Modern Indian Theatre

India has the richest and longest tradition in theatre. The origin of Indian theatre is intimately associated with the ancient rituals and the seasonal festivals. The Natya Shastra of Bharat Muni is the earliest surviving text on theatre and drama. The Indian theatre encompasses all the different forms of fine arts and literature like dance, music, mime, movement, sculpture, painting and architecture. The Indian theatre can be classified into 3 distinct types: the Sanskrit theatre or the classical theatre, the folk theatre or the traditional theatre and the modern theatre.

Modern Theatre in India is completely urban in nature. It is created by & primarily for the middle class & upper middle class. The development of Modern Theatre in India may be attributed to a change in the political set up in India. The 200 years of the British rule brought the Indian theatre into direct contact with the western theatre. The seeds of Modern Theatre were sown in the late 18th century, with the consolidation of British power in Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. It was in the thriving metropolises of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras that they first introduced their brand of theatre, based on London models. The initial purpose of the British, while introducing Modern Theatre in India was to provide entertainment for the British soldiers and citizens trying to acclimatize themselves to a foreign country. For the first time in India, the writing and practice of theatre was geared fully towards realistic or naturalistic presentation. The themes also underwent a drastic change. They were no more woven around big heroes and gods, but had become a picture of common man. Initially most dramatic works were composed in three languages - Bengali, Tamil and Marathi. But later plays began to be written in other languages like Kannada, Gujarati, Hindi, Oriya, Urdu and English.

The harmonious blend of eastern and western culture gave birth to a rather modern form of Indian theatre. To entertain the British soldiers and the citizens for acclimatizing themselves to a foreign country like India, Indian theatre gradually became a replication of the western plots. Also, for the first time in India, the practice of writing and theatre was running full fledged. Realistic approach and naturalistic presentation marked the change in the thematic development of Indian theatre. Gone were the days of the lives of heroes, Gods, celestial beings and myths of the ancient India; on the contrary it is the common man, their daily chores, their fears and tears were ideally portrayed in the modern Indian theatre. That was just the beginning of the journey of modern Indian theatre.













Change was marked during this time not only in the socio political level and in the economic condition but also in the artistic and cultural aspects of India. Indian drama and theatre also went through a sea change, which not only altered the traditional aspects of "roopaka" and "natya" in Indian drama, but also at the same time added a whole fresh enunciation to the theatrical and narrative forms. The overdramatic aspects were rationalized. The themes also witnessed a change and for the first time the ardent fervor of the religious, historical and mythological aspects were not given that importance.

The modern Indian theatre started to grow more in the 1850s as the theatre enthusiasts started to perform their own play on different languages which were based on western style. It passed to Bombay and to many North as well as in South Indian states. These new form of the Indian theatre started to grow at the cost of extinction of other traditional form of theatre. This new hybrid form of Indian theatre turned to a ticketed theatre in the 1870s as it slipped from the hands of the riches. However, it was with the thriving development of the different "Brand Theatres" during the beginning of the 19th century the varied contemporary aspects, in the Indian theatre made its presence felt in quite a distinct way. Calcutta and Madras were the first two metropolises to introduce their theatre brands. Classically based on the London models these theatre brands are still reckoned as the pioneer of modern Indian drama and theatre. At the end of the 19th century, this modern form of Indian theatre became the source of earning of bread and butter to many. It moved to the hands of common public and turned into a commercial unit.

Modern Indian theatre was thus not only the amalgamation of art, dance, music and dialogues but was a means of reaching people and addressing their issues and was of course the main element in changing the social and political ailments of independent India. The modern theatre of today boasts a number of unique characteristics , including commercial ventures, various grades and qualities of amateur work, limited attempts at experimentation, & determined effort to establish and sustain school and college theatre programs.

Modern Indian Dance

Dancing is the natural expression of human feelings. It is a rhythmic movement of body in pace with the music accompanied. It is a sport and art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. Many religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, etc use dance postures in the shrines, which itself depicts the importance of dance in worship.

Dance may also be regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans, and is also performed by other animals (bee dance, patterns of behaviour such as a mating dance). Gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are sports dance disciplines, while martial arts kata are often compared to dances. Motion in inanimate objects may also be described as dances (the leaves danced in the wind), and certain musical forms or genres.

Modern Dance in India has a relatively short history. Since the perception of 'modern' or 'contemporary' can vary from dancer to dancer, this dance form cannot be defined as easily as the classical dance styles of India. It is also not codified in a detailed manner, as are the classical styles. Today, the indian classical dance has undergone a lot of changes over the centuries. Most of the contemporary dancers use the formal classical Indian dance technique to stage ballets presenting various themes such as nationalism, unity of religions, the sanctity of the environment, education system literacy, agriculture etc.

After the explosion of modern dance in the early 20th century, the 1960s saw the growth of postmodernism. Postmodernism veered towards simplicity, the beauty of small things, the beauty of untrained bodies, and unsophisticated movement. The famous 'No' manifesto rejecting all costumes, stories and outer trappings in favour of raw and unpolished movement was perhaps the extreme of this wave of thinking. Unfortunately lack of costumes, stories and outer trappings do not make a good dance show, and it was not long before sets, décor and shock value re-entered the vocabulary of modern choreographers.

By the 1980s dance had come full circle and modern dance (or, by this time, 'contemporary dance') was clearly still a highly technical and political vehicle for many practitioners. Existing alongside classical ballet, the two art-forms were by now living peacefully next door to one another with little of the rivalry and antipathy of previous eras. In a cleverly designed comment on this ongoing rivalry the brilliant collaboration of Twyla Tharp (one of the 20th Century's cutting edge Dance avant-gardist/contemporary) and Ballet dance was ultimately achieved. The present time sees us still in the very competitive artistic atmosphere where choreographers compete to produce the most shocking work, however, there are still glimpses of beauty to be had, and much incredible dancing in an age where dance technique has progressed further in expertise, strength and flexibility than ever before in history.

At the same time, mass culture experienced expansion of street dance. In 1974, famous group Jackson 5 performed on television a dance called Robot (choreographed by postmodern artist Michael Jackson). This event, and later Soul Train performances by black dancers ignited street culture revolution, which later formed break dancing rocks dance. Hip-hop dance were also started.

