Sonitpur and Lakhimpur.
Bihu Dance
Jumur Nach Ali Ai Ligang dance

Folk Dances Of Assam cont..
• Deodhani - Deodhani is a dance form associated with the worship of the snake goddess Manasa. This dance is
performed by a girl who, in a trance-like inspired state, goes on dancing to the beats of the Ciphung (flute) and the
Kham (drum). At one stage of the dance, she even takes a sword and a shield performing a virile war dance,
honoring various gods and goddesses, like Shiva, Lakshmi etc.
• Barpeta’s Bhortal Nritya - This form of dance is mainly a propagation of the Sankari culture of Assam and was
originally developed by the well known Satriya artist, Narahari Burha Bhakat. During the festivals in the Barpeta and
Guwahati regions, this dance is performed by a group of 6-10 dancers equipped with cyrnbols.
• Dhuliya and Bhawariya - This is basically a form of theatrical performance, using masks, drums and cymbals.
• Bodo’s Bagurumba - This is one of the best folk dances performed by the Bodo community of Assam. A number of
Bodo girls, dressed in colorful apparels, dance to the tune of the tribe’s traditional musical instruments, with slow
steps and outstretched hands. This is commonly seen in the Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Darrang and Sonitpur
districts of Assam.
• Khamba Lim - This is a typical folk dance of Assam, performed by two groups of men and women, who stand in two
rows.
Bodo’s Bagurumba

Assam art and craft
Assam has a lot of hills and forests which have vast expanses of canes and
bamboos. These are used extensively by the craftsmen of the region.
Artist Pradeep Goswami making mask regarding rash-mahotsav
at Chamuguri in Majuli.Majuli masks are very famous craft of
Assam.

Cane & Bamboo Crafts Of Assam
Japi or Chhata' (Bamboo / leaf head-gear)
Patt silk (Mulberry) Mekhala
Chadar from Assam

Cuisine of Assam
• The cuisine is characterized by very little use of spices, little cooking over fire and strong flavors due mainly to
the use of endemic exotic fruits and vegetables that are either fresh, dried or fermented.
• Fish is widely used, and birds like duck, squab etc. are very popular, which are often paired with a main
vegetable or ingredient. Preparations are rarely elaborate mash; the practice of Bhuna, the gentle frying of
spices before the addition of the main ingredients so common in Indian cooking, is absent in the cuisine of
Assam.The preferred oil for cooking is the pungent mustard oil.
traditional meal khar,
is a ethnic class dishes
named after the main
ingredient.

.
khorisa tenga , mashed fermented bamboo shoot, sometimes pickled
in mustard oil and spices. Kharoli is fermented mashed mustard
(Brassica campestris var. toria) seed to which a khar has been added,
and kahudi to which an acidic agent (lemon juice, dried mangosteen)
has been added.
Pitika -
• Side dishes of the main course called pitika(mashes) is a signature
characteristic of the assamese cuisine.
• The most popular is aloo pitika (mashed potatoes) garnished with
raw onions, mustard oil, green chillies and sometimes boiled eggs.
• Pitikas are also made from roasted or steamed vegetables
(tomatoes and eggplants being very popular).
• Small fishes, Asiatic
pennywort, matikaduri, tengamora leaves, heartleaf, dôrôn (Leucus
longifolia), etc. roasted separately wrapped in banana leaves and mashed
into 'pitika'.

• Assam’s silk fabrics have earned immense recognition from all over the world. The state is home to several
types of silks, the most prominent and prestigious being muga, the golden silk exclusive to this state. Muga
apart, there is paat, and eri, the latter being used in the manufacture of warm clothes.
• Of a naturally rich golden colour, muga is the finest of India's wild silks. It is produced only in Assam. The
women of Assam weave fairy tales in their looms. In earlier times, the skill to weave was the primary
qualification of a young girl for her eligibility for marriage. This perhaps explains why Assam has the largest
concentration of handlooms and weavers in India. One of the world's finest artistic traditions finds
expression in their exquisitely woven 'Eri', 'Muga' and 'Pat' fabrics

Eastern India
East India is a region of India consisting of the Indian states of Bihar,Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and also
the union territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
West Bengal's capital Kolkata is the largest city of this region. The Kolkata Metropolitan Area is the country's
third largest. Among these states, Bihar is considered to be a part of North India as well.
The state of West Bengal share some cultural and linguistic characteristics with Bangladesh.
Odisha is the only state of India, which has a classical language Odia, a classical dance Odissi and a classical
music Odissi music.
Odia is the only language in east India accorded the status of a Classical Language of India.

