Culture[edit]

A Kathakali artist

During Onam, Kerala's biggest celebration, Keralites

createpookkalam (floral carpet) designs in front of their houses.

Thrissur Pooram festival

A mohiniattam performance

The annual snake boat race is performed

during OnamCelebrations on the Pamba River
Main article: Culture of Kerala
The culture of Kerala is composite and cosmopolitan in nature
and it's an integral part of Indian culture.[7] It has been elaborated
through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas
cultures.[336] However, the geographical insularity of Kerala from
the rest of the country has resulted in development of a distinctive
lifestyle, art, architecture, language, literature and social
institutions.[7] There are around 10,000 festivals celebrated in the
state.[337] The Malayalam calendar, a solar calendar started from
825 CE in Kerala,[338] finds common usage in planning agricultural
and religious activities.[339]
Onam[edit]
Main article: Onam
Onam is a harvest festival celebrated by the people of Kerala,
India. It is also the state festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4
days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the 4th Onam Day.
Onam Festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam
(AugSep) and marks the commemoration of Vamana avatara of
Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of King Mahabali. Onam
is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a
harvest festival.

The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug

Sep) and marks the homecoming of the mythical
King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. It is one of
the festivals celebrated with most number of cultural elements.
Some of them are Vallam Kali, Pulikkali, Pookkalam,
Onatthappan, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula,
Onapottan, Atthachamayam etc.
Temple Festivals[edit]
Main article: Temple Festivals of Kerala
Kerala has a large number of Hindu temples. Many of the temples
have unique traditions and most hold festivals on specific days of
the year. Temple festivals usually continue for a number of days.
A common characteristic of these festivals is the hoisting of a holy
flag which is then brought down only on the final day of the
festival. Some festivals include Poorams, the most famous of
these being the Thrissur Pooram. Temples that can afford it will
usually involve at least one richly caparisoned elephant as part of
the festivities. The idol of the God in the temple is taken out on a
procession around the country side atop this elephant. When the
procession visits homes around the temple, people will usually
present rice, coconuts, and other offerings to the God.
Processions often include traditional music such as Panchari
melam orPanchavadyam.

View of a huge nandi from Nooranad Padanilam Sivarathri,

Mavelikkara

The major Hindu temple festivals in the state

are Makaravilakku at Sabarimala, Nenmara Vallangi
Vela, Thrissur Pooram, Chinakkathoor Pooram (Chinakkathoor
Temple, Ottapalam), Attukal Pongala in Thiruvananthapurams
famous Attukal Temple, Vrishchikotsavam in Tripunithura Sree
Poornathrayeesa temple, Utsavams in Padmanabha swami
temple at Thiruvananthapuram, Ashtami at Vaikom temple,
Kodungalloor Bharani, Chettikulangara Bharani at
Mavelikkara, Guruvayoor Anayottam, Chottanikkara Makam
and Sivarathri festival in Aluvatemple, Maradu Thalappoli
at Maradu.
Dance[edit]
Main article: Arts of Kerala
Kerala is home to a number of performance arts. These include
five classical dance
forms: Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattom, Thullal andKrishnan
attam, originated and developed in the temple theatres during the
classical period under the patronage of royal houses.[340] Kerala
natanam, Kaliyattam, Theyyam, Koothu and Padayani are other
dance forms associated with the temple culture of the region.
[341]
Some traditional dance forms such
as Margamkali and Parichamuttukali are popular among the
Syrian Christians and Chavittu nadakom is popular among the
Latin Christians,[342][343] while Oppana and Duffmuttu are popular
among the Muslims of the state.[344]
Music[edit]
Development of classical music in Kerala is attributed to the
contributions it received from the traditional performance arts
associated with the temple culture of Kerala.[345] Development of
the indigenous classical music form, Sopana Sangeetham,
illustrates the rich contribution that temple culture has made to the
arts of Kerala.[345] Carnatic music dominates Keralite traditional
music. This was the result of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma's

popularisation of the genre in the 19th century.[336] Raga-based

renditions known as sopanam accompany kathakaliperformances.
[346]
Melam; including the paandi and panchari variants, is a more
percussive style of music:[347] it is performed at Kshetram-centered
festivals using the chenda. Panchavadyam is a different form of
percussion ensemble, in which artists use five types of percussion
instrument.[347] Kerala's visual arts range from traditional murals to
the works of Raja Ravi Varma, the state's most renowned painter.
[345]
Most of the castes and communities in Kerala have rich
collections of folk songs and ballads associated with a variety of
themes;Vadakkan Pattukal (Northern Ballads), Thekkan
pattukal (Southern Ballads), Vanchi pattukal (Boat
Songs), Mappila Pattukal (Muslim songs)
and Pallipattukal (Church songs) are a few of them.[348]
Cinema[edit]
Main article: Cinema of Kerala
Malayalam films carved a niche for themselves in the Indian film
industry with the presentation of social themes.[349][350] Directors
from Kerala, like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, John Abraham, P.
Padmarajan, G. Aravindan and Shaji N Karun have made a
considerable contribution to the Indian parallel cinema. Kerala has
also given birth to numerous actors, such as Satyan, Prem
Nazir, Jayan, Adoor Bhasi, Bharath
Gopi, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suresh
Gopi, Sreenivasan, Jayaram, Murali, Dileep, Oduvil
Unnikrishnan, Thilakan, Jagathy Sreekumar Nedumudi
Venu and KPAC Lalitha. Late Malayalam actor Prem Nazir holds
the world record for having acted as the protagonist of over 720
movies.[351] Since the 1980s,
actors Mammootty and Mohanlal have dominated the movie
industry; Mammootty has won three National Awards for best
actor while Mohanlal has two to his credit.[352] Malayalam Cinema
has produced a few more notable personalities such as K.J.
Yesudas,[353] K.S. Chitra,[354] Vayalar Rama Varma,[355] M.T.

