Culture of South Asia

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A depiction of South Asia (mostly orange) and its influence on neighbouring parts of Asia (lighter-orange).

The culture of South Asia, also known as Desi culture, is a mixture of several cultures in and around the Indian subcontinent. Ancient South Asian culture was primarily based in Hinduism, which itself formed as a mixture of Vedic religion and indigenous traditions, and later Buddhist influences.[1] From the medieval era onwards, influences from the Muslim world (particularly Central Asia and the Middle East) and then Europe (primarily British) also became prevalent.[2][3]

South Asian culture has influenced other parts of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia (see Greater India).[4]

History

This section is an excerpt from Culture of Asia § South Asia.[edit]
Language families in South Asia
Traditional Rajasthani garments from Jaipur, Rajasthan

Evidence of

Indus Valley civilisation or Harappan Civilisation it thrived for almost 2.000 years until the onset of the Vedic period (c. 1500 – c. 600 B.C.).[5][6] The great significance of the Vedic texts (that don't mention cities or urban life) for South Asian culture, their impact on family, societal organisation, religion, morale, literature etc. has never been contested. The Indus Valley Civilisation on the other hand has only come to light by means of 20th century archaeology. Scholars, who employ several periodization models argue over whether South Asian tradition is consciously committed to the Harappan culture.[7][8]

Declining climatic conditions, (

Indo-Aryan migration) are regarded as to have caused the fatal disruption of the Harappa culture, that was superseded by the rural Vedic culture.[9][10]

Following the Indo-Aryan settlement in the

ethic conformity.[12]

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are major religions of South Asia. After a long and complex history of cosmological and religious development, adoption and decline, the Hindu-synthesis[13] and the late but thorough introduction of Islam about 80% of modern-day Indians and Nepalis identify as Hindus.[14] In Sri Lanka and Bhutan most people adhere to various forms of Buddhism.[15] Islam is the predominant religion in Afghanistan, the Maldives (99%), Pakistan (96%) and Bangladesh (90%).[16][17][18]

Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore
, Pakistan

Pallava alphabet, certain cultural traditions, and aspects of its cuisine, for example, show South Indian influences. Cultural festivals, aspects of its cuisine and Theravada Buddhism, the dominant religion in Sri Lanka, show a Southeast Asian affinity.[23]

Dari
.

Religion

Main article: Religion in South Asia

Languages

This section is an excerpt from Languages of South Asia.[edit]
SindhGujaratBalochistan, PakistanPunjabKhyber PakhtunkhwaHindi beltHindi beltKashmirBhutanNepalBengalNortheast IndiaTelugu statesMaharashtraOdishaKarnatakaKeralaTamil NaduSri Lankan TamilsSinhalese people
A clickable map of the official language and lingua franca spoken in each state/province of South Asia excluding Afghanistan and the Maldives. Indo-Aryan languages are in green, Iranic languages in dark green, Dravidian languages in purple, and Tibeto-Burman languages in red.

Hindi–Urdu; and the sixth most spoken language, Bengali. The languages in the region mostly comprise Indo-Iranic and Dravidian languages, and further members of other language families like Austroasiatic, and Tibeto-Burman
languages.

English-influenced variant known as Hinglish[28][29][30][31][32] which is spoken more in urban areas.[33]

Art

This section is an excerpt from Indian art.[edit]
The origin of Indian art can be traced to
Sikhism and Islam
. In spite of this complex mixture of religious traditions, generally, the prevailing artistic style at any time and place has been shared by the major religious groups.

Cinema

This section is an excerpt from South Asian cinema.[edit]
Cinema is prominent in South Asia, with the
Bollywood (representing the most-spoken language in the region of Hindi) and South Indian film industries being the most dominant. Pakistan's Lollywood also is growing, while historically, Bengali cinema
was highly acclaimed by international film circles.

Cuisine

This section is an excerpt from South Asian cuisine § Staples and common ingredients.[edit]
An assortment of spices and herbs. Spices are an indispensable food ingredient in much of the subcontinent.

atta flour
, and beans.

