THE INDIAN
SUBCONTINENT
LAUREL BURKETT & ELIJAH CANTRELL
INDIA SUBCONTINENT
• Overview
• Geographic location
• States of the union
• Etiquette
• Rituals
• Cuisine
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
INDIA
Official Name: Republic of India
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
• On the
Indian Plate
• Along with:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Nepal
Bhutan
Sri Lanka
Maldives
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Nepal
Chin
a
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Burma
Arabian
Sea
Bhutan
Bay of
Bengal
GEOGRAPHY
• India is 2933
kilometers across
(1822 miles)
1/3 the size of the United
States
GEOGRAPHY
• Can be divided in
to 5 physiographic
divisions
• 1. The Himalayan
Mountains
• 2. The Great Plains of
North India
• 3. The Peninsular
Plateaus
• 4. The Coastal Plains
• 5. Islands
CLIMATE
• India has 6 major
climate zones.
• Montane, Humid subtropical,
tropical wet and dry, tropical
wet, semi-arid, arid
• Seasons
• Winter-April to July or March to
June (depending on the area)
• Summer- can get very hot
• Monsoon-terrible storms
• Post-Monsoon-dense air, shifting
winds
STATES OF THE UNION
WE ARE ONE!
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
• Official name: The
Republic of India
• Official flag:
Delhi
• Capital: New Delhi
• State: Delhi
• Independence:
August 15, 1947 (from
UK)
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
• Government:
Federal Republic
• -based on English
common law; limits
the judicial review of
legislative acts.
• India is made up of
29 states.
• 7 union territories
POPULATION GEOGRAPHY
• Population: 1.29
million (Jan 2015)
• Majority of the population
lives in the rural parts of
India. Mainly in the northern
part of the country. (Makes
up 17.5% of world’s
population)
• Age Distribution:
•
•
•
•
0-14=28%
15-59=63%
60+=8%
Media age is 26 years old
ETIQUETTE
THE ETIQUETTE OF INDIA IS A MIXTURE OF BOTH
WESTERN AND ASIAN CULTURES.
DINNER ETIQUETTE
• It is considered
proper Indian
Etiquette to eat with
your hands.
• This is seen less in five
star restaurants and
westernized areas.
• Always remember it is
a good etiquette to
fit in with the culture
wherever you may
be.
DINNER ETIQUETTE
• Indian etiquette and good manners vary from
region to region
• North India: It is impolite to dirty more than the first two
segments of fingers [eat mostly rotis and drier curries]
• South India: It is permitted to use your whole hand [eat lots
more rice and very wet curries]
• Try not to use your left hand (even if left-handed)
• This is considered unclean and offensive.
• Traditionally, Indian people use the left hand as part of their
toilet routine.
• When greeting someone use only your right hand as well.
DINNER ETIQUETTE
• Sharing food is an important part of Indian
etiquette, however it is offensive to share any
utensils or a drink. Also NEVER “double dip”!
• Coming into contact with another’s spit is called jootha and
this is very offensive in many parts of India.
DINNER ETIQUETTE
• Same basic rules as Western etiquette
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Wash your hands before and after eating.
Ask for what food you want and don’t point at it.
Don’t make a ton of noise.
Don’t talk with food in your mouth.
Wait for everyone to sit down before starting to eat.
Don’t be on your phone.
If you must get up, ask to be excused.
INTRODUCTION ETIQUETTE
• Use a person’s title whenever it is possible!
• Ex. Professor, and Doctor
• For those without a professional title use courtesy
titles.
• Ex. “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, or “Miss”
• Don’t use first name until invited to do so
• You may also use ‘Sir/Ma’am’ for strangers
DRESS ETIQUETTE
• Women:
• Your attire will often signal your status.
• Make sure to wear loose, cool clothing that is conservative.
• Lot’s of skin showing suggests that you are poor or that you
are shameless about showing off your body.
• Tight clothes are also considered shameless.
• The more you disguise your shape the better.
• A scarf is always a good idea!
• For meetings, pant- suits or long skirts, which can cover the
knees, are good.
• The neckline of the blouse should be relatively high and
conservative.
DRESS ETIQUETTE
• Men
• Avoid shorts which are considered “bizarre” in Indian
etiquette.
• In certain Hindu temples a man may be required to wear a
lungi (a long piece of cloth worn like a kilt).
• Normal business dress for a guy: Suit and tie or full sleeved
shirt with a tie. Wear all neutral coloring.
• Make sure to stay conservative and well dressed for casual
meetings as well.
DRESS ETIQUETTE
• Men and Women
• Jeans and a T-shirt or a short sleeved shirt are acceptable
for casual wear for both men and women.
• Shoes are never to be worn in places of worship.
• Some museums and historical monuments may also require
you to remove your shoes and/or wear socks.
• A similar courtesy should be extended when entering
someone’s home.
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
• In a business meeting it is rude to start with work
related topics. Meetings usually start with small talk
that is non work related and then carries into
business topics.
• Don’t refuse any food or other offerings to you
during business meetings as this may cause offence
to someone.