Vasudevan Nair,[356] and O.N.V. Kurup,[357] the last two mentioned

being recipients of Jnanpith award, the highest literary award in
India.[358]
Literature[edit]
Main article: Malayalam Literature
Malayalam literature starts from the late medieval period and
includes such notable writers as the 14th-century Niranam
poets (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama
Panikkar),[359][360] and the 17th-century poet Thunchaththu
Ezhuthachan, whose works mark the dawn of both modern
Malayalam language and poetry.[361] Paremmakkal Thoma
Kathanar and Kerala Varma Valiakoi Thampuran are noted for
their contribution to Malayalam prose.[362][363][364] The "triumvirate of
poets" (Kavithrayam): Kumaran Asan,Vallathol Narayana Menon,
and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, are recognised for moving
Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics, and
towards a more lyricalmode.[365][366][367]
In the second half of the 20th century, Jnanpith winning poets and
writers like G. Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi
Sivasankara Pillai, M. T. Vasudevan Nair and O. N. V. Kurup had
made valuable contributions to the modern Malayalam literature.
[368][369][370][371][372]
Later, writers like O. V. Vijayan, Kamaladas, M.
Mukundan, Arundhati Roy, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, had
gained international recognition.[373][374][375][376]
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Cuisine of Kerala

Onam Sadya

Fish Moilee Kerala Style (aka KeralaFish Molly)

Kerala cuisine has a multitude of both vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry and meat. Culinary
spices have been cultivated in Kerala for millennia and they are
characteristic of its cuisine.[377] Rice is a dominant staple that is
eaten at all times of day.[378] Breakfast dishes are frequently based
on the rice preparations idli, puttu, Idiyappam, or pulsebased vada or tapioca.[379] These may be accompanied
by chutney, kadala, payasam, payar pappadam, Appam, chicken
curry, beef fry, egg masala and fish curry.[205]Lunch dishes
include rice and curry along with rasam, pulisherry and sambar.
[380]
Sadhya is a vegetarian meal, that is served on a banana leaf
and followed with a cup of payasam.[381] Popular snacks include
banana chips, yam crisps, tapioca
chips, unniyappam andkuzhalappam.[382][383][384] Sea food
specialities include karimeen, prawn, shrimp and other crustacean
dishes.[385] Kerala is one of the few places in India where there is
no communal distinction between the different food types. People
of all religions share the same vegetarian and non-vegetarian
dishes.
Elephants[edit]
Elephants have been an integral part of culture of the state.
Kerala is home to the largest domesticated population of elephant
in Indiaabout 700 Indian elephants, owned by temples as well
as individuals.[386] These elephants are mainly employed for the
processions and displays associated with festivals celebrated all
around the state. About 10,000 festivals are celebrated in the

state annually and some animal lovers have sometimes raised

concerns regarding the overwork of domesticated elephants.[337] In
Malayalam literature, elephants are referred to as the 'sons of
the sahya.[387] The elephant is the state animal of Kerala and is
featured on the emblem of the Government of Kerala.[134]
Media[edit]

Culture[edit]
Main article: Culture of Andhra Pradesh
The early dynasties which ruled this region had their influence on
the culture of the state. The state is rich in its culture in terms of
religious worships, literature, dance, music, arts and architecture,
spicy cuisine. Some of the notable cultural aspects include
paintings of Bapu, Annamayya's songs, famous Kuchipudi dance
of the state, the harvest festivalSankranti and many more fairs as
well.
Arts, crafts and artifacts[edit]

Kondapalli Toys at a house in Vijayawada

The village of Durgi is known for stone craft, producing carvings
of idols in soft stone that must be exhibited in the shade because
they are prone to weathering.[86] Kalamkari is an ancient textile art

form dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. Andhra Pradesh

is famous for doll making. Dolls are made from wood, mud, dry
grass, and lightweight metal alloys. Tirupati is famous for redwood
carvings. Kondapalli is famous for wood toys with rich colors. The
village of Etikoppaka, located in Visakhapatnam district, produces
lacquered toys.
The state has many museums, which features a varied collection
of ancient sculptures, paintings, idols, weapons, cutlery and
inscriptions, and religious artifacts such as the Archaeological
Museum at Amaravati[87] with features relics of nearby ancient
sites,Visakha Museum in Visakhapatnam displays the history of
the pre-Independence,[88] and the Victoria Jubilee
Museum in Vijayawadawith large a good collection of artifacts.
Literature[edit]
Main article: Telugu literature
Nannayya, Tikkana, and Yerrapragada form the trinity who
translated the great Sanskrit epic Mahabharata into Telugu
language.
Nannayya (c. eleventh century AD) was the earliest known poet
and translator. He wrote the first treatise on Telugu grammar,
called "Andhra Shabda Chintamani" in Sanskrit. There was no
grammatical work in Telugu prior to that.[89] Pothana is the poet
who composed the classic Srimad Maha Bhagavatamu, a Telugu
translation of Sri Bhagavatam, authored by Veda Vyasa
in Sanskrit. The Telugu poet Vemana, a native of Kadapa, is
notable for his philosophical poems.
The Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya wroteAmuktamalyad
a.
Telugu literature after Kandukuri Veeresalingam (18481919) is
termed as Adhunika Sahityam (Modern literature). He is known
as Gadya Tikkana and was the author of Telugusocial
novel, Satyavati Charitam. Jnanpith Award winners include Sri
Viswanatha Satya Narayana . The Andhra Pradesh native and

revolutionary poet Sri Sri brought new forms of expressionism into

Telugu literature.[90]
Other modern writers include Gunturu Seshendra Sarma (second
Nobel prize nominee in literature after Rabindranath
Tagore), Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu who wrote the
books Sivatandavam and Panduranga Mahatyam. Srirangam
Sreenivasarao, Gurram Jashuva, Chinnayasuri, Viswanatha
Satyanarayana are also notable writers.
Art forms and festivals[edit]
Main article: Music of Andhra Pradesh
See also: Shadow Puppets of Andhra Pradesh

Kuchipudi, dance by Yamini Reddy

Dance :
Classical dance in Andhra can be performed by both men and
women; women tend to learn it more often. Kuchipudi is the
state's best-known classical dance form. The various classical
dance forms (astriya Nrutyam) such as Kuchipudi, Andhra
Natyam, Bhamakalapam, Veeranatyamand folk dances(Janapada
Nrutyam) forms such as Butta bommalu, Tappeta Gullu, Lambadi,
Dhimsa, and Chindu exists in Andhra Pradesh.

Jayapa Senani was the first person to write about the dances
prevalent in Andhra Pradesh.[91] Both Desi and Margi forms of
dances are included in his Sanskrit treatise Nrutya Ratnavali.