Foods in this area of the world are flavoured with various types of chilli, black pepper, cloves, and other strong herbs and spices along with the flavoured butter ghee. Ginger is an ingredient that can be used in both savory and sweet recipes in cuisines from the subcontinent. Chopped ginger is fried with meat and pickled ginger is often an accompaniment to boiled rice. Ginger juice and ginger boiled in syrup are used to make desserts. Turmeric and cumin are often used to make curries.

Common meats include lamb, goat, fish, chicken and
taboo food item by all Muslims and is not taboo but avoided by many Hindus, though it is commonly eaten in some regions like Northeast India and Goa where Christianity is wide-spread. A variety of very sweet desserts which use dairy products is also found in cuisines of the subcontinent. The main ingredients in desserts of the subcontinent are reduced milk, ground almonds, lentil flour, ghee and sugar. Kheer
is a dairy-based rice pudding, a common dessert.

Sports

This section is an excerpt from Sport in South Asia.[edit]
A commemorative stamp depicting kabaddi in its inaugural appearance at the Asian Games in 1990.
Many sports are played in South Asia, with
kho-kho, and also feature in regional competitions such as the South Asian Games and Asian Games.[41][42]

Traditional sports

This section is an excerpt from Traditional games of South Asia § History.[edit]

Some traditional South Asian games, such as

Stapoo and Chindro) may reflect the concepts of land division and ownership of property in ancient times.[47]

After the

video games)[51] have further diminished the traditional South Asian sports.[52] Additional reasons include religious extremism in some areas, which has restricted people from playing certain games, and lack of governmental support.[53]

However, some professional leagues are now being started for certain traditional sports, such as the Pro Kabaddi League, Ultimate Kho Kho, and Pro Panja League, which are beginning to revive interest in these sports and even globalise them;[54][55] these leagues are now some of the most-watched competitions in the subcontinent.[56]

Martial arts

This section is an excerpt from Indian martial arts.[edit]

Indian martial arts refers to the fighting systems of the Indian subcontinent. A variety of terms are used for the English phrases "Indian martial arts", deriving from ancient sources. While they may seem to imply specific disciplines (e.g. archery, armed combat), by Classical times they were used generically for all fighting systems.

Among the most common terms today,
upaveda, along with shastrashāstra or military science.[59] A later term, yuddha kalā, comes from the words yuddha meaning fight or combat and kalā meaning art or skill. The related term śastra kalā (lit. weapon art) usually refers specifically to armed disciplines. Another term, yuddha-vidyā or "combat knowledge", refers to the skills used on the battlefield, encompassing not only actual fighting but also battle formations and strategy. Martial arts are usually learnt and practiced in the traditional akharas.[60][61]

Music

This section is an excerpt from Music of South Asia.[edit]
Bollywood and Lollywood. As a result of social media and modern streaming networks, folk and ritual music styles are still widely appreciated today, with many modern artists taking inspiration from the classical traditions that defined the history of South Asian music.[63]

Architecture

Afghan architecture

This section is an excerpt from Architecture of Afghanistan.[edit]
The architecture of Afghanistan refers to a distinct style of architecture of the modern country and its predecessor states.[64] As the connection between the three major cultural and geographic centers of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Iranian plateau, the boundaries of the region prior to this time changed with the rapid advancement of armies, with the land belonging to a vast range of empires over the last two millennia.[65][66][67]

Pakistani architecture

This section is an excerpt from Pakistani architecture.[edit]

Ancient Greece. These remnants are visible in the Gandhara capital of Taxila.[69]

Persianaite elements. The Mughal Empire ruled between the 16th and 18th centuries, and saw the rise of Mughal architecture, most prevalent in Lahore
.

Indian architecture

This section is an excerpt from Architecture of India.[edit]

Indian architecture is rooted in the history, culture, and religion of India. Among several architectural styles and traditions, the best-known include the many varieties of Hindu temple architecture and Indo-Islamic architecture, especially Rajput architecture, Mughal architecture, South Indian architecture, and Indo-Saracenic architecture. Early Indian architecture was made from wood, which did not survive due to rotting and instability in the structures. Instead, the earliest existing architecture are made with Indian rock-cut architecture, including many Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples.