Modern Indian Music

Modern Indian music is fusion without confusion. Melody takes the prime post of importance, and fusion is used as an essential enhancement in the Modern Indian Music of the early 21st century. The trend is positive (considering what we had in the 80s) and solid. There are bound to be further experimentation with music as new creators join in. The music lovers certainly will have no dearth of good music.

In the present day, there are far less people who enjoy Indian classical music as they feel it is too slow for them. Many youngsters go a step further terming classical music to be boring. But then, enjoying music is a personal journey and purely depends on the moods. However, in keeping with times and demands, today, most music composers have shifted from the classical to newer forms, whereby they imbibe the Indian melody and tunes with the western beats.

Modern Indian Music is something very interesting to note and listen to. Modern Indian Music, needless to say has been influenced by a number of factors. The influence of the past lingers on with an attempt to leap into a more melodious tomorrow. As per many researches and observation it has been noted that the changes in the existing scenario in music and the incoming of a new kind of music started sometime in the 1970s. Modern Indian music comprises:

*Remixes
In this type of music, the old tunes are blended with faster beats making them popular amongst the younger generation. These are generally played at discos and parties.

*Fusion
It is that type of music where Indian classical music is combined with the western music forms to create a musical mix of east and west

*Film music
It is in fact extremely popular amongst people of all age groups. In fact an Indian film is considered incomplete without songs with the heroes and heroines dancing. Undoubtedly there is a clear distinction between the type of songs that were composed between the 1940s and 1980s and those composed ever since

*Indi pop
It is basically the Indian version of the western pop music. There are number of young artists who sign up with music companies to cut an album of pop songs in Hindi and other regional languages.















Indian Modern Music is also the result of the shedding cultural and custom barriers in terms of sharing the finer aspects of life present in music, culture and literature of various countries. The western influence with the coming up of discos and much of the modern lifestyle that has been inherited by the people for the job scenario and practice of mixed culture has played a vital role in the coming up of the Modern Indian Music.

Modern Indian Music with all its prominence and presence surely gives a sense of joy, excitement and enjoyment. But at the same time care should be taken of the fact that the culmination of the west and the east should not uproot the rich treasure of the eastern traditional classical music. The eastern classical music in its purity definitely deserves an equal or a larger share of interest but with the choice of the present generation leaning towards a bit more jazzy and flashy kind of a music, which is truly found in the composition of Modern Indian Music.

Music in modern India has a huge variation that is created keeping in mind the preferences of the new generation. To create a subtle difference in tunes and mood, the blend of tunes and faster beats are added. Sometimes, fusion is created with blending Indian classical music with western music. Keeping pace with the modern world, Indi pop music is also created. This type of music is created with the amalgamation of Indian and western pop music.

Music in modern India imbibes not only the western influence but in some cases the traditional Indian music are presented in the veil of modernity. Sometimes, `raga` and `taal` which are the most important parts of Indian music are removed from the latest compositions to make the music fit to the modern trend. The tunes, usage of some western musical instruments, words and the trend tend to create a new type of music though the replica of western and Indian fusion is always extant in them. A.R Rahman is one of the famous music composer in India who has given a lot of contribution to the Indian music.

Modern Indian Literature

The Indian literary tradition is primarily one of verse and is also essentially oral. The earliest works were composed to be sung or recited and were so transmitted for many generations before being written down. As a result, the earliest records of a text may be later by several centuries than the conjectured date of its composition. Furthermore, perhaps because so much Indian literature is either religious or a reworking of familiar stories from the Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the mythological writings known as Puranas, the authors often remain anonymous. Biographical details of the lives of most of the earlier Indian writers exist only in much later stories and legends.

In every branch or various sections of literature- be it fiction, drama, biography, poetry, drama, novels, short stories, literary criticism, Indian literature has a tremendous variety to offer. Nearly every major Indian language has a rich tradition of literature. Tales from the Puranas, the Jatakas and the Panchatantra folk tales, fairy tales and ghost stories have made India a vast storehouse of literature. Non-Literary work on a variety of themes like law, health, astronomy, grammar, administration also form a part of the Indian literary heritage. India has given birth to it's own distinct set of littérateurs and literature.

The earlier forms of Indian literature was religious. They include the Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Aryankas, the Upanishads, the Sanskrit Epics- Ramayana and Mahabharatha, the Brahmashastras, the mythological writings known as Puranas. The literature of this period are in Sanskrit Pali Prakrit. Sanskrit literature has a special place in our civilization. It extended from about 1400 BC to AD 1200 and reached its height in the period from the 1st to the 7th centuries AD. The two major epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha, Abhigyanashakuntalam, Meghadutam by Kalidasa, are the best examples. Later in the 14th century, Kabir Das, Surdas and Tulasidas, a poet of the common people were popular. Tulasidas's 'Rama-charita-manas' (1575) is considered as an immortal classic by all Hindus.

In the second half of the 16th century, books in Tamil and other Dravidian languages began to be printed. Many foreign missionaries learnt the languages of the people. They not only translated the Bible and wrote Christian Puranas but also rendered considerable service to the languages by compiling the first modern grammars and dictionaries. Although the printing-press came to south India much earlier and the foreign missionary enterprise functioned much longer and more zealously than in Bengal, the impact of Western learning as such was comparatively slow and the resurgence of literary activity bore fruit in its modern form much later than in Bengal.

It is interesting to note that Tamil Literature is supposed to be the least sanskritised among all Indian languages because, it had a classical tradition of its own. Urdu and Sindhi are other exceptions, having arisen out of an Islamic background. Mirza Ghalib's couplets, written around mid-19th century, Ghazals written by Amir Khusro etc are popular even today.

The establishment of Hindu College in 1817 and the replacing of Persian by English as the language of the law and the increasing use of Bengali were other landmarks which encouraged the introduction of modern education and the development of the language of the people. It was, Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) who laid the real foundation of modern Bengali prose. The form which he gave to Bengali prose revealed its rich potentiality in the hands of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891) and Akshay Kumar Datta (1820-1886), both of whom were primarily social reformers and educationists. Because they were men of serious purpose who had much to say, they had little use for the flamboyance and rhetoric natural to a language derived from Sanskrit, and they chiselled a prose that was both chaste and vigorous.