Balamuralikrishna during a concert in Kuwait on 29 March 2006

Music:
Many composers of Carnatic
music like Annamacharya, Tyagaraja, Kshetrayya,
and Bhadrachala Ramadas were of Telugu descent. Modern
Carnatic music composers like Ghantasala and M.
Balamuralikrishna are also of Telugu descent. The Telugu film
industry hosts many music composers and playback singers such
as S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela, S. Janaki, P B
Srinivas. Folk songs are popular in the many rural areas of the
state. Forms such as the Burra katha and Poli are still performed
today.[92]
Harikatha:
Harikathaa Kalakshepam (or Harikatha) involves the narration of
a story, intermingled with various songs relating to the story.
Harikatha was originated in Andhra.[93] Harikatha Kalakshepam is
most prevalent in Andhra Pradesh even now along with Burra
katha. Haridasus going round villages singing devotional songs is
an age-old tradition during Dhanurmaasam
preceding Sankranti festival. Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana
Dasu with his Kavyas and Prabandhas has made Harikatha a
special art form.
Burra katha:

Burra katha is a oral storytelling technique in the Katha tradition,

performed in villages of Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh
region. The troupe consists of one main performer and two coperformers. It is a narrative entertainment that consists of prayers,
solo drama, dance, songs, poems and jokes. The topic will be
either a Hindu mythological story or a contemporary social issue.
[94]

Festivals:
Ugadi is celebrated as the Telugu New Year. People listen
to Panchanga recitals by Pundits on the day of Ugadi. This
process is called asPanchanga Shravanam which is an important
aspect of the festival. Makara Sankranti is also a famous harvest
festival which is celebrated across the state. Just like in other
parts of the country, many other festivals include
Dasara, Vinayaka Chaviti, Deepavali, Vasantotsavam, Maha
Shivaratri, Attla Taddi etc. Muslim festivals
include Bakrid, Ramadan and Christians
celebrate Christmas and Easter.
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Telugu cuisine

A Vegetarian Andhra Meal served on important occasions

Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is famous for the rich seasoning and
lots of variety. Rice is the staple food and is used in a wide variety
of dishes. Typical meal includes rice, Pappu(Dal), vegetable
curry, Relishes, pickles, chutneys and Curd. A lot of spices are
produced in the region and hence the cuisine of Andhra Pradesh

is considered spiciest of all. Tamarind and Red Chillies are the

distinct flavor of local cuisine.
Pickles and chutneys (sauces) are made from
chilli, ginger, coconut and other vegetables
like tomato, brinjals, Gongura are served with
meals. Aavakaaya is probably the best known of the pickles.
[95]
Roselle leaves (Gongura), termed as Andhra Bhakshyam (or
food of Andhra). Rayalaseema region too had its own variety
which includes Jonna (Jowar), Ragi roti with ragi sangati, usually
served withspinach.
The coastal region of the state has abundant seafood supply. The
variety of fish curry recipes are famous. It is rich and aromatic,
with a liberal use of exotic spices and ghee (clarified butter).
Lamb, chicken are also the most widely used meats in the nonvegetarian dishes.[96]
Sweets made up of milk are widely eaten. Payasam is one of
them made with milk, rice or vermicelli pudding served both warm
and cold. Pootharekulu, bobbattlu, mamidi
tandra,kaja, ariselu (rice based vada using jaggery) etc., are
famous sweets.

Culture[edit]
Main articles: Tamil people, Temples of Tamil Nadu and Tamil
literature
Paintings at the Sittanavasal Cave,7th century, Pudukottai, Tamil
Nadu, India
Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of venerable culture. Tamil Nadu
is known for its rich tradition of literature, music and dance which
continue to flourish today. Tamil Nadu is a land most known for its
monumental ancient Hindu temples and classical form of

dance Bharata Natyam.[85]Unique cultural features

like Bharatanatyam[86] (dance), Tanjore painting,[87] and Tamil
architecture were developed and continue to be practised in Tamil
Nadu. [88]
Literature[edit]
Most early Tamil literary works are in verse form, with prose not
becoming more common until later periods. Throughout its
history, Tamil literature has sought to inform and inspire, educate
and entertain. Notable examples of Tamil poetry include
the Tirukkural, written during theTamil Sangams period. The poem
encompasses a universal outlook, as the author, Tiruvalluvar,
does not mention his religion, land, or the audience for his work.
He is often portrayed as a holy saint of Tamil Nadu today. Ancient
Tamil literature is predominantly secular and deals with everyday
life in the Tamil Context.The only religious poems among the
shorter poems occur in paripaatal. The rest of the corpus of
Sangam literature deals with human relationship and emotions.[89]


( 400)
Learning is a wealth that none could destroy
Nothing else gives genuine joy
(Tirukkural: 400)

; - ;
- -Not Known ; Nathakuthanaar; English : Cilappatikram, Manimekalai, Cvaka
Cintmani, Valayapathi and Kunt alakci
The first Tamil printing press was established at Tarangambadi by
the Danish missionaries. During the Indian freedom struggle,
many Tamil poets and writers sought to provoke national spirit,

social equity and secularist thoughts among the common man,

notably Subramanya Bharathy and Bharathidasan.
Festivals and traditions[edit]

Overflowing during cooking of Pongal indicates overflowing of joy

and prosperity.
Kolam a Traditional art form of the Tamil people
Pongal, also called as Tamizhar Thirunaal (festival of Tamils) or
Makara Sankranti elsewhere in India, a four-day harvest festival is
one of the most widely celebrated festivals throughout Tamil
Nadu.[90] The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi
Pirakkum literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will
pave way for new opportunities is often quoted with reference to
this festival. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is celebrated by throwing
away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on
fire to mark the end of the old and emergence of the new. The
second day, Surya Pongal, is the main day which falls on the first
day of the tenth Tamil month Thai (14 January or 15 January in
western calendar). The third day, Maattu Pongal, is meant to offer
thanks to the cattle, as they provide milk and are used to plough
the lands.Jallikattu, a bull taming contest, marks the main event of
this day. Alanganallur is famous for its Jallikattu[91][92] contest
usually held on 3rd day of Pongal. During this final day, Kaanum
Pongal the word "kaanum", means 'to view' in Tamil. In 2011
the Madras High CourtBench ordered the cockfight at Santhapadi
and Modakoor Melbegam villages permitted during the Pongal
festival while disposing of a petition filed attempting to ban the
cockfight.[93] The first month in the Tamil calendar is Chittirai and

the first day of this month in mid-April is celebrated as Tamil New

Year. The Thiruvalluvar calendar is 31 years ahead of the
Gregorian calendar, i.e. Gregorian 2000 is Thiruvalluvar 2031.
Aadi Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil
month Aadi, which celebrates the rising of the water level in the
river Kaveri. Apart from the major festivals, in every village and
town of Tamil Nadu, the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the
local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place.
Most of these festivals are related to the goddess Maariyamman,
the mother goddess of rain. Other major Hindu festivals including
Deepavali (Death of Narakasura), Ayudha Poojai, Saraswathi
Poojai (Dasara), Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi are
also celebrated. Eid ul-Fitr, Bakrid, Milad un Nabi, Muharram are
celebrated by Muslims whereas Christmas, Good Friday, Easter
are celebrated by Christians in the state. Mahamagam a bathing
festival at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu is clebrated once in 12
years. People from all the corners of the country come to
Kumbakonam for the festival. This festival is also called as
Kumbamela of South.[94][95]
Music[edit]
See also: Ancient Tamil music and Carnatic music