The Hindu temple architecture is divided into the

Nagara style of northern India
, with other regional styles. Housing styles also vary between regions, depending on climate.

The first major Islamic kingdom in India was the Delhi Sultanate, which led to the development of Indo-Islamic architecture, combining Indian and Islamic features. The rule of the Mughal Empire, when Mughal architecture evolved, is regarded as the zenith of Indo-Islamic architecture, with the Taj Mahal being the high point of their contribution. Indo-Islamic architecture influenced the Rajput and Sikh styles as well.

During the
Vastu Shastra remains influential in India's architecture in the contemporary era.[70]

Dravidian architecture

This section is an excerpt from Dravidian architecture.[edit]

Dravidian architecture, or the Southern Indian temple style, is an architectural idiom in Hindu temple architecture that emerged from Southern India, reaching its final form by the sixteenth century.

In contrast with North Indian temple styles, Dravidian architecture uses shorter and more pyramidal towers, called

gopura or gatehouse entrances to the compound as their dominating feature; large temples have several dwarfing the vimana, although these are a much more recent development. There are numerous other distinct features, such as the dwarapalakas – twin guardians at the main entrance and the inner sanctum of the temple and goshtams – deities carved in niches on the outer side walls of the garbhagriha
.

Mentioned as one of three styles of temple building in early texts on
Hoysalas and Vijayanagara Empire
among others have made substantial contribution to the evolution of Dravida architecture.

Bengali architecture

This section is an excerpt from Architecture of Bengal.[edit]

The

country houses and modern urban styles. The bungalow style is a notable architectural export of Bengal. The corner towers of Bengali religious buildings were replicated in medieval Southeast Asia. Bengali curved roofs, suitable for the very heavy rains, were adopted into a distinct local style of Indo-Islamic architecture, and used decoratively elsewhere in north India in Mughal architecture
.

Bengal is not rich in good stone for building, and traditional Bengali architecture mostly uses brick and wood, often reflecting the styles of the wood, bamboo and thatch styles of local vernacular architecture for houses. Decorative carved or moulded plaques of terracotta (the same material as the brick) are a special feature. The brick is extremely durable and disused ancient buildings were often used as a convenient source of materials by local people, often being stripped to their foundations over the centuries.

Clothing

This section is an excerpt from History of clothing in the Indian subcontinent.[edit]
Buddha wearing kāṣāya robes, Gandhara
, 1st-2nd century CE. Height about 1 meter. Tokyo National Museum
Indus Valley civilisation, the rock-cut sculptures, the cave paintings, and human art forms found in temples and monuments. These scriptures view the figures of human wearing clothes which can be wrapped around the body. Taking the instances of the sari to that of turban and the dhoti
, the traditional Indian wears were mostly tied around the body in various ways.

Literature

This section is an excerpt from South Asian literature.[edit]
Tibeto-Burman), hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects.[74] Many modern pieces of South Asian literature are written in English for a global audience. Many of the ancient texts of the subcontinent have been lost due to the inability to preserve verbally transmitted literature. South Asia has many significant authors that shaped the postcolonial period and response to the British establishment in the subcontinent. Modern South Asian literature has a deep focus on independence from Britain, mainly expressed in prose, this literature commonly discusses the partition of India and how different South Asian nations, religions, and cultures interact with each other. Countries to which South Asian literature's writers are linked include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Works from Bhutan, Myanmar, Tibet, and the Maldives
are sometimes also included.

Philosophy

This section is an excerpt from Indian philosophy.[edit]

Indian philosophy consists of philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The philosophies are often called darśana meaning, "to see" or "looking at."[75][76] Ānvīkṣikī means “critical inquiry” or “investigation." Unlike darśana, ānvīkṣikī was used to refer to Indian philosophies by classical Indian philosophers, such as Chanakya in the Arthaśāstra.[76][77]

A traditional Hindu classification divides

Atman; and whether the school believes in afterlife and Devas.[78][79][80]

There are six major (āstika) schools of

Ajivika, Ajñana, and Charvaka. The āstika group embraces the Vedas as an essential source of its foundations, while the nāstika group does not. However, there are other methods of classification; Vidyaranya for instance identifies sixteen schools of Indian philosophy by including those that belong to the Śaiva and Raseśvara traditions.[81][82]

The main schools of Indian philosophy were formalised and recognised chiefly between 500 BCE and the late centuries of the Common Era.[citation needed] Some schools like Jainism, Buddhism, Yoga, Śaiva and Vedanta survived, but others, like Ajñana, Charvaka and Ājīvika did not.