The era of Indian modern literature began in the late nineteenth century. With the establishment of vernacular schools and the importation of the printing press, a great impetus was given to popular prose, with Bengali writers perhaps taking the lead. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, Rabindranath Tagore, Premchand etc rank among the world's best literary figures. Tagore's own translation of 'Gitanjali' into English brought him international fame when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913. His 'Gora' is considered to be a very outstanding novel in Indian literature.

The modern Indian literature is the representation of each aspect of modern life. Happily, despite this clamour of sophistry, patriotic piety, and political bias, good literature continues to be written and, as it justifies itself, it helps to sharpen the reader’s sensibility. Since the time of Tagore a growing minority of intelligent critics well versed in the literary traditions of their own country and of the West have bravely maintained a more wholesome approach that is neither overwhelmed by the burden of the past nor overawed by the glamour of the latest fashion. This healthy trend of the modern Indian literature should gain in strength with a growing realization that, in the republic of letters as in that of men, a sensitive and well-trained critical apparatus and its judicious and fearless exercise are a prerequisite of happy results.

Modern Indian Clothes

The modern Indian clothing is a blend of traditional and western culture. While shirts paired up with trousers or jeans are worn by majority of the Indian men, women in India are found to prefer salwar kameez, sarees and kurtis for clothes. Besides, Indian women also wear western outfits like shirts or tops paired with skirts, jeans, or trousers and other western dresses.

Modern Indian Clothes today are worn by the present generation and stands much as a result of the influence of the western culture on to the Indian culture and thus the emergence of the modern Indian culture. Today, men and women of the modern India have not stick to the traditional wear and specific of a certain region or state. The population of India has gone to the extent of experimenting with their wardrobe where much of a culmination of the western and the eastern has been observed. The Modern clothing in India comprises of American and European style of dressing mixed with the traditional trend.

¤ Dresses for Women
The traditional style of clothing in India varies with male or female distinctions. This is still followed in the rural areas, though is changing in the urban areas. Girls before puberty wear a long skirt (called langa/paawada in Andhra) and a short blouse, called a choli, on top of it. Teenage girls wear half-sarees, a three piece set comprising of a langa, a choli and a stole wrapped over it like a saree. Women usually wear full sarees.

Indian Sari
Sari is the national dress for Indian women. It is one of the most wonderful dresses worn by Indian women. In fact, when one thinks of a typical Indian woman, the first thing that strikes the mind is a woman clad in sari, who is wearing the solah shringar including bindi, chudi, kajal etc. Women of today's India wears it with a difference in the approach as in the use of the blouse or choli, as it is said. A halter neck blouse or a shoulder off is quite frequently worn by the Indian women for parties and glitzy get-together.

Indian Salwar Kameez
Salwar kameez is the traditional Indian clothing for women. Due to its high popularity in the region of Punjab, shalwar kameez is commonly referred to as Punjabi suit. The fashion of Shalwar Kameez in India is not new. Since the past many few centuries, women have been wearing this wonderful attire. Today, women wear salwar-kameez with a difference which comes in with the material it is made up of, the cuts and the neck line have set a line of experimentation among the women of India. Needless to mention, the women of India even go for western formal trousers and shirts, formal skirts.
















¤ Dresses for Men
For men, dhoti, as is the traditional wear has been replaced by western outfits like trouser and shirts of various styles, shapes and cuts. Coat, Blazer, ties, trouser and a shirt is often considered a perfect formal outfit, though none of these has its legacy in the traditional eastern wear.

Dhoti
Dhoti kurta is the traditional Indian clothing of men. Unlike other dresses, it is an unstitched piece of cloth usually 5 yards long that is tied around the waist and legs. The knot is tied at the waist. Dhoti is known by different names at different places such as Laacha in Punjabi, dhuti in Bangla.

Kurta
Kurta is a term used to refer to a long loose shirt, the length of which falls below or may be just above the knees of the wearer. In the olden times, it was primarily worn by men, but today, it has become a unisex dress that both men and women can wear.

Sherwani
Sherwani is a long coat resembling achkan in styling. It is buttoned up to the collar and lengthwise it is usually below the knee. It adds to the charm and grace of men, especially the taller ones. Indian men spend lavishly on buying the sherwani suit for the special occasion of their wedding.

Turban
In India, one can spot many men wearing turban. Well, turban is tied not for the sake of fashion, but because it has a lot of significance in the lives of Indians. The hair turban is a headdress that basically consists of a long piece of unstitched cloth, which is wrapped around the head.

¤ Informal Wear
When it comes to informal wear, the men and women alike are much fond of wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Capris, cargoes are often worn by girls and boys of India, when it comes to a light dressing. As it is observed, the informal dresses really don?t have any barriers and specificity for men and women. Same dresses can be worn by both mean and women only with a difference in the cut and the fit.

Many aspects of Western fashion have become common among Indian men, particularly in the professional community. Horizontal stripes and plaids are common on casual business shirts, particularly among Punjabs and Indians in North America. Owing to growth of women empowerment and influence of western culture, nowadays most of the teen and adult girls in cities wear low hip jeans, low neck tops, tight jean trouser with salwar, half trousers, sleeve less T shirts etc. Women who hail from rural villages usually wear frocks and half sarees; boys normally wear a shirt and pants, whether formally or casually.

The modern Indian clothing have been influenced by the nature of work, place and the present scenario where men and women stands on an equal pedestal and proves their identity not by dresses but their approach and outlook towards life.

Modern Indian Food

Modern Era in Indian Food emerged between the years 1800 - 1947 AD. This was the period of the British rule in India and English cuisine influenced Indian food a lot. The British preferred the elaborate way of eating style of India and developed the taste of "curry" as well as the concept of simple spice. This period resulted in the emergence of the Anglo-Indian cuisine. The post-independence period changed Indian eating style a lot. Sub-continental cuisine developed as Indian land mass was divided into several countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Thus the cooking style of India indicated a fusion of the west and the east. Modern Era in Indian Food has introduced spectacular palette of foods. India`s richness is reflected in culture and resources. The culinary perspective has been developing gradually. Thus Indian cuisine gained popularity across the globe. Both vegetarian and non vegetarian food of India is served at the restaurants all over the world.