M. S. Subbulakshmi , was the first musician to be awarded

the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour
The kings of ancient Thamizhagam created sangams for Iyal Isai
Nadagam (Literature, Music and Drama). Music played a major
role in sangams. Music in Tamil Nadu had different forms. In

villages where farming was the primary occupation, women who

worked in the fields used to sing kulavai songs. Odhuvars,
Sthanikars or Kattalaiyars offer short musical programmes in the
temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. In sharp
contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of Carnatic
music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant.
Popular forms of Tamil folk music include the Villuppt t u, a form of
music performed with a bow,the urumee mellam or Naiyandi
mellam which incorporates the use of the urumeeand
the Nt t uppurrappt t,uballads that convey folklore and folk history.

Nadhaswaram and Thavil players

Carnatic music is the classical music form of southern India. This
is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions. The Trinity
of Carnatic musicTyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama
Sastri were from Tamil Nadu. Thyagarajar Aaradhanai (worship)
takes place every year in the month of Marghazhi
in Thiruvaiyaru all carnatic musicians render their obesiance to
Saint Thyagarajar by singing his compositions. The composers
belonging to the Tamil Trinity, namely Muthu Thandavar (?
1560 ?1640), Arunachala Kavi (17121779) and Marimutthu
Pillai (17171787) composed hundreds of devotional songs in
Tamil and helped in the evolution of Carnatic music. Chennai
hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music
Season during DecemberJanuary, which includes performances
by hundreds of artists all over the city.
In terms of modern cine-music, Ilaiyaraaja was a prominent
composer of film music in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and
1980s. His work highlighted Tamil folk lyricism and introduced
broader western musical sensibilities to the south Indian musical
mainstream. Tamil Nadu is also the home of the double Oscar

Winner A.R. Rahman[96][97][98] who has composed film music

in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi films, English and Chinese films, was once
referred to by Time magazine as "The Mozart of Madras".
Arts and dance[edit]
Tamils have a large number of folk dances. These are performed
for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons,
birth of a child, weddings and festivals. Tamil dance is closely
intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition.

Rukmini Devi Arundale is considered the most important revivalist

in the Indian classical dance form of Bharata Natyam from its
original 'sadhir' style
The most celebrated of these dances is the karakattam. In its
religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the
goddessMariamman. The dancer bears on his or her head a
brass pot filled with uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and
surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the
rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. Karakattam is usually
performed to a special type of song known as temmanguppt t u

a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved, to the

accompaniment of a nadaswaram and melam.
Other Tamil folk dances include mayilt t am, where the dancers tie
a string of peacock feathers around their waist; yilttam, danced

in a circle while waving small pieces of cloth of various colours;

poikkal kuthiraiyaat t am, where the dancers use dummy horses;
manattam, where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer;
paraiyt t am, a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats, and
thppandt t am, a dance involving playing with burning wooden
torches.
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil
Nadu. Prior to the colonial period, it used to be performed in
Hindu temples by Devadasis. In this form, it as also been
called sadir or chinna melam. Many of the ancient sculptures in
Hindu temples are based on Bharata Natyam dance postures.
Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance-form known for its grace,
purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. It continues to be a
popular dance style at present times and is practised by male and
female dancers all over India. Terukkuttu orKattaikkuttu is a
traditional form of Tamil street theatre folk dance/drama.

A scene from the Tamil filmChandralekha (1948)

Veg Meals in Tamil Nadu traditionally served in banana leaf

Dosa with chutney and sambar traditionally served in banana leaf

TIDEL Park, Coimbatore; Coimbatore is one of the leading BPO

centers in India
Film industry[edit]
Main article: Tamil cinema
Tamil Nadu is also home to the Tamil film industry also known as
"Kollywood", which released the most number of films in India in
2013.[99]The term Kollywood is
a portmanteau of Kodambakkam and Hollywood.[100] Tamil cinema
is one of the largest centres of film production inIndia.[101] In Tamil
Nadu, cinema ticket prices are regulated by the government.
Single screen theaters may charge a maximum of 50, while
theaters with more than three screens may charge a maximum
of 120 per ticket.[102] The first silent film in Tamil Keechaka
Vadham, was made in 1916.[103] The first talkie was a multilingual, Kalidas, which released on 31 October 1931, barely 7
months after India's first talking picture Alam Ara[104] Swamikannu
Vincent, who had built the first cinema of South
India in Coimbatore, introduced the concept of "Tent Cinema" in
which a tent was erected on a stretch of open land close to a town
or village to screen the films. The first of its kind was established
in Madras, called "Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone". This was

due to the fact that electric carbons were used for motion picture
projectors.[105]
Television industry[edit]
Main article: Tamil television soap opera
Tamil television shows have become popular outside of Tamil
Nadu, Sri Lanka and Singapur. Dramas have tended to have a
Family focus, such as Amudha Oru
Aacharyakuri, Anandham, Anjali, Azhagi, Chiti, Deivamagal, Deiv
am Thandha Veedu, Kalki, Kasalavu Nesam, Lakshmi
Vanthachu, Paartha Gnabagam Illayo, Sakthi, Metti
Oli, Thangam, Thirumathi Selvam, Uyirmei, Kula Deivam, Keladi
Kanmani (TV series) andVani Rani. Ramatic dramas such
as Thendral, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Office, Anbe Vaa, Rettai Vaal
Kuruvi, Kana Kaanum Kaalangal andSaravanan Meenatchi.
Historical dramas have included Romapuri
Pandian, Mahabharatham and Nayanmargal. Comedy dramas
such asLollu Sabha, Chinna Papa Periya Papa, My Name Is
Mangamma and Madipakkam Madhavan. Horror dramas such
as Marmadesam,Bhairavi Aavigalukku
Priyamanaval, Aathira and Adhe Kangal.
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Tamil cuisine
Tamil cuisine is typical of south Indian cuisine, in that rice and
rice-derived dishes form the major portion of a diet (see rice and
curry). There are regional sub-varieties namely Chettinadu,
Kongunadu, Madurai, Tirunelveli varieties etc. Traditionally, food
is served on a banana leafinstead of a plate and eaten with the
right hand.
Rice is the staple food of Tamils and is typically eaten mixed
with sambhar (with or without ghee), vegetarian or non-vegetarian
kulambu,rasam, curd and buttermilk. This is accompanied with
various vegetarian and/or non-vegetarian dishes