Ancient and medieval era texts of Indian philosophies include extensive discussions on
Anatta), reliable means of knowledge (epistemology, Pramanas), value system (axiology) and other topics.[83][page needed][84][85][86]

See also

References

  1. ^ Micu, Alexandru (2020-07-01). "How old is Hinduism and how it all started". ZME Science. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  2. ^ "From the Achaemenids to the Mughals: A look at India's lost Persian history". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  3. ^ "How the British influenced Indian culture". DAWN.COM. 2010-06-06. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  4. ^ Pillalamarri, Akhilesh. "How India Influenced Southeast Asian Civilization". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  5. PMID 22645375.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  6. ISBN 9780521871648
    . Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Kenoyer 1991.
  8. ^ Coningham & Young 2015, p. 27.
  9. ISBN 9781603849036
    . Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  10. ISBN 9788131711200
    . Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  11. ^ Upinder Singh, A History of Ancient and Early Mediaeval India 2008, p. 200.
  12. ^ Michael Witzel. "The Development of the Vedic Canon and its Schools : The Social and Political Milieu" (PDF). Harvard University. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Hindu synthesis and smriti". Speaking Tree. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  14. ^ "The Global Religious Landscape – Hinduism". A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Major Religious Groups as of 2010. Pew Research Foundation. 18 December 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  15. ^ Pew Research Center (18 December 2012). "Global Religious Landscape: Buddhists". Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  16. ISBN 9780415448512
    .
  17. ^ "10 Countries With the Largest Muslim Populations, 2010 and 2050date=2015-04-02". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  18. ^ Diplomat, Akhilesh Pillalamarri, The. "How South Asia Will Save Global Islam". The Diplomat. Retrieved April 21, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Peter R. Blood. "Pakistan : a country study". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  20. ISBN 9788125001881
    . Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  21. ^ http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/contributions/pdf/CNAS_26_02_01.pdf
  22. ^ Mendis, V.L.B (1985). Foreign Relations of Sri Lanka: Earliest Times to 1965. Tisara Prakasakayo. pp. 113–16.
  23. ISBN 978-9004056602
    . Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  24. ISBN 978-1-316-58235-0
    .
  25. ISBN 978-3-11-081566-5
    .
  26. ISBN 978-1-4438-6761-0
    .
  27. ISBN 978-0-252-06172-1
    .
  28. ISBN 978-0-14-341639-5
    .
  29. ^ "Hindi, Hinglish: Head to Head". read.dukeupress.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  30. ^ Salwathura, A. N. "Evolutionary development of ‘hinglish’language within the indian sub-continent." International Journal of Research-GRANTHAALAYAH. Vol. 8. No. 11. Granthaalayah Publications and Printers, 2020. 41-48.
  31. ^ Vanita, Ruth (2009-04-01). "Eloquent Parrots; Mixed Language and the Examples of Hinglish and Rekhti". International Institute for Asian Studies Newsletter (50): 16–17.
  32. ISSN 0019-0829
    .
  33. S2CID 59247503
    .
  34. ^ "Explained snippets: Cricket has 1 billion fans, 90% of them in subcontinent". The Indian Express. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  35. ISBN 978-0-203-06643-0
    , retrieved 2024-05-29
  36. ISBN 978-0-7146-5146-0
    .
  37. ^ Bastian, Ron (2022-11-13). "For football-crazy Kerala, FIFA World Cup is its biggest festival". thefederal.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  38. ^ "Why Bengal is obsessed with football?". The Indian Express. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  39. ^ "50 years of Victory: What has Bangladesh achieved in the field of sports?". The Business Standard. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  40. ^ History of hockey in India: Taught by the British, India conquered the world https://olympics.com/ Rahul Venkat