Today Indian cuisines are no more limited to the traditional Indian cuisines. The influence of westernization is prominent in the modern Indian platter as well. Food items like breads, pastas, noodles, cakes, pizzas and others such foods which were once unknown to this section of world, features prominently in the Indian kitchens today. The modern Indian cuisines pack in the traditional cuisines of India as well cuisines from other parts of the world. Over the years, newer and newer methods of cooking from different parts of the world have influenced the Indian cuisine. Vegetables like broccoli and bell pepper and fruits like cherries and strawberries which were unheard of in the ancient Indian kitchens are very much used today in Indian preparations.















Modern Era in Indian Food includes food such as Chicken tikka masala, Butter Chicken or Murgh Makhani are some of the popular dish in Western countries and Arab world. Indian cuisine is popular in South East Asia and as well strongly influenced by the region local cuisines. Malaysian cooking styles have influenced the Indian style of cooking. During the 19-century, Malay food created a major charm on the Indian food. Other cuisines that had created influences on the Indian culinary include: Vietnamese cuisine, Indonesian cuisine and Thai cuisine.

The cuisine of India is recognised worldwide for the subtle use of spices and the country also uses various vegetables to add taste to the dish. India had been practising vegetarianism since the commencement of different religions and has achieved newer heights in the Indian Society. Modern Era in Indian Food was mainly of varied cuisines, a wide assortment of dishes and different cooking techniques. In modern times, Indian cuisine varies from region to region and reflects the ethnicity of the diverse Indian subcontinent.

India is a country which mingles with other culture very easily. Modern Era in Indian Food includes an assortment of different cooking style, influenced by various traditions and culture. Every state has its own style of cooking and most have their own recipes. In addition to that the Indian Food in the modern era unifies all dishes and is presented with characteristic fragrance and flavor.

Modern Indian Architecture

About Modern Indian Architecture, focus has to be equally thrown on the style of Indian Architecture that has existed since long and stand as a reflection to the grandeur, culture and brilliance that the country possesses. Indian Architecture has been influenced by several rulers and time that the country has gone through. The Mughal Architecture, the Colonial Architecture that the country has been a witness to is something to be seen and be proud of. These architectural expertise and brilliance exuded in the buildings stands perfect and as example to the modern world.

Architecture traditionally, i.e, before the arrival of British on the Indian soil, was from the social point of view, a creation of spectacular sculptural forms hewn out of stone. Architectural material was stone; tools, chisel and hammer, and the aim was glorification. In contrast, the every-day needs of a common man were ruthlessly neglected. Then the British arrived on the scene, it was through them that the first introduction to elementary modern building construction and planning was introduced into India.

Their aim, however, was to house their organisations, and their people and whatever was necessary to control an empire as big as India. It was no intention of the British to educate Indians in the art and science of architecture. Consequently Indian minds, during the British reign, were completely out of touch with the progressive thinking taking place in the rest of the world. The most significant architectural phenomenon that took place during the first half of this century in this country was building of Imperial Delhi.












After the British left India in 1947, Indian architecture dropped into an abyss. Indian architects, who were relegated to the role of being assistants to the British architects under the British Raj, took their own time to express their ingenuity. Perhaps, there was an identity crisis, a dilemma whether to bask in the glory of the past or move forward with times using new ideas, images and techniques. While in other fields like art, music and culture, the distinct Indian imprint was more enhanced in the post-Independence period; no such thing was discernible in the case of architecture. It is no doubt that the Indian architects were unable to achieve a transformative architecture despite the existence of great potential at the time of Indian Independence.

The post-Independence period saw the emergence of two schools of thought in architecture. These are:

* Revivalist
The Revivalists, who advocated "continuity with the past", could not break the shackles of the colonial legacy and left no significant impact on the neo-Indian architecture.

* Modernist
The Modernists too depended heavily on the European and American models and tried to adopt them in India without taking into consideration the regional aspirations, diversities and requirements.

The contemporary Indian architecture was also beset with problems like population explosion, lack of vision among the planners, lack of support from the government and a less than satisfactory standard of architecture education. The result was that during the initial years after the Independence, foreign architects continued to play a leading role in Indian architecture.

Indian Architecture has definitely taken a new turn, away from the huge appeal of the buildings that have been built in the past, the royal look, the grand appearance and the sprawling acres around the concrete is definitely out of the scene. The Modern Indian Architecture can be sited from the grand buildings that have come up in the metros with the international brand of corporate companies coming in. Big corporate houses have set their offices in many of the metropolitan cities of India like Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad and many other cities. These offices can be well held as an example of Modern Indian architecture. Some of the hotels that have been built recently also stand as an example to the modern architecture.

Modern Indian architecture is being planned in a way by keeping in mind the availability of land and the population growth. Modern Indian Architecture stands more on the storeys than on acres unlike the colonial or ancient Indian architecture. Modern Indian Architecture is well reflected from the architectural style exuded in the city of Chandigarh, the way the city has been built and the design of the city stands as a great example of the Indian Modern architecture.

Interesting thing to notice in the Modern Architectural style followed in India is that while moving on for the modern and away from the tradition, the building patterns are being done actually in a more traditional way by following the "Vaastushastra". So, in a way, it can be said that the Modern architecture in India is actually tracing back the path of architectural brilliance followed in the past with some changes brought in as per the demand of the time and situation".

Modern Indian Culture

In this 21st century, modern Indian culture is a huge melting pot of time honored tradition and new age technology, money and western influence. Modern business women carry mobile phones down the street next to old women in colourful saries carrying buckets of water on their heads, flash cars parked next to slums and a whole host of juxtapositions that are enough to give you a headache! However strange this might sound the contrasting life styles blend together with real beauty.