like kootu, aviyal, poriyal, appalam, varuval, peratal, kothsu,

varieties of pickles and chicken, mutton, or fish fry.
Breakfast and snack items include dosai,
adai, idly, vadai, pongal, appam (aappam),
paniyaram, puttu, uppumavu (uppuma), santhakai (a sort of
noodles), idiyappam and uthappam. These items are eaten along
with sambar, varieties of chatni and podi. Traditionally prepared
filter coffee is unique in taste and popular all over the state.
The Chettinad region is famous for its spicy non-vegetarian
cuisine, while Amburand Dindigul are known for their Biriyani.
Sweet items that are native to Tamil Nadu are Athirasam,
Chakkarai Pongal (prepared during Pongal) and Kuli Paniyaram.
The city of Salem is renowned for its unique
sweetmeat, Salem Malgova mango and Madurai is the place of
origin and well known for its milk dessert Jigarthanda,
[106]
while Palani is known for its Panchamirtham.

Culture[edit]
Main article: Culture of Bihar
Language and literature[edit]
Main articles: Languages in Bihar and Literature in Bihar
See also: Angika, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Maithili language, Magadhi
Prakrit, Hindi in Bihar and Urdu Language in Bihar
Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the State.[8][9] Other
languages of the state are Bhojpuri (38.5 million speakers),
Maithili (25 million), Magahi (20 million), Bajjika (8.7 million), and
Angika (0.7 million), of which only Maithili is recognized by the
government of India.[10][11]
Urduwhich is the mother tongue of Muslims[citation needed], who form
about 17% of the state's populationis very much secondary to

Hindi in official use, although nearly 25% people in Bihar read and
write Urdu. It was only recently that Maithili was also included as
one of the state's official languages, although such use of it is
negligible. Presently, the Bihari languages are considered one of
the five subgroups of Hindi by the government of India, although
Maithili was declared a separate language. Bihari languages are
considered to be derived from the language of the
erstwhile Magadha state, Magadhi Prakrit, along
with Assamese, Bengali, and Oriya. Surajpuri is spoken in
northeastern districts such as Kishanganj.

Arts and crafts[edit]

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Madhubani painting by Bharti Dayal

Mithila painting is a style of Indian painting practised in
the Mithila region of Bihar especially Darbhanga and Madhubani districts - where powdered
rice is coloured and used as a pigment. Tradition states that this
style of painting originated, according to the Ramayana, when
KingJanak commissioned paintings to celebrate the marriage of
his daughter, Sita, to Lord Ram. The painting was traditionally

done on freshly plastered mud walls of huts, but now it is also

done on cloth, handmade paper and canvas. Mithila painting
mostly depicts men and their association with nature. There are
scenes and deities from ancient epics,
including Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
Natural objects like the sun, the moon, and religious plants
like tulsi are much painted. Finally, there are scenes of royal
courts and social events, such as weddings. Generally no space
is left empty in the composition. Traditionally, painting was one of
the skills that was passed down from generation to generation in
the families of the Mithila region, mainly by women. The painting
was usually done on walls during festivals, religious events, and
other milestones in people's lives, such as
birth, Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony), and marriage.
There are many renowned Mithila artists, such as Smt. Bharti
Dayal, Mahasundari Devi, the late Ganga Devi, the late Sita Devi,
and others, who have brought an intellectual element to their
paintings. Bharti Dayal is considered one of the greatest
Madhubani painters, as her art is a unique amalgamation of
heritage and modernity.[citation needed]
Not less in importance or expressiveness is the ancient and
historically significant Manjusha Art, or Manjusha Kala, or Angika
Art, an art form of the Anga region of Bihar, originating in the
old Anga kingdom, which encompassed present-day Bihar,
Jharkhand, West Bengal, and theTerai area of Nepal. Manjushas temple-shaped boxes, with eight pillars (but see referenced
video); made of bamboo, jute-straw and paper; and containing, or
decorated with (again, see video), paintings of gods, goddesses,
snakes and other characters (dubbed "snake paintings" by
foreigners) - are used in theBihula-Bishahari Puja, celebrated
in Bhagalpur, usually in August, in remembrance of Bihulas tale
of love and sacrifice, and to appease the snake goddess (Manasa
or Bishahari) and gods (Ngas).[69][70] A notable Manjusha artist

is Jahar Dasgupta, born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (formerly

Bihar).

A painting of the city of Patna, on the River Ganges, Patna School

of Painting
The Patna School of Painting or Patna Qalaam, some times also
called Company Painting, is an offshoot of the wellknown Mughal Miniatureschool of painting, which flourished in
Bihar during the early 18th to the mid-20th centuries. The
practitioners of this art form were descendants of Hindu artisans
of Mughal painting who facing persecution under the Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb and who found refuge, viaMurshidabad,
in Patna during the late 18th century. The Patna painters differed
from the Mughal painters, whose subjects included only royalty
and court scenes, in that they included as
subjects bazaar scenes, scenes of Indian daily life, local
dignitaries, festivals and ceremonies, and nature scenes. The
paintings were executed in watercolours on paper and on mica,
but the style was generally of a hybrid and undistinguished
quality. It is this school of painting that inspired the formation of
the College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, under the leadership of Shri
Radha Mohan, which is an important centre of fine arts in Bihar.

Artisans selling their work near GPO Patna.

In caning and weaving, artisans of Bihar are skilful in creating

articles using local materials. Baskets, cups, and saucers made
from bamboo-strips or cane reed painted in vivid colours are
commonly found in Bihari homes. A special container woven out
of Sikki Grass in the north, the pauti, is a sentimental gift that
accompanies a bride when she leaves her home after her
wedding. The weavers of Bihar have been practising their trade
for centuries. Among their products in common use are
cotton dhurries and curtains. These are produced by artisans in
central Bihar, particularly in the Patna and Biharsharif areas.
These colourful sheets, with motifs of Buddhist artefacts, pictures
of birds, animals, and/or flowers, gently wafting in the air through
doors and windows, blown by a cool summer breeze, used to be
one of the most soothing sights as one approached a home or an
office. Bhagalpur is well known for its sericulture, manufacture
of tussar silk yarn, and weaving it into lovely products.

