Art and Culture

The motherland of art, culture and architecture all across the globe – India is where each historical monument in the country like the forts, palaces, caves, temples, mosques and churches reflect the glory of the era to which they belonged.

India is a land of diverse cultures.  The cultural divisions of India have always been determined and dominated by the great river systems, the watersheds of the Indus and Ganges, the Deccan plateau and South India.

The history of India and its art has been so bound up with the geographic nature of this vast continent that something must be said of these physical characteristics.  India has a kind of impregnable geographic isolation. 

The Culture of the different regions is greatly influenced by the variations in physical, climatic conditions and the extent of exposure to other cultures

Climate, apart from geography has also played its part in the development of the peculiarly indigenous traits of Indian history, art and culture. All the races of martial character have grown up in the dry and hilly districts of north-west and centre, whereas the fertile plains of Bengal and South have been inhabited by peaceful and unwarlike cultivators.

One can say that the Indian symbols of art voiced the same truth as Indian philosophy and myth. The mystery of Indian myths and Indian art lies partly in the fact that it suggests rather than states. 

Theological, hieratic, or, perhaps best of all as truly traditional. This is what we can call the “Indian Art & Culture”.

Temples show the greatness of the ancient arts of India. Temples were raised to house the Gods and started to become the focal point for the community. They also became centers of learning and contributed to the advancement of arts such as sculptures, paintings, music and dances. The huge temple buildings were mostly built by Kings, who were also the patrons of arts, encouraging continuity and enriching rituals of worship which were the earliest basis of the classical performing arts.

The variety of customs and styles is visible in all aspects - music, dance, painting, sculptures, and architecture.

Indian traditional art forms are the most evolved and cultured systems in the world where carnatic music, classical dance styles like Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri etc, theatre and various drama forms including Harikatha and folk arts are amongst the traditional and ancient art and entertainment forms today.

The mystery of Indian myths and Indian art lies partly in the fact that it suggests rather than states.  It could truly be said that Indian symbols of art voiced the same truth as Indian philosophy and myth.

In India, all art, like all life, is given over to religion. Indian art is life, as interpreted by religion and philosophy.