The age old caste (class) system in India is dying out slowly but remnants remain although mainly in rural areas. Over the years it has been a main reason for disgusting cruelty, genocide and corruption. It's a hugely complex part of Indian culture and society but can be broken down into about five levels. At the top are the Brahmins or the holy men and land owners down to the Dalits or the 'untouchables' as they were known. It seems that within each caste there are subclasses, people who performed different tasks in the community ie. tanners were the lowest of the low and cobblers etc.

The culture of modern India has evolved many folds since the ancient ages. The history of India has played a significant role in shaping up the Indian culture. In the historical past, India has been invaded several times and this brought in a mix of cultures. The other factors that contributed towards shaping the culture of India are its unique geography and different religions. The modern Indian culture is a much evolved version of the ancient cultures in India. Also, the modern Indian culture has been profoundly influenced by the west.

Post independence, the culture of India began to evolve further to what we call the modern India culture. This can be seen clearly in its architecture, performing arts, food, clothing, and festivals. At present, India is experiencing spectacular economic growth that has positioned the nation as an emerging power on an international scale. Economic reforms have flooded the country with consumer goods and prompted the emergence of a thriving middle class. In the field of computer technology, India has become a world leader in the development of software although, despite such significant progress, unemployment and poverty still exist, as does the threat of the country's nuclear arms.

Ancient Indian Theatre

Theatre is one of the integral component of the Indian culture. The rich culture of India has further gained that articulate dimension amidst the artistry of Indian theater and drama. Theater in India is as old as the culture of India and quite ideally therefore the deep-rooted relation between Indian tradition and Indian drama has given birth to a number of eminent personalities in Indian theater. India therefore boasts its glorious association with all the well known theater personalities who has further reshaped and redefined the age old ethnicity of India in the most coherent way.

The origin of the Indian theatre or rather folk theatre and dramatics can be traced to religious ritualism of the Vedic Aryans. This folk theatre of the misty past was mixed with dance, ritualism, plus a depiction of events from daily life. It was the last element which made it the origin of the classical theatre of later times. Many historians, notably D.D. Kosambi, Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya, Adya Rangacharaya, etc. have referred to the prevalence of ritualism amongst Aryan tribes in which some members of the tribe acted as if they were wild animals and some others were the hunters.

The history of ancient Indian theatre dates back to the Vedic age. Theatre in its rudiment form in ancient India was very popular with the Vedic people. It is believed that the theatrical culture in India originated in the times of Rig Veda. Themes regarding wild animals and hunters played the most pivotal role in the ancient Indian theatres. However, the ingredients for theatre were there already in India steeped in folklores, myths, tradition and legends written in umpteen languages as India is always the land of stories. However, the main idea and storyline of the ancient Indian theatres used to be the depiction of events of everyday life, dance and food. Ritualism made a great impact in the presentation of ancient Indian theatre and indeed paved the way of a rather classical presentation of Indian theatre.

The copious saga of Indian drama holds the fact that it is in the ancient age of the Vedic era the contour of Indian drama was delineated for the very first time. One of the eminent personality in Indian theater of the ancient age was "Bharat Muni". He was the author of the "Natya Shastra" which is still reckoned as the well accepted doctrine on Indian drama. In Natya Shastra for the very first time "Bharat Muni" prefaced the term "Roopaka" - the interpretation and depiction of the realisms of life in a rather subtle way. That was just the beginning of the concept of Indian drama which later witnessed a lot of alteration and modification in accord to the demand of Indin society. No matter show much it has been altered yet the richness of Indian theater that was prevalent even in that era of the ancient age. The beginning of theater in ancient India has been graded as the result of the religious ritualism of the Vedic Era and the personalities in Indian Theatre like the "Bharata", "Ashwaghosha" and "Kalidasa" carried Indian theater to the next level of maturity.

¤ Bharata
Bharata Muni was an age old Indian writer and was one of the towering personalities in Indian theater. His creation "Natya Shastra" which is stil regarded as the proniciple of Indian drama has actually redefined the very artistry of Indian art form during that era. In the thirty six chapters of his encyclopaedic works Bharata classified Sanskrit theatrical forms while adding a novel meaning to the terms like "Natya" and "Roopaka". Bharata is considred as the father of Indian theatrical art forms and was the first to structure a particular system of thought in Indian theater.

Bharatamuni goes on to tell us that the original Natyashastra of Brahma was too unwieldy and obscure to be of any practical use. Hence, Bharatamuni, himself took up the task of making Natyashastra simple, intelligible and interesting. Bharatamuni also specifies where and how a play is to be performed. In ancient India plays were generally performed either in temple-yard or within palace precincts. During public performances, plays were generally performed in the open. For such public performances, Bharatamuni has advocated the construction of a mandapa. According to the Natyashastra in the construction of a mandapa, pillars must be set up in four corners. With the help of these pillars a platform is built of wooden planks. The area of the mandapa is divided into two parts. The front part, which is the back stage is called the r angashrishu. Behind the ranga-shirsha is what was called the nepathya-griha, where the characters dress up before entering the stage.

Bharatamuni has also specified that every play should have a Sutradhara which literally means 'holder of a string'. The Sutradhara was like the producer-director of today. Every play had to begin with an innovation of God. This invocation was called the poorvaranga. Even today, plays in Indian languages begin with a devotional song called Naandi. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata can be called the first recognized plays that originated in India.

¤ Kaslidasa
The method which was introduced by Bharata Muni in regard to Indian drama and theater was further nurtured by Kalidasa who was indeed one of the great personalities in Indian theater. The eminent Sanskrit poet was an ardent worshipper of Shiva and quite ideally therefore most of his writings, plays, dramas and poetrys reflect that deep fervor of Hindu mythology and philosophy. In the ancient age Indian theater was mainly laced with the heroic deeds of the celestial characters and Gods and Goddesses and Kalidasa ideally echoed this very concept amidst his literary works. Malavikagnimitram, AbhijananShakuntalam, Kumarsambhavam and Vikramorvasiyam are some of his well accepted plays which for the first time added that fanciful beauty, humor and poetic dimension to Indian theater. It is in the hands of Kalidasa the "Nine Rasas" of life gained an eloquent utterance which further aided Indian theater to stand apart with pride even in that ancient era.