Performing arts[edit]
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material may be challenged and removed. (July 2014)
See also: Music of Bihar

Magahi folk singers

Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, from Dumraon, Bihar

Bihar has contributed to Indian (Hindustani) classical music and
has produced musicians such as Bharat RatnaUstad Bismillah
Khan, who, however, left Bihar at an early age. Dhrupad singers
like the Malliks (of theDarbhanga Gharana), and the Mishras (of
the Bettiah Gharana), who were patronised by the Zamindars of
Darbhanga and Bettiah respectively, have produced masters like
Ram Chatur Mallik, Abhay Narayan Mallik, and Indra Kishore
Mishra. While perhaps not as well-known and commercially
successful as those of the Dagar school of Dhrupad, these
masters have kept the Dhrupad tradition in perhaps the purest
form.
Gaya is another centre of excellence in classical music,
particularly of the Tappa and Thumri varieties. PanditGovardhan
Mishra - son of the Ram Prasad Mishra, himself an accomplished
singer - is perhaps the finest living exponent of Tappa singing in
India today, according to Padma Shri Gajendra Narayan Singh,
founding secretary of the Sangeet Natak Academi of Bihar.
Gajendra Narayan Singh also writes, in his memoir, that
Champanagar, Banaili, was another major centre of classical
music. Rajkumar Shyamanand Sinha of Champanagar, Banaili
princely state, was a great patron of music and was himself one of
the finest exponents of classical vocal music in Bihar in his time.
[71]
Singh, in another book on Indian classical music, has written
that "Kumar Shyamanand Singh of Banaili estate had such
expertise in singing that many great singers including Kesarbai
Kerkar acknowledged his ability. After listening to bandishes from
Kumar Sahib, Pandit Jasraj was moved to tears and lamented

that, alas!, he did not have such ability himself." [free translation
of Hindi text].[72][73]
Bihar has a very old tradition of folk singing, sung during
important family occasions, such as marriage, birth ceremonies,
festivals, etc. The songs are usually sung by groups without the
accompaniment of musical instruments,
although Dholak, Bansuri and,
occasionally, Tabla and Harmonium are sometimes used. The
most famous folk singer has been Padma Shri Sharda Sinha.
Bihar also has a tradition of lively Holi songs known as Phaguwa,
filled with fun rhythms.
During the 19th century, when the condition of Bihar worsened
under the British misrule, many Biharis had to emigrate as
indentured labourers to the West Indies, Fiji, andMauritius. During
this time many sad plays and songs called birha became popular,
in the Bhojpur area, thus Bhojpuri Birha. Dramas incorporating
this theme continue to be popular in the theatres of Patna.[74]
Dance forms of Bihar are another expression of rich traditions and
ethnic identity. There are many folk dance forms that can keep
one enthralled, such as Dhobi Nach (nach meaning dance),
Jhumarnach, Manjhi, Gondnach, Jitiyanach, More Morni, DomDomin, Bhuiababa, Rah Baba, Kathghorwa Nach, Jat Jatin,
Launda Nach, Bamar Nach, Jharni, Jhijhia, Natua Nach, NatNatin, Bidapad Nach, Sohrai Nach, and Gond Nach.
Theatre is another form in which the Bihari culture expresses
itself. Some forms of theatre with rich traditions are Bidesia,
Reshma-Chuharmal, Bihula-Bisahari, Bahura-Gorin, Raja
Salhesh, Sama Chakeva, and Dom Kach. These theatre forms
originate in the Anga region of Bihar.
Cinema[edit]
Main article: Cinema of Bihar
See also: Bhojpuri Film Industry and List of Bhojpuri films

Bihar has a robust Bhojpuri-language film industry. There is also a

smaller production of Magadhi-, Maithili-, as well as Angikalanguage films. The first film with Bhojpuri dialog was Ganga
Jamuna, released in 1961.[75] Bhaiyaa, the first Magadhi film, was
released in 1961.[76] The first Maithili movie
was Kanyadan released in 1965,[77] of which a significant portion
was made in the Maithili language.
The history of films entirely in Bhojpuri begins in 1962 with the
well-received film Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo ("Mother
Ganges, I will offer you a yellow sari"), which was directed by
Kundan Kumar.[78] 1963's Lagi nahin chute ram was the all-time hit
Bhojpuri film, and had higher attendance than Mughal-e-Azam in
the eastern and northern regions of India. Bollywood's Nadiya Ke
Paar is another of the most famous Bhojpuri-language movies.
However, in the following years, films were produced only in fits
and starts. Films such as Bidesiya ("Foreigner", 1963, directed by
S. N. Tripathi) and Ganga ("Ganges", 1965, directed by Kundan
Kumar) were profitable and popular, but in general Bhojpuri films
were not commonly produced in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the 1980s, enough Bhojpuri films were produced to tentatively
support a dedicated industry. Films such as Mai ("Mom", 1989,
directed by Rajkumar Sharma) and Hamar Bhauji("My Brother's
Wife", 1983, directed by Kalpataru) continued to have at least
sporadic success at the box office. However, this trend faded out
by the end of the decade, and by 1990, the nascent industry
seemed to be completely finished.[79]
The Bhojpuri film industry took off again in 2001 with the super
hit Saiyyan Hamar ("My Sweetheart", directed by Mohan Prasad),
which vaulted the hero of that film, Ravi Kissan, to superstardom.
[80]
This success was quickly followed by several other remarkably
successful films, including Panditji Batai Na Biyah Kab
Hoi ("Priest, tell me when I will marry", 2005, directed by Mohan
Prasad) and Sasura Bada Paisa Wala ("My father-in-law, the rich
guy", 2005). In a measure of the Bhojpuri film industry's rise, both

of these did much better business in the states of Uttar Pradesh

and Bihar than mainstream Bollywood hits at the time, and both
films, made on extremely tight budgets, earned back more than
ten times their production costs.[81] Sasura Bada Paisa Wala also
introduced Manoj Tiwari, formerly a well-loved folk singer, to the
wider audiences of Bhojpuri cinema. In 2008, he and Ravi Kissan
are still the leading actors of Bhojpuri films, and their fees
increase with their fame. The success of their films has led to a
dramatic increase in Bhojpuri cinema's visibility, and the industry
now supports an awards show[82] and a trade magazine, Bhojpuri
City,[83] which chronicles the production and release of what are
now over one hundred films per year. Many of the major stars of
mainstream Bollywood cinema, including Amitabh Bachchan,
have also recently worked in Bhojpuri films.
Religion[edit]
Main article: Religion in Bihar

