The cultural identities Saudi Arabian citizens express are principally those of Muslim and Arab, linking them to millions of people beyond the nation’s borders. They also identify with the contemporary state and its national culture; the country’s name links the ruling dynasty, Al Saud, with the state’s cultural and geographic setting.

Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage is celebrated at the annual Jenadriyah National Culture and Heritage Festival. One of Saudi Arabia’s most compelling folk rituals is the “Al Ardha”, the country’s national dance. This sword dance is based on ancient Bedouin traditions: drummers beat out a rhythm and a poet chants verses while sword-carrying men dance shoulder to shoulder. “Al sihba” folk music, from the Hejaz, has its origins in Al Andalus. In Makkah, Medina and Jeddah, dance and song incorporate the sound of the “Mizmar”, an oboe-like woodwind instrument in the performance of the “Mizmar” dance. The drum is also an important instrument according to traditional and tribal customs. “Samri” is a popular traditional form of music and dance in which poetry is sung especially in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Poetry is especially important to Arab cultural life, and has long been considered one of the highest expressions of literary art. It was primarily an oral tradition during the nomadic days of Bedouins, a form of preservation of history, traditions and social values. Poetry remains popular among Saudis today in the form of media (e.g. televised poetry competition) or traditional oral poetry. For instance, the annual Jenadriyah National Culture and Heritage Festival, features the reading of poetry by established poets.

Nepal is known as multi-religious to the entire world. For some people it is the religious place where the light of Asia, Gautam Buddha was born, for some people, it is a country of historical art and architecture, for some, it is the country full of divine beauty and for some the country of great Gurkhas. About 80% of total populations are Hindu religion follower lives in the all over Nepal’s east to west up to Maha Bharat range in north, about 10% Buddhist religion people among live bellow of Himalayan region to mid hill, valleys and in towns together 4% Muslim religious people and rest of other religious people live in different parts of the country.

Nepalese sculpture is a tradition which was derived out of the art of Gupta India and later influenced by Pala India. Furthermore, Nepalese artists created a unique style of their own. Life is very tough here due to lack of cultivable land for plantation of crops and undeveloped infrastructures.

Nepal is the perfect example of unity in diversity. There are religious tolerance and the feeling of brotherhood among people. They celebrate their festivals in their own way and live their own lifestyle. They respect each other’s customs, norms, and values. Nepal has a history of people adhering different religion living in harmony. Our own unique and traditional culture define us as Nepali.

Culture of Pakistan is very diverse it stems it stems from the fact that what is now Pakistan has in the past been invaded and occupied by many people like as the white Huns, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, and various others groups. Pakistan geography is the mixture of south Asia, central Asia and west Asia so the culture of Pakistan is unique then the rest of countries, it’s a combination of Islamic, regional, English and global influences, Increasing globalization has improved the pressure of western culture and Pakistan culture. They are easy access to western products, culture and foods. The main religion in Pakistan is islam which followed by 95.98% of people. The remaining 2.5% practice Christianity, Hinduism and other religions.

Among the other religion languages and dialects Urdu is a language which is spoken and understands throughout the country. There are main two common languages are urdu and English and other languages are Punjabis, Pasto, Sindhi, and Balochi and other regional languages are Saraiki, Hindko and Brahui.Poetry is art and profession in Pakistan. It was originated in Persian empire. After the independence poetry is written in Urdu language and also regional language. Faiz ahmad is considered to have been Pakistan’s greatest poet. The Pakistani music has a large variety, folk and traditional music are famous in Pakistan, such as Qawwali and Gazal Gayaki in to modern forms synchronization of Qawwali and western music is popular.Kathak is a classical dance developed in the Mughal era and other folk dances are Bhangada, Luddi, Sammi of Punjab, Lewa, etc.

India is a rich country of cultures where people live in their culture. We respect and honour our Indian culture a lot. The culture is everything like the way of behaving with other, ideas, customs we follow, arts, handicrafts, religions, food habits, fairs, festivals, music and dance are parts of the culture. India is a big country with high population where people of various religions with unique culture live together. Some of the major religions of the country are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. India is a country where various languages are spoken in different parts of the country. People here are generally used of varieties in costume, social beliefs, customs and food-habits.

People beliefs and follow various customs and traditions according to their own religions. We celebrate our festivals according to our own rituals, keep fast, take bath in the holy water of Gange, worship and pray to God, sing ritual songs, dance, eat delicious dinner, wear colorful dresses and other lots of activities. We also celebrate some National festivals by getting together such as Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, including various social events. People of different religions celebrate their festivals in various parts of the country with great zeal and enthusiasm without interfering each other.

Some events like the birthday of Gautama Buddha (Buddha Purnima), Lord Mahavir birthday (Mahavir Jayanti), Guru Nanak Jayanti (Guruparv), etc are celebrated conjointly by people of many religions. India is a famous country for its various cultural dances like classical (Bharat Natyam, Kathak, Kathakli, Kuchipudi) and folk according to the regions. Punjabis enjoy dancing Bhangra, Gugaratis enjoy doing Garba, Rajasthanis enjoy Ghumar, Assamese enjoy Bihu whereas Maharashtrian enjoy Lavoni.