  41. ^ Taneja, Nidhima (2023-01-27). "Pro kabaddi, kho-kho leagues chase IPL viewership. India rediscovering regional sports". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  42. ^ "OCA » Ancient tag game of kho kho catching on fast". ocasia.org. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  43. ^ Kabaddi: How to play India’s 4000-year-old indigenous sport Olympics.com
  44. ^ Kho Kho, a kabaddi-like sport linked with Indian epic Mahabharata – know all about it Olympics.com
  45. ^ Arasu, S. T. (4 July 2020). "Galah Panjang and its Indian roots". On the sport. Be part of it. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  46. ^ "The Evolution Of Kho Kho Mats In India: A Historical Overview". English Jagran. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  47. ^ A Historical Study of the Origin and Features of Some Selected Folk Games in North Bengal Badal Roy https://ir.nbu.ac.in/
  48. ^ Disappearance of Traditional games by the imitation of Colonial Culture through the Historical parameters of Cultural Colonialism Md Abu Nasim https://dergipark.org.tr/
  49. ^ Games and Sports in West Bengal under Global Urbanization: An Ethnographic Approach Dr. Abhijit Das http://www.ijhssi.org/
  50. ^ Bengal Traditional Games and Sports Culture Around in Twentieth-Century North Bengal Badal Roy & Dr. Sudash Lamahttps://ir.nbu.ac.in/
  51. ^ Pant, Charu (16 August 2015). "Five Indian Origin Games on the verge of extinction – Sports". Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  52. ^ TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS Siben Paul http://oldror.lbp.world/
  53. ^ Folk Games Dying in Pashtun Belt: A Combination of Religious Extremism Confining Girls to Their Homes and Urbanisation Providing New Options nayadaur.tv
  54. ^ India's defeat reflects Kabaddi's globalisation: Coach Reddy https://www.business-standard.com/
  55. ^ "Format, game tweaks have helped draw fans on TV: Ultimate kho kho CEO". Hindustan Times. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  56. ^ Taneja, Nidhima (2023-01-27). "Pro kabaddi, kho-kho leagues chase IPL viewership. India rediscovering regional sports". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  57. Classical Sanskrit only, specifically in the Anargharāghava
    .
  58. ISBN 978-1-58160-480-1
    .
  59. ^ "Actualizing Power and Crafting a Self in Kalarippayattu". Spa.ex.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  60. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8
    .
  61. ISBN 9788120805927
    .
  62. S2CID 193335418
    .
  63. JSTOR 834451
    .
  64. ISBN 978-1-85043-436-8
    .
  65. ISBN 978-1-610-69778-1
    .
  66. ISBN 0-7524-2519-6
    .
  67. OCLC 50488428
    .
  68. ^ Guisepi, R.A. . Retrieved on February 6, 2008
  69. ^ Meister, M.W. (1997). Gandhara-Nagara Temples of the Salt Range and the Indus. Kala, the Journal of Indian Art History Congress. Vol 4 (1997-98), pp. 45-52.
  70. ^ See Raj Jadhav, pp. 7–13 in Modern Traditions: Contemporary Architecture in India.
  71. ^ Fergusson, James (1864). The Rock-cut Temples of India: Illustrated by Seventy-four Photographs Taken on the Spot by Major Gill. J. Murray.
  72. ISBN 978-0-470-02827-8
    .
  73. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  74. ^ Nakassis, Constantine & Annamalai, E. (2020). Linguistic Diversity in South Asia, Reconsidered. University of Chicago. pp. 1–21.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  75. ^ "Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary 1899 Basic". www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  76. ^
    ISBN 978-0-19-885176-9
    .
  77. ISBN 978-0-19-989182-5
    .
  78. ^ Bowker 1999, p. 259.
  79. ^ Doniger 2014, p. 46.
  80. ^ Nicholson 2010, Chapter 9.
  81. ^ Cowell & Gough 2001, p. xii.
  82. ^ Nicholson 2010, pp. 158–162.
  83. ^ Perrett, Vol. 3 2000.
  84. ISBN 978-1-136-51898-0
    .
  85. ISBN 9789993624318
    .
  86. ISBN 978-0-7546-3301-3
    .

Referenced works
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_South_Asia&oldid=1221724922"