Buddha's statue at Bodh Gaya's temple

Vishnupadh Temple, Gaya, Bihar

Gautam Buddha attained Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, a town
located in the modern day district of Gaya in Bihar.
Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and the
last Tirthankara of Jainism, was born in Vaishali around the 6th
century BC.[84]
A typical Hindu Brahmin household would begin the day with the
blowing of a conch shell at dawn.
In rural Bihar, religion is the main component of popular culture.
Shrines are located everywhere at the foot of trees, at
roadsides, etc. Religious symbols or images of deities can be
found in the most obscure or the most public places. From the
dashboard of a dilapidated taxi to the plush office of a top
executive, holy symbols or idols have their place. There are also a
minority of villages also practising Islam in various district's.
There is a wide variety of religious festivals. While some are
celebrated all over the state, others are observed only in certain
areas. Bihar is so diverse that different regions and religions have
something to celebrate at some time or other during the year. So
festivals take place round the year. Many of these are officially
recognised by the days on which they take place being
proclaimed as government holidays.
Festivals[edit]
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sources. Please help improve this section by adding
citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed. (May 2012)
See also: Chhath

The Morning Worship DalaChhath.

Chhath, also called Dala Chhath, is an ancient and major festival
in Bihar. It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summer, called
the Chaiti Chhath, and once about a week after Deepawali, called
the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are
the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an
arduous observance requiring the worshippers to fast without
water for more than 24 hours, is easier to do in the Indian winters.
Chhath is the worship of the Sun God. Wherever people from
Bihar have migrated, they have taken with them the tradition of
Chhath. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period of
abstinence and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main
household for two days. On the eve of Chhath, houses are
scrupulously cleaned and so are the surroundings. The ritual
bathing and worship of the Sun God takes place, performed twice:
once in the evening and once at the crack of dawn, usually on the
banks of a flowing river, or a common large body of water. The
occasion is almost a carnival, and besides every worshipper,
usually women, who are mostly the senior ladies of the
household, there are numerous participants and onlookers, all
willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshiper. Ritual
rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral
transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and
daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion for several days
running. These songs are a great mirror of the culture, social
structure, mythology and history of Bihar and eastern Uttar
Pradesh. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of dawn is a
beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern

Indian to his ancient cultural roots. Chhath is believed to have

been initiated by Karna, the king of Anga Desh
(modern Bhagalpurregion of Bihar).
Among ritual observances, the month-long Shravani Mela, held
along a 108-kilometre route linking the towns
of Sultanganj and Deoghar(now in Jharkhand state), is of great
significance. Shravani Mela is organised every year in the Hindu
month of Shravan, that is the lunar month of JulyAugust.
Pilgrims, known as Kanwarias, wear saffron coloured clothes and
collect water from a sacred Ghat (river bank) atSultanganj, then
walk barefooted 108 km (67 mi) to the town of Deoghar, there to
bathe a sacred ShivaLingam. The observance draws thousands
of people to Deoghar from all over India.
Teej and Chitragupta Puja are other local festivals celebrated with
fervor in Bihar. Bihula-Bishari Puja is celebrated in the Anga
region of Bihar. The Sonepur cattle fair is a month-long event
starting approximately half a month after Deepawali and is
considered the largest cattle fair in Asia. It is held on the banks of
the Gandak River in the town of Sonepur. The constraints of the
changing times, and new laws governing the sale of animals and
prohibiting the trafficking in exotic birds and beasts, have eroded
the once-upon-a-time magic of the fair.
Besides Chhath (mostly celebrated in Bihar), all major festivals of
India are celebrated in Bihar, such as Makar
Sankranti, Saraswati Puja, Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha (often
called Eid-ul-Zuha in the Indian Subcontinent), Muharram, Ram
Navami, Rath yatra, Rakshabandhan, Maha Shivaratri, Durga
Puja (celebrated with a grandeur akin to the neighbouring state of
Bengal), Diwali, Kali Puja/Shyama Puja/Nisha Puja (celebrated in
the Mithilanchal region of the north), Kojagra (also celebrated in
the Mithilanchal region),Laxmi Puja, Christmas, Mahavir
Jayanti, Buddha
Purnima, Jivitputrika, Chitragupta Puja, Gurpurab, Bhai Dooj, and
several other local festivals, as well.

Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Cuisine of Bihar
Bihari cuisine (Hindi: , Urdu: ) is eaten in Bihar,
Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bangladesh, and Nepal, as
well as Mauritius, Fiji, some cities of Pakistan, Guyana, and
Trinidad and Tobago, as these last are destinations of large Bihari
emigration. Bihari cuisine is predominantly vegetarian because
traditional Bihar society - influenced by Buddhist and Hindu
values of non-violence - did not eat eggs, chicken, fish and other
animal products. However, meat and sea food are also common,
the latter due to the number of rivers in Bihar.
Dairy products are consumed frequently throughout the year,
including yogurt (dahi), buttermilk (mattha), lassi, ghee, chanch
and butter. The cuisine of Bihar is similar in large extent to North
Indian cuisine but is influenced by other East Indian cuisines,
such as Bengali. Bihari cuisine is seasonal; with watery foods
such as watermelon, and sherbet made of the pulp of the woodapple fruit, being consumed mainly in the summer months; and
dry foods, prepared with sesame and poppy seeds, in the winter
months.
Some dishes which Bihar is famous for include Sattu Paratha,
which are parathas stuffed with fried chickpea flour, chokha (spicy
mashed potatoes and/or brinjal ), fish curry, Bihari kebab, and
Posta-dana ka Halwa (or Khas-khas ka Halwa [ ], a
sweet poppy seed pudding). Litti chokha is a year-round food
prepared by cooking the litti (sattu stuffed in atta [a mixture of
flour and water]) over an open fire. When prepared, the litti is
dipped in ghee and eaten with chokha. The food is best eaten
while hot.