• Keep in mind that the majority of Indians are
vegetarians and do not drink alcohol or smoke.
GENERAL RULES OF GOOD MANNERS
AND ETIQUETTE
[A TO Z OF MANNERS & ETIQUETTE- INDIA]
1. Indians of all ethnic groups disapprove of public
displays of affection between men and women.
2. Most Hindus avoid public contact between men
and women.
3. Other religions such as Sikhs and Christians, will also
avoid public contact between the sexes.
4. In larger cities, men and Westernized Indian
women may offer to shake hands with foreign
men and sometimes foreign women.
5. Never keep your purse or wallet in your back
pocket.
GENERAL RULES OF GOOD MANNERS
AND ETIQUETTE
[A TO Z OF MANNERS & ETIQUETTE- INDIA]
6. Standing tall with your hands on your hips is
perceived as aggressive.
7. Pointing with your finger is considered bad
manners and rude.
8. Whistling in public is considered bad etiquette and
is not acceptable.
9. Never point your feet at another person as feet
are considered unclean.
10. Stand up when an elder or a guest enters the
room and don’t sit until you’ve offered them a
seat.
GENERAL RULES OF GOOD MANNERS
AND ETIQUETTE
[A TO Z OF MANNERS & ETIQUETTE- INDIA]
11. Stand when the national anthem (of any country) is
playing. Show respect to all flags and all religious
symbols.
12. Do not comment on personal appearance or clothes
in a negative way; if you cannot say something
complimentary, do not say anything at all.
13. Public physical contact between men and women is
far less acceptable in India than other parts of the
world.
14. Be cautious of casually touching an Indian woman,
especial in small towns and villages (sometimes the
slightest touch can have a sexual connotation).
RITUALS
HINDUISM IS A WAY OF LIFE
NAMASTE
• Indians greet each other with Namaste. “May our minds
meet”
• Two palms are placed together in front of the chest and
the head bows whilst saying the word. The bowing of the
head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love
and humility.
• This greeting is for everyone. It could be used as a casual
or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of
worship.
• The spiritual meaning is even deeper: The life force, the
divinity, the self or the lord in me is the same in all.
• Sometimes this is done with your eyes closed to a revered
person or the lord- as if to look within.
LIGHT A LAMP
• In most Indian homes a lamp is lit daily before the altar of
the Lord.
• Depending on the family it is lit at dawn, twice a day
(dawn and dusk) and sometimes it is maintained
continuously.
• The light symbolizes knowledge, and darknessignorance.
• The lamp is lit to bow down to knowledge as the
greatest of all forms of wealth.
• The oil symbolizes negative tendencies and the wick
symbolizes your ego. When lit your negative tendencies
get slowly exhausted and then your ego finally perishes
as well.
LIGHT A LAMP
• While lighting the lamp they pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tomopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namastute
I prostrate to the dawn, dusk lamp; whose light is the
Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which
removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all
can be achieved in life.
PRAYER ROOM
• Most Indian homes have a prayer room. A lamp is lit
and the Lord is worshipped each day through
different spiritual practices.
• The Lord is the entire creation, therefore he is the
true owner of the house as well. The prayer room is
the master room of the house because it is the Lords
property.
• This notion rids everyone of false pride and
possessiveness.
• The room is at all times kept clean and decorated
because the Lord resides in the house with them.
INDIAN CUISINE
THE WHOLE PALETTE OF FLAVORS
TYPICAL DIETS
• Normal diets
consists of legumes,
vegetables, fruits,
grains, dairy
product, honey,
and sometimes fish,
eggs, and meat.
• More and more
natives are
transitioning to
vegetarianism as a
result of regional
dietary preference
and or religious
practice.
DO’S AND DON’TS
• Drink only bottled water
• Do not ask for Ice as it may not be from bottled water
• Eat only cooked food
• No raw salads
• Fruits are ok if rinsed with bottled water
CURRY
• Combinations of spices
or herbs, usually
including dried or fresh
hot chilies
• May be “wet” or “dry”
• Spices are used both
whole and ground;
cooked or raw
• May also contain
different types of meat,
fish or shellfish
• Some might also
include vegetables
BIRYANI
• What It Is: An aromatic
rice dish cooked with
several spices, notably
saffron, and a protein
(typically chicken or
mutton) that’s been
marinated.
• Perfect For: A huge
family dinner.
• Feels Like: Hearing the
neighborhood mosque
sound its azan for
evening prayers.
NAAN
• Fluffy rounds of
bread
• Dip into any type of
sauce
• Meant to be
enjoyed throughout
the meal
BANANA CHIPS
• What It Is: Thin slices
of banana deep fried
in savory spices.
• Perfect For:
Munching on while
watching your
favorite movie.
• Feels Like: The wind
flying through your
hair
PAKORA
• If you like fired okra
this might be for you.
• Battered veggies with
sometimes chicken
as well
• Some of the
standards are
eggplant, potato,
onion, spinach and
cauliflower
SAAG PANEER
• Cubes of soft
cheese within a
creamed
vegetable mixture
• Lot’s of greens
within the mixture
including broccoli
and spinach
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
• Questions & Answers