Kalidasa was the court playwright at the Gupta court. He lived at Ujjaini, the capital of the Guptas and was for some days the Gupta ambassador at the court of the Vakatakas at Amaravati where he wrote the play Meghadutam.

¤ Ashwaghosha
Not only as a great Sanskrit poet Ashwaghosha was also a renowned philosopher who for the first time blended the charming essence of Buddhist philosophy in the Indian theater in his own stylized way. Ashwaghosh`s three classic works "The Buddha Charita", "Soundarananda" and the "Shariputra" are not only the examples of his creativity, scientific and rational approach and his interpreting mind but these works also helped in redefining the cultural artistry of Indian drama.

Theater in ancient India was thus an elegant and religious form of expression. Although started as a crude narrative art form, theater in ancient India gradually incorporated song, mime, dance and natya coupled with the artistic gifts from the great personalities in Indian theater to illustrate the elegiac diction into Indian Natya.

Ancient Indian Dance

The heritage of dancing in India is at least 5000 years old. Since prehistoric times dance had been a mode of expression. Through ages, dance has been used as a vehicle of worship and manifestation. Dance has been an indispensable element of the ancient Indian society. Hindu mythologies associate many deities with this art form. Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna were considered to have expressed their joy, ecstasy as well as their rage through dancing. The Nataraja embodiment of Lord Shiva has exclusive effect on Indian dance and the Rasa Lila of Lord Krishna has developed as a dance form in contemporary times. All the aesthetic aspect of this art form is dealt in details in the oldest text, Natyashastra authored by Bharata Muni. Dance in Ancient India developed out of religious themes and most dance forms had rich mythological lore as their content.

Various historical proofs reveal the charisma of Dance in ancient India. The archaeological evidences from Mohenjodaro establish the fact that dances originated in the country since the early Indus valley civilisations in the 2nd Century B.C. The findings of a dancing girl figurine from the Mohenjodaro ruins display the talents of the people and their appreciation for this art form. The Vedic period also witnessed expansion of the dance and music which were the favourite pastimes of the Aryans. Furthermore, the group dancing sequences represented in the rock paintings of Bhimbhetka caves of Madhya Pradesh is again an evidence of continuation of dance in Madhaya Pradesh during the ancient times. The sculptures of the dancing figures in Khajuraho and in the temple walls of Hoysala dynasty provide evidences of popularity of Indian dances in ancient times.

Dance in ancient India was augmented by the Devadasis. The Devadasis or the temple dancers danced in the temples to offer gratitude to the gods. This form of dancing in the sanctum of the temple progressed with due course of time. The temple dancers led an ascetic life in order to perform sacred dances in front of the Gods and Goddesses. However, alongside the temple dancers, several dancing girls also performed in the princely courts. The dancing girls were invited by the local kings and they had to perform in various joyous occasions of the kingdom. Thus dance was appreciated as a medium of entertainment by the kings and courtyards in India. The Gupta period was the golden period for culture, art and literature. In that period, dance was given suitable acknowledgment and various dancers had the opportunity of showcasing their talents.

The origin of classical dance in India goes back to 2BC when the ancient treatise on dance, Natya Shastra, was compiled. Dance in India is guided by the elaborate codes in the Natya Shastra and by mythology, legend and classical literature. Both classical and fold form of dances are performed in India. Classical dance forms have rigid rules for presentation. Among the leading forms of classical dance are Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Mohini Attam. Bharatnatyam, originating in Tamil Nadu, has movements of pure rhythm, rendering a story dramatically in different moods. Kathakali, the dance drama from Kerala, requires the artist to wear an elaborate mask. The principal classical dance of north India, Kathak, originated as a religious performance but later developed as a court dance under the Moghuls. The lyrical style of dance, Manipuri, comes from the eastern State of Manipur. It described the games of Krishna and the "Gopis". Odissi was once a temple dance in Orissa. Kuchipudi, the dance-drama from Andhra Pradesh, is based on themes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. In addition, there are numerous forms of folk and tribal dance in India.

The Charkul dance-drama of Central India revolves around a story generally from the Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Similar traditions of dance-dramas are prevalent in other parts of India too. In Maharashtra, you have the Dashavatara, in Karnataka you have the Yakshagana The Kathak dance of North India and the ktha*ali dance of Kerala also originated as dance dramas and derive their names from the Sanskrit work 'Katha' which means a story.

The integration of Indian classical dance with the physical exercises of Yoga and the breath control of "Pranayam" has perfected the dance styles. Yoga especially had given the dance styles an excellent footwork which is called Padanyasa and Padalalitya. Another feature of these dance styles is that they are integrated with theology and worship.

Traditionally these dances were patronized by the temples. During festivals and other religious occasions, these dances were performed in the temple premises to propitiate the deity. Thus the dance came to combine both art and worship. Even today every recital of any Indian classical dance begins with an invocation to Nataraja or Nateshwara the god of dance.

In Indian folklore and legend, the God of Dance is himself shown to be dancing in a form called the Tandava. This has also been depicted in the statues and carvings in temples like, Khajuraho and Konark in Northern India, and at Chidambaram, Madurai, Rameshwaram, etc. in the South.

Indian dances have also evolved styles based on the Tandava like the Urdhra Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, etc. Indian classical dance found its way outside India, especially to the countries of Southeast Asia. The dance styles of Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, etc., have so heavily borrowed from the Indian classical dance traditions that to a casual observer there would seem to be hardly any difference between the two. While Western dance has not directly borrowed anything from Indian classical dance, it has borrowed from Indian folk dance through the medium of the Gypsies.

Ancient Indian Music

The ancient Indians believed in the divine origin of music. The purest form of sound was considered equal to cosmic energy. As a result, music and religion were always closely intertwined. Classical music tradition was probably evolved from the religious poems and chants of the Vedic period. It was later codified by Bharata Muni. Indian music has developed through very complex interactions between different peoples of different races and cultures over several thousand years.