West Bengal Tourism - Land with Himalayas in north, natural beaches and Sundarbans in the
south.
• Located in the eastern part of India. It is the 4th most populated state of India.
• Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta is the capital of West Bengal.
• Some beautiful destinations lie in the region such as Darjeeling located in the Himalayan region,
• Sandakphu: the highest peak of the state and the mangrove forests of Sundarbans are few of the places that
attract visitors.
• Kolkata is known as ‘City of Palaces’ because of its rich architecture.
• Terracotta temples located at Bishanpur are also one of the famous sites of West Bengal.
• Tourists from all over the world are also attracted towards the cultural heritage of West Bengal.
• Deep roots in music, literature, drama, cinema and fine arts are remarkable.
• Rabindranath Tagore, first Asian to win Noble prize, the composer of National Anthem of India also belonged
to West Bengal.

Art and culture of West Bengal
• The culture of West Bengal too is enriched by the
festivals and also multiple rituals and rites
associated with these festivals.
• There is hardly any Bengali left in the region that is
not awe-struck and gets enthralled by the festivity
and vivacity of Durga Puja.
• It is not only the main festival of West Bengal and
it is feted in the autumn season.
• It commemorates the annual visit of Goddess
Durga with her four children, namely Lakshmi,
Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikaya to her parent`s
home on earth from her celestial residence on
Mount Kailas.
• It is the largest Hindu festival and Bengalis
celebrate it with new clothes and other gifts.
• It is a grand time for the Bengalis who wear gaily
coloured new dresses and are also given edibles,
especially sweets, to feed.
• The culture of West Bengal too is enriched by the
festivals and also multiple rituals and rites
associated with these festivals.
• There is hardly any Bengali left in the region that is
not awe-struck and gets enthralled by the festivity
and vivacity of Durga Puja.
• It is not only the main festival of West Bengal and it
is feted in the autumn season.
• It commemorates the annual visit of Goddess
Durga with her four children, namely Lakshmi,
Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikaya to her parent`s
home on earth from her celestial residence on
Mount Kailas.
• It is the largest Hindu festival and Bengalis
celebrate it with new clothes and other gifts. It is a
grand time for the Bengalis who wear gaily
coloured new dresses and are also given edibles,
especially sweets, to feed.

Cuisine of West Bengal
• Rice and fish have become the trademarks of the Bengali community.
• All fish-made dishes include hilsa preparations, a favourite among Bengalis.
• Sweets accommodate a status of prideful ness and prestige for the Bengalis.
• Sweet delicacies like sandesh, rosogolla, chanar payesh, Chomchom, Kalojam
and several kinds of Pithe are held in high esteem by all the sweet-savors.
• Every territory in Bengal has an especial confection of its own. Bengali sweet
made from date palm and jaggary is called Patali gur. Langcha and
mihidana-sitabhog of Bardhaman, sharbhaja of Krishnanagar, chanabora
of Murshidabad are worthy to mention.
• `Panta bhat` is a conventional dish devoured in all the Bengali village households.
Every Bengali enlists a whole lot of crispy and crunchy snacks in their meals.
• Luchi, cholaar dal, kochuri and alurdom to chop-cutlet and telebhaja, Beguni, Kati roll,
phuchka are being relished by all the Bengalis of varied age to their hearts` content.

Folk dances of west bengal
• Gambhira : One of the folk dances of West Bengal, it is a traditional and devotional form of dance.
 This dance is performed by the devout devotees of Goddess Shakthi.
 Muslim mostly is a custodian of this dance. This dance involves two main dancers surrounding a chorus of
people. The two main dancers dance to the tune of the harmonium, flute, drum and the judi.
 The dancers express their emotions through their dialogues and their signature dialogues which are
repeated by the chorus.
 This dance mainly originated in the community of Malda in West Bengal. The initial type of this folk
dance was agriculture based and as time progressed, the dance became a devotional type of dance.
• Chhau-Most popular of the folk dances of West Bengal: Chhau Dance is a renowned tribal martial dance, a
unique thing amongst folk dances of West Bengal.
 The dance primarily belongs to West Bengal since it’s believed to have originated from Purulia district but its
widely popular in other states like Odisha, Jharkhand etc.
 The Chhau Dance is performed during the Sun festival which is celebrated during Chaitra month of
the Hindu calendar.
 West Bengal proudly presented the folk dance to the world by approving it as theme for West Bengal’s
tableau during 1995 republic day parade.

