Guide to Culture in India

Female: Indian culture is embedded in their tea, cuisine, cinema, dance and celebrities.

Darjeeling tea is a priced Indian specialty. It originated in the 1840’s when a British surgeon stationed in Darjeeling began experimental tea planting. He used seeds from China to begin his trials, a practice that he and others continued during the 1840’s. The government also established tea nurseries during that period. Commercial exploitation began during the 1850’s. The area is so well suited to tea growing because of its elevation and climate.

Today, Darjeeling tea is still recognized as being almost the finest in the world and is exported across all corners of the globe. The mark of Darjeeling always promises a refreshing cup.

Indian cuisine is characterized by its strong links with vegetarianism which has resulted in the sophisticated and subtle use of many spices and vegetables grown across India. India’s religious beliefs and culture has played an influential role in shaping this. Many Hindus believe that eating meat is sacrilegious and so they have made the most out of breads, vegetables, legumes and spices. Indian cuisine features a wide array of dishes and cooking techniques to get the best from each flavor and texture. It also features some very healthy herbs.

Vilasgauri Dhanani: Well, the herbs which we use in our food, it is a medicine value. Some food, some herbs later gives a blood purifier, some herbs like gives you energy, some herbs they can give you better digestion like also here in the--.

Female: Dishes vary from region to region reflecting the very demographics of the ethnically diverse Indian subcontinent.

One of India’s most famous cultural exports has got to be Bollywood Cinema. It’s loud, brash, musical style has began taking over screens in the West as well as developing it's huge following gin India.

Bollywood is characterized by singing and dancing uplifting romantic story lines and colorful costuming. Movies such as Bride and Prejudiced and Slumdog Millionaire have helped to popularize the drama. Many tourists are even opting to become extras in Bollywood movies as part of their trip to India to get a taste of fame and be immersed in the vibrant dance and drama.

If Bollywood is India’s most famous cultural export, Aishwarya Rai is Bollywood’s biggest celebrity. The green-eyed beauty has crossed over from national stardom into international success since entering a Miss World Competition in 1994. Rai has been determined not to let her beauty overshadow her intellect or compassion.

Aishwarya Rai: An institution and what it stands for, how it educates their children and the students need to be judged purely by the physical, just like people. This is where we go wrong. People, children get judged by only what you see, schools like this yield into what the children is all about, what did you release and how you go forth and educate them rather than just judge them by what you see and go forth and make statements. This is exactly what you need to counter in society with our children and with people all around. This attitude needs to change.

Female: Rai was the first Indian actress to be selected for the jury at the Cannes Film Festival and the second Bollywood personality to have a Madame Tissot statue created after her.