Music has remained an integral part of the Indian culture since antiquity. Musical instruments like the sarod, sarangi, tabla and sitar which are very popular in the world of music today had also been a part of the ancient Indian music. Gazals, khayal, tala, gharana and raga are the musical genres of the Indian classical music. In ancient India, music used to be a part of the famous Sanskrit dramas like Mirchakatika and Abhijnana Shakuntalam. The origin of the ancient Indian music began in the age of the Aryans, with the chanting of the Vedas. It was seen as an excellent means for realization of god. Music was considered as a source of culture and civilization.It was an integral aspect of Sanskrit dramas like Abhijnana Shakuntalam,Mirchakatika.The fourth act of Vikramoryasiya by Kalidasa used different musical compositions like aksiptika, dvipadika, jambhalika, khandadhara, carcarj, khandaka, etc.Music originated from chanting of Vedas from the Aryan age.'Nada' the source of sound turned into Chandas. The priests chanted hymns in a musical tone with the pronunciation according to the tune.Vocalising syllables called Sthobhaksaras were added. Melody and rhythm created the music. Priests used to perform group chanting at the sacrifices. There are many legends about the origin of music.

¤ History of Indian Music
History of music in India needs to be traced through literary works of the period. As earlier said, chanting of the Vedas in Aryan age brought the concept of music in ancient Indian culture. The hymns chanted by the priests in the temples followed a musical tone. The priests also pronounced the Sanskrit vocalizing syllables in their chants. These were called Sthobhaksaras. The music was finally created with the rhythm and melody. References of the ancient Indian music can be found in the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, epics and Srimad Bhagavata Gita.

There are several references to vocal music in Vedas, Upanishads, Srimad Bhagavata, the Puranas and the epics. Sam Veda as a source of music was meant to be sung. There was large number of tunes or Samans which came to be used extensively. These addressed different elements of nature like the cloud, seasons, tree, plant and the animals etc.Gandharva Veda was the aspect of main Vedas which dealt especially with the science of music. According to Hindu mythology each god or goddess is associated with some kind of musical instrument. Goddess Sarasvati is seen with Veena in her hands. Lord Shiva is associated with damru, Lord Vishnu with conch; Lord Krishna is inseparable with flute and Narada with an ektara.There were many works on music written in later periods explaining various characteristics, types and techniques. But the theory of music as expounded in Gandharva Veda got lost.

Here is chronological sequence of the eras and the civilizations which had a gradual influence on the ancient Indian music and its evolution:

¤ 2500 BC - 1500 BC
* Several musical instruments, drums and statuettes representing dancing poses were found from the excavations at the Indus Valley Civilization.
* Statuette of Rudra who is worshipped as the deity of dance, music and drama was also found.

¤ 1500 BC - 500 BC
* The arrival of the Aryans marked the beginning of Vedic Literature. This was when priest chants, and poetries came into being. The contents of the Rigveda were mainly poems chanted by priests and passed onto generations.
* Then came the Yajurveda, Samaveda and the Atharvaveda. The vedic literature describes musical instruments and singings which were performed during sacrifices and as part of rituals for the God.
* Gradually Hindustani Art music came into being and instruments like veena, dundubhi, tunav, talav and bhoomi-dundubhi were also introduced.
* Drinking of Soma-ras or an intoxicating liquor believed to be sacred became a part of Vedic sacrifices.
* Then came the Shiksha literature where ritual and mantra became the basis of music.
* Then came the concept of Guru-Shishya Parampara which we also called the Gurukul system or the teacher pupil system.

¤ 500BC - 200BC
* Ramayana was composed by Valmiki during this time in shloka form which has rhythm and tempo.
* Pathya sangeet ? a special musical mode in Indian musicology was introduced.
* Mahabharata was composed by Krishnadvaipayana Vyasa and it contained 24000 shlokas. It had enough mention of gandharva or music in the form of musical instruments, dance and singing.
* Ancient Indian music also evolved in the Buddhist era where monks sang. Music was mentioned in the Jain literary sources.

¤ 200 BC - 300 AD
* Harivamsha was added to conclude Mahabharata. It contained 16,374 shlokas. It mentioned Chhalikya and Hallisaka. Chhalikya was a form of ancient Indian music and Hallisaka was a dance form.
* Natyashastra or theatre science was introduced.

¤ 300 AD - 600 AD
* The Gupta period considered the Golden Age of arts, culture and education in ancient India brought in the works of Kalidasa. He was a lyrical poet cum writer whose famous works like 'Raghuvamsha' and 'Shakuntala' are remember even in the modern days.
* Kamasutra was composed which had referred to various arts forms like singing, dancing playing musical instruments and living.
* Gupta king Harshavardhan was also a singer.
* Samaj, ghata-nibandhan and other forms of music came into being.
* Music was mentioned in Puranas like Vayupurana, Markandeyapurana and Vishnudharmottarapurana.
* Dattilam text was introduced which taught about ragas.

¤ 600 AD - 1200 AD
* Brihaddeshi text took ragas to a new dimension and sargam was introduced.
* Deshi music was introduced.
* Concept of Talas and tala-music was also brought into ancient Indian music.
* In the beginning of the 11th century Hindustani art music and underwent many transformation.
* Sufis introduced sufi music and Hindi and Farsi songs began to gain popularity.
* At the end of 12th century Persian music was introduced.

¤ 1200 AD - 1700 AD
* During the period of the Delhi Sultanate, Amir Khusro?s poetry became popular.
* Music forms like qawali, qalbana, qasida, naqsh and others were performed.
* Ragas like Zeelaph and sarparda were also performed.
* Sangeet Ratnakara text mentioned drums and rhythm-instruments.
* Turushka gaud and turushka todi Ragas were sung.
* Gwalior?s Raja Mansingh Tomar introduced Dhrupad which was genre of Hindustani Classical music
* Hindi songs replaced Sanskrit songs and songs like Vishnupadas, Dhrupads and Hori and Dhamar became popular.
* The 'Bhakti' cult became popular in North India in the 14th and 15th centuries and devotional songs were suung worshipping Rama and Krishna.
* Kabir and Tulsidas and Sri Chaitanya became popular with their devotional songs.
* Songs like Pushti, Ashtachap and Haveli sangeet.
* The Bhakti movement played a major role and was made more popular by Meerabai.
* The legendary musician Tansen brought a new genre of music in the history of Indian music which was called Senia gharana. His sons carried forward the legacy with Rabab-players gharana and the sitar-players gharana.
* In the Mughal period the main musical instrument were sarmandal, nay, tanpura, bin, and karma.
* In the sixteenth century court music became more popular and found mention in text books like Kitab-e-nauras, Jehangirnama and Ragadarpana.