Culture[edit]

Main article: Culture of Uttar Pradesh

Language and literature[edit]
Main article: Languages of Uttar Pradesh

The battle of Kurukshetra, folio from the Mahabharata

Several texts and hymns of the Vedic literature were composed in
Uttar Pradesh. The festival of Guru Purnima is dedicated to
SageVyasa, and also known as Vyasa Purnima as it is the day
which is believed to be his birthday and also the day he divided
the Vedas.[202]There is a long literary and folk Hindi language
tradition in the state. In the 19th and 20th century, Hindi literature
was modernised by authors such as Jaishankar Prasad, Maithili
Sharan Gupt, Munshi Premchand, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Babu
Gulabrai, Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan 'Agyeya', Rahul
Sankrityayan, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Dharamvir
Bharati, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Mahavir Prasad
Dwivedi, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Dushyant Kumar, Hazari
Prasad Dwivedi, Acharya Kuber Nath Rai, Bharatendu
Harishchandra, Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena, Shivmangal Singh
Suman, Mahadevi Varma, and Vibhuti Narain Rai.[203]
The state is sometimes called the 'Hindi heartland of India'.
[204]
Hindi became the language of state administration with the
Uttar Pradesh Official Language Act of 1951. A 1989 amendment
to the act added Urdu as another native language of the state.
[205]
Linguistically, the state spreads across the Central, EastCentral, and Eastern zones of the Indo-Aryan languages, the
major native languages of the state

being Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Bundeli, Braj Bhasha, Kannauji and the

vernacular form of Khariboli.[206]
Music and dance[edit]
Uttar Pradesh has produced musicians, including Anup
Jalota, Baba Sehgal, Girija Devi, Gopal Shankar Misra, Hari
Prasad Chaurasia, Kishan Maharaj, Vikash Maharaj[207]Naushad
Ali, Ravi Shankar, Shubha Mudgal, Siddheshwari Devi, Talat
Mehmood, and Ustad Bismillah Khan. The Ghazal singer Begum
Akhtar was a native of Uttar Pradesh. The region's folk heritage
includes songs called rasiya (especially popular in Braj), which
celebrate the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Other forms of
music arekajari, sohar, qawwali, rasiya, thumri, birha, chaiti,
and sawani. Traditional dance and musical styles are taught at
the Bhatkhande Music Institute University in Lucknow, named
after the musician Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande.[208]
Kathak, a classical dance form, owes its origin to the state of Uttar
Pradesh.[209] The dance form is connected to classical Hindustani
music where the rhythmic nimbleness of the feet is accompanied
by the Tabla or Pakhawaj.[210] Two schools of this dance
form, Lucknow gharana and Benares gharana, are situated in
Uttar Pradesh.[211][212]
Fairs and festivals[edit]

Saraswati festival, in which people worship

the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, and science

Hindu priest saluting the sun in the Ganges, Varanasi

Diwali (celebrated between mid-October and mid-December)
and Rama Navami are popular festivals in Uttar Pradesh. Kumbh
Mela, organised in the month of Maagha (Feb-March), is a major
festival held every three years in rotation at
Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, on the river Ganges and Nasik on
the Godavari river.[213] Lath mar Holi is a local celebration of the
Hindu festival of Holi. It takes place well before the actual Holi in
the town of Barsana near Mathura. Taj Mahotsav, held annually at
Agra, is a colorful display of the culture of the Braj area.
[214]
Buddha Purnima, which marks the birth of Gautama Buddha,
is a major Hindu and Buddhist festival, while Christmas is
celebrated by the minority Christian population. Other festivals
are Vijayadashami, Makar Sankranti, Vasant Panchami, Ayudha
Puja, Ganga Mahotsava, Janmashtami, Sardhana Christian
Fair, Maha Shivaratri, Mahavir Jayanti, Moharram, Brah
Waft , Eid, Bakreed, Chhath puja,Lucknow
Mahotsav, Kabob and Hanuman Jayanti.[215]
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Cuisine of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradeshi thali with naan,sultani dal, raita, and shahi paneer
A typical day-to-day traditional vegetarian meal of Uttar Pradesh,
like any other North Indian thali, consists

of roti (flatbread), chawal, dal,sabji, raita and papad. Many people

still drink the traditional drink chaach (traditional Butter milk) with
meals. On festive occasions, usually 'tava' (flat pan for roti) is
considered inauspicious, and instead fried foods are consumed. A
typical festive thali consists of Puri, Kachauri, sabji,
pulav, papad, raita, salad and desserts (such as sewai or Kheer).
Many communities have their own particular style of cuisines,
such as the Jains, Kayasths and Muslims. There are also certain
sub-regional delicacies. Awadhi cuisine is world famous for dishes
such as kebab, biryani, keema and nihari. Sweets occupy an
important place in the Hindu diet and are eaten at social
ceremonies. People make distinctive sweetmeats from milk
products, including khurchan, peda,gulabjamun, petha, makkhan
malai, and chamcham. The chaat in Lucknow and
Banarasi Paan is known across India for its flavour and
ingredients.[216]
Awadhi cuisine is from the city of Lucknow. The cuisine consists
of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Awadh has been
greatly influenced by Mughal cooking techniques, and the cuisine
of Lucknow bears similarities to those of Central
Asia, Kashmir, Punjab and Hyderabad; and the city is known
for Nawabi foods.[217] The bawarchis and rakabdars of Awadh
gave birth to the dum style of cooking or the art of cooking over a
slow fire, which has become synonymous with Lucknow today.
Their spread consisted of elaborate dishes
like kebabs, kormas, biryani, kaliya, nahari-kulchas, zarda,
sheermal, roomali rotis, and warqi parathas. The richness of
Awadh cuisine lies not only in the variety of cuisine but also in the
ingredients used like mutton, paneer, and rich spices
including cardamom and saffron.
Mughlai cuisine is a style of cooking developed in the Indian
subcontinent by the imperial kitchens of the Mughal Empire. It
represents the cooking styles used in North India(especially Uttar
Pradesh. The cuisine is strongly influenced by the cuisine of

Central Asia, and has in turn strongly similarities to the regional

cuisines of Kashmir and the Punjabregion.[217] The tastes of
Mughlai cuisine vary from extremely mild to spicy, and is often
associated with a distinctive aroma and the taste of ground and
whole spices.
Dress[edit]
The people of Uttar Pradesh dress in a variety of traditional and
Western styles.[218] Traditional styles of dress include colourful
draped garments such as sari for women anddhoti or lungi for
men and tailored clothes such as salwar kameez for women
and kurta-pyjama for men.[218] Men often sport head-gear
like topi or pagri.[218] Sherwani is a more formal male dress and is
frequently worn along with chooridar on festive occasions.
European-style trousers and shirts are also common among the
men.[218]