India Essay: The Rich Culture and Heritage of India

India is the largest democratic country. It is a big country divided into 29 states and 7 union territories. These states and union territories have been created so that the government can run the country more easily. India also has many different kinds of physical features in different parts of the country that are spread over its states and union territories. India is a very diverse country as well, which means that the people around the country are different in many ways. Even though India is such a diverse place, it is united as one country. 

Political Divisions

India is the seventh-largest country and has the second-largest population in the world. Here is the map of India showing 29 states and 7 union territories. These political divisions are made so that the government can run the country more easily. Though we live in different states, everyone is an Indian first.

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Physical Features

The Indian subcontinent has many different physical features shared with its neighbours that are also in the subcontinent – Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The physical features of India form six different natural regions. 

• The Northern Mountains

• The Northern Plains

• The Great Indian Desert

• The Southern Plateau

• The Coastal Plains

• The Island Regions

The Northern Mountains: These are the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. They form a natural boundary between India and a large part of Asia. Two neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bhutan are situated in these mountains. 

The Northern Plains: They are located to the south of the Himalayas. They extend into Pakistan in the west. Bangladesh is situated on the eastern part of the plains. 

The Great Indian Desert: The western part of India is a desert with less rainfall. This desert is called the Thar Desert. 

The Southern Plateau: This plateau region lies to the south of the Great Northern Plains and is called the Deccan Plateau. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges in the north, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats surround the Deccan Plateau. 

The Coastal Plains: The Eastern coastal plain lies between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats. The western coastal plain lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats.

The Island Regions: The island regions of India are two archipelagos on either side of Peninsula India. The Lakshadweep Islands are in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in the Bay of Bengal. 

The Rivers of India

The Indian subcontinent has many rivers. Some important rivers are the Indus, Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Sutlej, the Narmada and Tapi rivers. 

These physical features and rivers link the people of India.

National Symbols

• The National Flag of India is in the tricolour of deep saffron at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportions. The saffron stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation, the white for purity and the truth and the green for faith and fertility. In the centre of the white band, there is a wheel of law in the Sarnath Lion Capital.

• The National Emblem of India is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath and symbolizes India’s reaffirmation of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill. 

• The National Anthem of India is Jana Gana Mana and the National song is Vande Mataram.

• The National Animal of India is Tiger, which symbolizes grace, strength and power.

• The National Bird of India is Peacock, which symbolizes beauty, majesty and pride. 

• The National Flower of India is Lotus, which symbolizes purity, wealth, richness, knowledge and serenity.

• The National Tree of India is the Great Banyan Tree and because of its characteristics and longevity, the tree is considered immortal and sacred. It is an integral part of the myths and legends in India.

• The National Fruit is Mango and it is the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. 

Food

Indian food is diverse. The geography of a region influences the food that people eat. The staple food of people is what grows in their regions. In North India, the staple food is Wheat. In East and South India, the staple food is Rice. In West India, the staple food is Millet. Daals are eaten in almost the entire country and prepared in different ways. 

Languages

Indians speak different languages. The Constitution of India mentions 22 languages. However, India has around 800 languages. Hindi is the official language of India. 

Festivals

India is a country of many different religions and each has different festivals. Some important festivals are Baisakhi, Diwali, Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra and Christmas. 

Unity in Diversity

The people of India, their foods, festivals and languages – all these make India a very diverse country. However, there are also things that unite the people of India:

• The National symbols like the Indian flag and the National Anthem.

• The Constitution of India, which was written in the early years of our Independence. It unites the Indians because it has rules and laws that are the same for all people. 

• The Constitution says that all Indians are equal in the eyes of the law.

• All Indians who are over the age of 18 and have registered as voters can vote in elections.