“WELCOME TO ARTISTIC GALLERY OF INDIA”

The term South India encompasses the Five states in the peninsular region - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. The southern part of the subcontinent is highly rich in culture and is equally advanced in technology and sciences.

India is such a vibrant country that dialects, cultures, and cuisines differ in every district, but as the classical saying goes “Unity in Diversity,” Let's discover the Southern region of the subcontinent, experiencing the Culture and traditions, Language and dialects, Dance and Musical artforms, Cuisine, Costume and Attire, and the Festivals

Culture and Traditions :

The ever-so-inciting culture of south India dates to the times of the autocratic empires of the Pandyas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, etc. As far as the origin of the culture goes, the majority of locals believe that they are the descendants of the Dravidian race, who are thought of as the original inhabitants of the subcontinent. Events in the course of time such as the invasion by Aryans into the subcontinent and the mingling between the races have greatly influenced the culture and tradition. A person can experience the tall standing shrines and temples dating hundreds of years old, the age-old traditions and customs, the mesmerizing music and the vibrant dance forms, and mouth-watering cuisine and not deny the fact that the roots of their culture have withstood the test of time and yet never failed to evolve itself and keep up with the modernization.

Language and Dialects :

One cannot deny the fact that the dialects vary as one starts to traverse the terrain but the Four widely spoken languages that overlap the five state`s boundaries are :

Malayalam in Kerala, Kannada in Karnataka, Tamil in Tamil Nadu, and Telugu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A staggering population of nearly 250 million people speaks either of the languages.

Archeologists estimate the history of these languages to be as old as 4500 years, Evidence found from the wall inscriptions found in the cave expeditions in the Madurai region.

The region is not anonymous to globalization and has a comparatively higher combined literacy rate, It is not a surprise that English is widely adopted as a second language to bridge the communication gap.

Dance and Musical Artforms :

Rukmini Devi Arundale, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Uday Shankar, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Bipin Singh, Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, Padma Subrahmanyam, Shovana Narayan These are just a few of the many names of some of the most famous and historical dancers of the South.

Just like the culture, the language, and the traditions of the South, The history of dance also originates from the medieval Sanskrit scriptures. The “Natyashastra” is said to be the origin of the dance forms.

Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Sattriya, Manipuri, and Mohiniyattam are the 8 recognised dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak academy These dance forms are the true amalgamation of Costume, Vibrant makeup, synchronous movements, mesmerizing postures, strong expressions on the beats of traditional music which leaves a person elf struck.

The dance forms portray the mythological stories in a theatrical way, most of the performance are an ode to the Gods and widely celebrated on auspicious omens, this is because them originating in the temples

The Music of the South has gained worldwide fame and is known as “Carnatic” Music. Just like the Dance forms, the music too is composed for kirtans in the temples. Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music go hand in hand by sharing the same basics of Taal, Raag, Svar, and Sruti.

Instruments of Carnatic music like Tambura, Veena, Ghatam, Manjira, and Tambura have been the key to the fame of multiple Artists like Ramadasa, Purandara das, and Kanaka Das.

Cuisine :

The cuisine of any region is the reflection of a multitude of factors that led to the origin of that cuisine, Rice being the major cereal source of the region, and most of the dishes are prepared from it.

A similar analogy works for the abundant coconut and banana trees widely used in not just the preparation of food but also the way they are served and eaten. Banana leaves are used as the serving plates till date, and banana chips cooked in coconut oil are relished in the entire peninsula. Dosa and Idli served with sambhar and nariyal chutney have been the flag bearers of the South Indian Cuisine

The Andhra region differs from Malabar, having a stronger tinge of spices and condiments in the preparations, Hyderabadi Biryani, the pride of Hyderabad, is no exception in terms of popularity. Food chains like Jewel of the Nizam, Hotel Shadab, Chicha`s are revered for the Biryani.

Costume and Attire :

The Costumes and Attires in the south are influenced by the closeness to the equator line, the area being comparatively hot and humid. The traditional attire in the south is also synonymous with elegant styling and a strong essence of bespoke touches like the gold wire weaved in between the silk thread in sarees and lungis.

Women typically wear a saree, Mysore Silk Saree, Chettinad Saree, Kasavu Saree, Pochampally Saree, and Dharamavaram Saree to name a few. The attire remains incomplete without the enigmatic jewellery and Bangles.

Men however adopt a much simpler traditional costume, the Kurta, and the Lungi. The use of cotton yarn and lose fitting clothes helps combat the hot and humid climate in the region.

Festivals:

The festivals are celebrated with great pomp and pride, Tourists across the globe travel to coalesce into the vivid and splendid display of Grandeur lifestyle, and customs.

Festivals like Diwali, Onam, Shivratri, Hampi Utsav, Ugadi, and Dusshera gather locals as well as travelers from across the world every year because of the frolic and mesmerizing experience they give. Festivals are also the auspicious occasions when various poojas and customary prayers are done, post which local delicacies are shared and enjoyed.