Brazilian culture is one of the world’s most varied and diverse. Brazil is a blend of race and ethnicities, resultant in prosperous multiplicity. Numerous unique Portuguese settlers wedded local women, which formed an original race, call ‘mestizos’ who be descendants of the Portuguese & African slaves. Slavery was abolished in 1888, created over instance an additional blur of the cultural outline. Brazilian had intermarried to the tip that it at times seems too approximately everybody has a blend of African, European & resident parentage. Brazilians’ feel pride in themselves by dressing well. Men should always wear a conventional, dark-colored business suit. Women should always wear suits or dresses which look elegant & feminine with a fine quality of accessories. Rice, beans, and manioc form the core of the Brazilian diet and are eaten at least occasionally by all social classes in all parts of the nation. Meat, poultry, or fish are added, but the frequency of their consumption is closely tied to financial well-being.

Cities, especially big cities, have movimento—a quality of liveliness and bustle that most Brazilians value. Rural zones, in contrast, are generally viewed by urbanites as backlands, as dull places of unrelieved poverty. Urban architecture in Brazil owes much to the legacy of Portuguese colonialism. Brazil is a major producer of such agricultural products as sugarcane, soybeans, oranges, coffee, cocoa, rice, wheat, and cotton. Agriculture employs—directly or indirectly— about one-quarter of the Brazilian labor force.

 

Russia is the largest country in the world and has a long and rich cultural history, steeped in literature, ballet, painting and classical music. Russia is home to at least 190 ethnic group. Ballet is a popular notable art form coming out of Russia. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a 19th-century Russian composer, is world-renowned pieces. Russian literature has also had a worldwide impact, with writers such as Leon Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky still being read around the world.

Russians love to accept guests and are said to be great hosts. Russian weddings are celebrated on a grand scale. The extent of celebration and thoroughness of preparation are only limited by the financial situation of the family. Every Russian woman knows how to stay abreast of the latest fashion trends, apply the make-up the proper way, and groom her hair to look her best. Every Russian man internalizes such principles as not letting others to hurt himself or his family, being able to physically challenge an attacker, protecting the weak, and always resisting an urge to cry. While Russian is the official language, many Russians also speak English as a second language. More than 100 minority languages are spoken in Russia today. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports that 77.7 percent of Russians are of Russian descent. The rest of the population consists of 3.7 percent Tatar, 1.4 percent Ukrainian, 1.1 percent Bashkir, 1 percent Chuvash, 1 percent Chechen and 10.2 percent other, while 3.9 percent are unspecified

Sri Lankan culture includes a lot of customs and rituals, which date to more than 2000 years which were handed down from generation to generation. The most prominent feature of the Sri Lankan is its colorful festivals, which is one of the main tourist attractions. Sri Lanka’s staple meal is a large serving of rice accompanied by up to twelve different side dishes of vegetables, egg, meat, or fish stewed together with peppers, spices, and often coconut milk. People speak Sinhala, Tamil and English. Sri Lanka is home to a variety of dance styles including classical, folk and dance drama. Buddhism, the religion of the majority of people in Sri Lanka, is given a place of preference in the national constitution and public life, although Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are also practiced by significant portions of the population. In all ethnic groups, marriages are traditionally arranged by the families of the couple. “Love marriages initiated by the couples themselves are increasingly common.

The major industries in Sri Lanka are involved with agricultural production and manufacturing. Sri Lanka’s towns and villages, as well as its urban centers, are typically active sites of commercial exchange. Residential buildings vary widely according to the socioeconomic status of their inhabitants. Tourists are also the focus of a range of commercial activity. Traditionally, the division of labor in Sri Lanka has been largely based on caste, gender, and ethnicity. In Sri Lanka, there is a strong tradition of both men and women working, with men focusing more on income opportunities and women focusing on the household.

 

Mexico has a culture that has been influenced by its complex history which makes it rich, diverse and vibrant. It is a mix of the native culture, Spanish culture, and immigrant cultures as well. In fact, Mexico is the most Spanish-speaking country in the world. Each region has its own cultural practices and celebrations. The government recognizes 62 indigenous Amerindian languages as national languages. The ethnic makeup of Mexico is 60% of mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish), 30% of Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, 9% of whites and 1% other communities. Many places still have the traditional indigenous groups within Mexico such as Mayas, Otomis, Nahuas, etc who have all had their own part to play in the Mexican culture in terms of cuisine, medicines, rituals, and language. The cultural and traditional clothing of Mexico includes dressing in luscious earth tones of yellow, brown, red and green. Music and dance are art forms cherished in Mexico and feature heavily in their culture. Mariachi music dates back to the 18th century and is well-known and loved. Traditionally mariachi bands consist of 5 musicians wearing ‘charro’ suits.  The Jarabe Tapatio (Mexican Hat Dance) is one of the iconic dances of Mexico which celebrates courtship and the dancing is performed around a sombrero. They also celebrate a number of days such as Independence Day, Las Posadas, Day of the Dead, New Year Rituals and other holidays with festivals known as “Fiestas”. Mexican cuisine is known for its blending of Indigenous and European cultures. Popular dishes include tacos, enchiladas, mole sauce, atole, tamales, and pozole. Alcoholic beverages native to Mexico include mescal, pulque, and tequila. Mexican beer is also popular in Mexico.

