Temples of India

Temples of India in styles varying from simple to most extravagant with detailed work of art reflect grandeur and spiritual character of its inhabitants. India is a land of temples and every temple reflects the grandeur and stunning style diversity of temple style across the nation. The North Indian temples differ widely from their South Indian counterparts. It is not surprising that the broad geographical, climatic, cultural, racial, historical and linguistic differences between the northern plains and the southern peninsula of India resulted, from early on, in distinct architectural styles. The type of raw materials available from region to region naturally had a significant impact on construction techniques, carving possibilities and consequently the overall appearance of the temple. 

Every state has religious important places and people of all religion and faith who visit these places. Jammu & Kashmir, TamilNadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa Bengal, Maharashtra, and Karnataka are all rich in history, tradition and architectural splendour. There are also distinct styles in peripheral areas such as Bengal, Kerala and the Himalayan valleys. Experience the diverse architectural styles, festival traditions and worship protocols through India’s vast collection of temples.  The Himalayas region in India is full of places of worship, the Ganga Plains considered to be the river of great significance in Hindu religion and there are several temples along its banks in almost ever state from which Ganga passes.

Some famous temples to mention are the Khajuraho Temple, Badrinath, Pushkar, Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Srimahavirji, Kedarnath, Dwarkadeesh, Ajanta Cave Temples, Kalkaji, Birlamandir, Lotus temple and Meenakshi temple.

Festivals of India

India celebrates joyous and colourful festivals and fairs throughout the year. The country is a land of many religions, beliefs, languages and faiths, thus comprises so many festivals too. Festivals are celebrated in every region, some are religious, some are seasonal, and each of these occasions has a special sprit and vigour.  In a land of vast geographical distances and a variety of languages and customs, the spirit and colour of the religious, seasonal or secular festivals underline the rich legacy of traditions that has been handed over from ages. Each festival in each religion has its own particular foods and sweets appropriate to the season and crops, and days are spent in their careful preparation.

The celebrations included not only fasting and prayers, but also equally events of social and cultural significance. Performances of music, dance and drama take place side by side with more rugged physical activities like displays of valour and virility through chariot and boat races or wrestling matches and animal fights in which rams, wild bulls, elephants, oxen, horses and even rhinoceroses take part.

Every day of the year, there is a festival celebrated in some part of the country. Some festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon. Others celebrate religious occasions, the birthdays of divine beings, saints, and gurus (revered teachers), or the advent of the New Year. A number of these festivals are common to most parts of India. However, they may be called by different names in various parts of the country or may be celebrated in a different fashion. Some of the festivals are Durga Puja, BasanthPanchami, Baisakhi, Gurupurab Ganesha Chaturthi, Holi, Holla-Mohalla, Diwali, Dussehra, Hanuman Jayanthi, Id-ul-Fitra, Id-ul-Zuhat, Christmas, Muharram, Easter, Good Friday, Mahavira Jayanti, Goa Carnival, Goa Carnival.

Yoga, originated in India, refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines. In Sanskrit the word “yuj” means to unite or to join and Yoga is an ancient Indian practice dealing with the well being of human mind, body and spirit. Outside India, the term yoga is typically associated with Hatha Yoga and its asanas (postures) or as a form of exercise. The principles of yoga, called Yogasutra, were given by Patanjali, a saint philosopher and a physician, who lived around 3 centuries before Christ. He is known as the founder of yoga. These sutras are timeless and hold true even today. They help you to lead a blissful life by improving your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Yoga can be practised by a person of any age and yoga is a series of exercises performed to improve health and flexibility of a person. The beauty of yoga is that it is highly flexible, so you can modify yoga techniques to meet your need. If you have mobility problems, use chair to perform yoga. Office-goers can try the deep-breathing practices to relieve their stress. Yoga is of many types the most popular type is Hatha Yoga, other are Karma yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Tantric Yoga and Raja Yoga.

Yoga Asanas are like modern day exercises and concentrate only on the body or on the mind and provide a holistic approach towards your welfare. Asanas help you to improve your strength and flexibility, so that you can carry out your daily activities unhindered. Deep breathing techniques help in removal of toxins in the body and aid in relaxation. Yoga can be a great weight loss and toning tool. It helps in healing and nourishing the body. Meditation calms your mind and gives you clarity of thought.