Gambhira Chhau dance, folk dance of West Bengal
from Purulia district
Santhal Dance
Gaudiya Nritya of West
Bengal

Folk dances of West Bengal cont..
• Santhal Dance - The Santhal dance is tribal folk dances of India which showcases immense vibrancy
and cheerfulness.
 This dance is a replica of the folk dance of Madhya Pradesh.
 The dance is performed by both the men and women of the Santhali tribe.
 The theme of the dance is related to gender issue and land rights.
 It is performed to celebrate spring festival in which glory of nature is praised.
• Gaudiya Nritya of West Bengal - Gaudiya Nritya is a composite art form.
 It is enriched with drama, music, poetry, colour and rhythm.
 The antiquity of Gaudiya Nritya is also based on literature, sculpture and historical evidences.
 Besides its roots in Natyashastra, its evolution and growth can be traced to the traditions of dance and
some of dance forms existing in Gauda Banga.
 Gaudiya Nritya is an art that is meant primarily for spiritual expression and it was obviously a temple
art at the outset.
 The tradition of Devadasis existed in Bengal from ancient time in temples, till now as the relic of the
past we could see Vaishnavite Sevadasis and Nachnis of western part of Bengal.

Orrisa(Now Odisha) – Land of Jagannath
• Orissa, also Called a Land of Temples, Its Unique Temples with Unique architecture makes them more
attractive and the Divinity Brings Peace to Mind and Prosperity.
• Its a beautiful State Full of Ancient Temples, Monuments, Beautiful Beaches, Its Rathyatra .
• Its Unique one of its kind classical language, Unique Classical Dance Odissi are the Uniqueness of the State.
• Significant landmarks such as the Jagannath Temple in Puri and its famous Rath Yatra, the Sun Temple in
Konarak, the classical Odissi dance, sand sculpture artist Sudarshan Patnaik, the Chilka Lake, Sambalpur
Deer Park ,etc have catapulted Odisha on to the global landscape. Jagannath The prevailing culture in
Odisha revolves around Hindu God, Lord Jagannath.
 The only place in India where he is worshiped, the culture surrounding Lord Jagannath is unique.
 Revered as ‘Lord of the Universe’ his exact origins are disputed.
 The culture is a synthesis of ancient Hindu beliefs and tribal rituals.
 Lord Jagannath is worshiped as a human being; his servitors brush his teeth, bathe him,
change his clothes, adorn him with jewellery and offer 56 varieties of food!

Folk dances of Odisha
Dalkahi dance
Chhow Dance - An ancient dance form, mostly
prevalent in areas of Mayurbhanj district

Ghumura is the Folk Dance of Kalahandi district,
Odisha.
Nuakhai is the agricultural dance performed on the next
day of Ganesh Chaturthi in the month of August and
September in western Orissa as the mark of newly
harvested crops and is a very important festival for the
farmers.

Odisha Cuisine
Chungdi Malai -
This dish is all about the delicious creamy prawn curry, where
the creamy part comes from the coconut milk. The richness
and silkiness of this fantastic dish are further enriched by light
and mild spices that add a unique character to it.
Macha Ghanta - A must offering to Durga Maa on Dussehra,
this tempting curry consists of the fried head of the fish and is
served with hot steamed rice and salad. The curry is a rich
blend of onions, potatoes, garlic and the regular spices.
Vegetarians may make a plain ‘Ghanta’ by avoiding fish in it.

Pakhala Bhata
Pakhala Bhata is the daily lunch for almost every household in
Odisha during summers.
- It is prepared by soaking cooked rice in water and sour curd.
Typically left overnight, and often served with potatoes,
fried fish, papad and Badi choora, which is dried and nut-like
urad and black gram.
- This fermented rice is the perfect dish to beat the heat and
refreshes you from within.
- 20th March is celebrated as Pakhala Dibasa (Universal
Pakhala Day) by all Odias to welcome summer season with
Odisha’s traditional food.
Chhena Poda
Odisha’s very own cheesecake! The one sweet that Odisha is
famous for – Chhena Poda, also known to be Lord Jagannath’s
favourite sweet and is often offered to him at the Puri Temple.
The lingering taste of burnt home-made cottage cheese and
semolina combined with sugar syrup simply blows away your
mind.
This rare dessert is baked for several hours until it becomes red
and the caramelised sugar brings out the distinct flavour of
Chhena Poda.