ARTICLE ON FESTIVALS IN DIFFERENT    COUNTRIES

 

IN ITALY~

Christmas is a major holiday in Italy, which means Italians celebrate lots of great, unique Christmas traditions! Across Italy, Natale tends to be a family-centric holiday, a time to stay at home (and eat!) with loved ones. But customs also vary from city to city, from exactly which dishes are served, to when to open presents, making every region an interesting place to enjoy the holidays.

Christmas officially kicks off with the Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8. This is when decorations go up (both on the streets and inside Italian homes) and when some Christmas markets start.

Decorations and huge Christmas trees can be found in main piazzas, like in front of the Colosseum or in Milan’s Piazza Duomo, and Babbo Natale (Father Christmas, the Italian version of Santa Claus) spreads holiday cheer.Instead, it celebrates the day when the Church decided that Mary was born without having the stain of original sin.

The eight days before Christmas, also known as the Novena, are filled with carolers singing traditional songs around the neighborhood. If you’re in Rome, southern Italy or Sicily, keep an eye out for the zampognari, or bagpipe players—they travel from the nearby mountains to play their merry folklore carols.

Don’t eat meat on Christmas Eve…

To prepare and purify their bodies for Christmas Day, Italians avoid meat on la Vigilia (Christmas Eve). Although the idea is to eat lean, most indulge on multiple courses of fish… sometimes as many as seven!

After the “light” Christmas Eve dinner, on Christmas Day, Italians invite their family and friends for a large lunch that usually goes on all day. Many save up to have the most lavish celebration possible, serving up traditional dishes like pasta in brodo (pasta in broth), roasts and traditional desserts like panettone.

The festivities don’t end on December 25

Celebrations often extend into December 26 with the national holiday of Santo Stefano; families get together and eat leftover Christmas dishes and sweets.

The official end of the Christmas season, though, isn’t until January 6—the Day of the Epiphany, and the twelfth day of Christmas. On the eve of the Epiphany, families usually prepare a large dinner to mark the end of the holiday season; children are given candy or coal (usually made of black sugar), depending on if they were naughty or nice. After January 6, you’ll see Christmas markets close and decorations start to come down.

 

-DAKSHA JAIN

IN MUMBAI

 

GANESH CHATURTHI

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god who is believed to be powerful enough to eliminate all obstacles. Falling in the months of August and September, this is one of the festivals which Mumbaites celebrate with great zeal and enthusiasm. Lord Ganesh is regarded as the patron saint of Maharashtra and over 6000 idols are commissioned in Mumbai every year. This alone is enough to explain the spirit of Mumbai in celebrating the festival. Though Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Pune and Karnataka, Mumbai is the most famous for its massive processions. Even the households in Mumbai celebrate the festival by installing an idol of Lord Ganesha and worshipping it for over ten days. The houses are cleaned and the idol is brought in with the family members chanting ‘Shloka’ or religious verses. The seven to ten days long festival ends with the ‘Ganesh Visarjan’ where the idols are immersed in the water; it is done as a procession with millions of people accompanying the idol along with a lot of music and dance. Read further to know more about the various aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai.

Ganesh Chaturthi Rituals

Ganesh Chaturthi is regarded as an important festival in the region of Maharashtra and is celebrated for seven to ten days when the entire state is decorated with lights. In Mumbai, on the first day of the festival, the Pooja starts with the idol being kept over a pedestal that symbolizes a throne. This is followed by a priest performing the rituals and Puja dedicated to the idol. Then, he dips the idol in holy water. Modak, a sweet made of sweetened coconut and rice flour, is then offered to the deity along with incense and flowers. For the rest of the days, the idol of worshipped with Ganesh Stuti and devotional songs in the evening and morning. People install idols of Lord Ganesh in their houses as well.

Farewell Procession

It is believed that god returns to his heavenly abode after ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The city witnesses great vigour and enthusiasm for the farewell procession in which the idol of Lord Ganesha is carried by the devotees. The procession is accompanied by lot of singers, dancers, acrobats, priests and various onlookers. Sweets, coconuts, flowers and Aarti are offered to the idol prior to immersion in the Arabian Sea. This ritual is known as ‘Ganesh Visarjan’ or the immersion of Lord Ganesha and the procession flock the street with the chanting, ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ (famous slogan praising Lord Ganesha). The most prominent immersion takes place on Chowpatti Beach, located at a distance of 1km from Marine Drive. During the immersion, huge crowds flock the beach to witness the grand Visarjan. These processions start in the morning and continue till late night. In addition to these, there are public celebrations known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava. Many community pujas or celebrations are also held in almost every locality of the city.

 

-DAKSHA JAIN