Art and Craft of Odisha
• Method of making artifacts in metals through the casting method called Dhokra. Using an alloy of tin and
copper or brass and zinc, a number of utility items are crafted in this metal. Artistic boxes, flower vases,
plates, etc are made by them. This is famous in the Dhenkanal district of Orissa.

Delhi
Qutub Festival
• The three-day Qutub Festival is conducted in the historic and grand venue of Qutub Minar during the month
of November or December. This main objective of this festival is to attract as many people as possible and to
introduce them to the past history and magnificence of the structure.
• In a bid to bring back the original charm and glory of Qutub Minar, the Tourism Department of Delhi has
organised this three day festival.
• Many people from all over the globe attend this festival and to attract them, there are a series of folk and
cultural performances lined up by the organising committee. During the three days, Qutub Minar is a picture
of excellence as it is entirely illuminated.
Garden Tourism Festival
• Garden Tourism Festival is held every year in the month of February at Garden of Five Senses located in
South Delhi in Saidul Ajaib Village near Mehrauli heritage area, opposite to Saket.
• This is usually a 3-day festival organized by Delhi Transport and Tourism Development Corporation (DTTDC).
The first Garden Tourism Festival was held in 1988 in a park of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in
Greater Kailash.
• Garden of Five Senses was opened in 2003. The garden, which features spiral paths, is partly on rocky terrain
and partly features bamboo courts, pool of water lilies, herb gardens, and solar energy park. A secluded part
of the garden features food restaurant and shopping alleys. The garden offers a perfect spot for seekers of
mental peace and natural beauty. This is one of the picturesque and tranquil spots of Delhi that turns into a
festive destination every now and then.

International Mango Festival
• The International Mango Festival is organized in New Delhi every year at Dilli Haat in Pitampura.
• This is a 2-day festival organized since 1987. The festival is organized jointly by Delhi Tourism and
Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), National Horticultural Board (NHB), Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
• The International Mango Festival is scheduled in between June to July every year.
• Over 550 varieties of mango fruit are displayed in the festival.
• Visitors can view and taste the fruit. Varieties and cultivars of mango include Alphonso, Amrapali, Mallika,
Dushehri, Kesar, Sensation, Langra, Tommy Atkins, Malda, Himsagar, Chorasya, Fazia, Dhaman, Dhoon, Balia,
Ruchika, NigarinKheria, NazukBadan, Aishwarya, Bombay Green, Neelam, and more.
• Over 50 mango growers from various parts of India, chiefly from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi,
find a lucrative platform to showcase their “King of Fruits.”
• Eminent chefs from 5-star hotels like Inter-Continental Hotel, Maurya Sheraton, Taj Palace, Qutub Hotel,
Marriot India, and Claridges across the country demonstrate preparation of mango recipes.
• The International Mango Festival provides a golden opportunity for agro industries and food processing
industries to do business. They exhibit mango products like jam, juice, canned fruit, pickles, and more.
• According to official reports, India exports around 40,000 metric tons of mangoes to 80 countries. Annual
revenue generated from the export of mango and its products reaches around $85 million.
• The International Mango Festival also features folk performances and children shows. Magic shows, mango
carving, and other such shows awe visitors. Buyers from across the world make their presence felt with zest
and encourage trading of mango. The festival becomes a kind of party for mango lovers and visitors.

Incredible India Food Festival
• The Incredible India Food Festival is a part of the Incredible India Festival, which was a part of the
Commonwealth Games extravaganza held in 2010.
• The food festival is held in Emporio Complex at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi.
It is organized by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Delhi Transport and Tourism
Development Corporation (DTTDC).
• Incredible India Food Festival features a wide assortment of Indian recipes and cooking styles. It is a
journey to the incredible taste of India. The festival is a heaven for foodies. It sends visitors’ taste buds
on a trip to heaven.
• Incredible India Festival, as a whole, is a terrific depiction of crafts and cuisine of India. It was started in
2010 when the Commonwealth Games were held in New Delhi. Since then, the festival gives the
people of Delhi and visitors a chance to celebrate and soak themselves in true Indian spirit.

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