¤ 1700 AD onwards

* This marked the beginning of modern music in India.
* Hindustani music began to be published in English and other regional languages.
* Musical forms like Khayal and thumri took birth.
* Bengali tappa was given a new genre.
* During this era musical stalwarts like Sourendramohan Tagore, Pandit Vishnu Narayana Bhatkhande V. D. Paluskar and Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar revolutionized the concept of Indian music.
* Music forms like Gharanas became popular in Gwalior, Patiala, Agra, Jaipur, Indore and other places.

¤ Ancient Indian Musical Instruments
With the evolution of Indian music, a number of musical instruments which were once popular in ancient India have now gone silent. Some of the ancient musical instruments in India are:

* Been (flute)
* Bhopung
* Khangling (flute used by Ladakhis)
* Bone flutes, scrapers, rattles and bull roarers (per-historic musical organs)
* Nag phani(flute)
* Yazh (harp)
* Kuzhal (flute)
* Maddalam (drum)
* Bana veena
* Eddaka (drums)
* Sangu (conch shell)
* Talam (cymbals)
* Ravan-hatti
* Dahara
* Pena
* Morchang (Rajasthani harp)
* Jhika (wooden clappers earlier used in Bengal)
* Ghuma (a typical Goanese drum)

Ancient Indian Literature

¤ History of Indian Literature

The number of officially recognized languages in India is 22 in number. This huge variety of languages has made a significant contribution in the ancient Indian literature. India was one of the first places in the world to start the writing system and this began in around the 2500 BC. This was the Harappan writing. After the invasion of the Aryans around 1500 BC, the system of writing by the Harappans was forgotten and for the next 1000 years no one in India had the knowledge of writing.

It was only around the 500 BC when people in India took to writing again and this marked one of the important episodes in the history of ancient Indian literature. It is believed that the Persians writing could have had some influence in the Indian writing at that time. However, the Persian script was not used and alphabetic writing was used. This writing was what we know as Sanskrit. Some of the notable ancient Indian literary works are:

* Vedas
* Ramayana and Mahabharata
* Vaastu Shastra
* Arthashastra
* Recognition of Shakuntala
* Raamcharitmaanas
* Sangam poetry
* Prabhrita and Chudaman

Ancient Indian literature signifies the earliest known and acknowledged form in Indian literary traditions, which manifests its very first traces through the system of oral transmittance, or by word of mouth. Even prior to the arrival of Aryans into India, the legendary Indus Valley Civilization possessed amongst them the custom of `gurukul` education. Gurukul essentially symbolised that a child during his boyhood was to leave his home and travel to his guru`s (teacher) place in the ashram, wherein he was to receive his absolute education, which was to be imparted orally. Such guru-shishya (relationship between a student and his teacher) educating fashion had paved way for the very first transmission of legends, stories, myths or facts, which further witnessed the gradual descending of these knowledge from generations to generations.

Indian literature is considered one of the oldest in the world. The Ancient Indian Literature dates back to the Vedic Age. The oldest literary work of India is the Rig Veda. It also happens to be the world's oldest literary work. The ancient literature is the crowning glory of the Indian civilization. No other part of the world has produced such voluminous literature of knowledge and wisdom. The Vedas are the most celebrated possessions of the mankind. The Rig Veda is the oldest literary work in the history of the world. The Vedas are the exquisite expressions of the Divinity. They are the first significant utterances on the lips of man.

The scriptures of ancient Indian literature are classified into two categories - The Shruti literature and The Smriti literature. Shruti literature concerns 'the revealed' or 'the heard' whereas the Smriti literature concerns 'the remembered.'

¤ Shruti Literature
The word shruti has been derived from a Sanskrit word 'shrut' which means 'to hear'. In the ancient times, the great sages used to do tapasya and sadhana and could 'hear' the divine truths. These divine truths were presented in the Vedas and Upanishads. The Vedas and Upanishads are a part of the Shruti literature. Shruti literature is inviolable and veritable.

Historians have also ascribed the word Shruti to the Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) system, where the disciple hears directly from the guru. On the other hand, some other explanations attribute Shruti to the revelation of truth through hearing, which is linked more closely to the sound of AUM (OM) being the utmost truth. Shruti are considered the principal text. Shruti has higher authority over any other document and Shruti constitutes the Vedas; Bhagavad Gita also is known as Shruti.

¤ Smriti Literature
Smriti literally stands for `remembered or memorised`. Based on Shruti literature, the Smriti literature incorporated in its texts the knowledge which was acquired through tradition or experience. The Manu-Smriti, shastras and several other smritis are a part of the Smriti literature. The Smriti literature mainly contains guidelines for moral obligations, ethics, customs and social codes. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are a part of the Smriti literature. Time and place can influence modifications in the Smriti literature.

Smriti is known to have been compiled over a great span of time, related to an assortment of subjects. Smriti though wields comparative lower authority, when associated with Shruti. If there comes about any contradiction between Shruti and Smriti, then Smriti needs to be discarded, while assuming Shruti as the authority. Smriti are divided into 6 basic categories: Dharmashastra, Itihasa, Purana, Sutra, Agama and Darsana.

Ancient Indian Clothes

India has a rich culture and tradition which is reflected in the clothing as well. Indian fashion has seen a metamorphosis since the ancient days. Although, the basics of Indian clothing are the same, we can find a lot of western influences and modern designs that have been incorporated into the basic structure of any Indian outfit. So, what was ancient Indian fashion actually like? It was the time when there were no designers displaying their haute couture to pamper a luxurious line of clientele. Ancient India had its own kind of customs and traditions that were to be followed by generations and we can see its presence felt even today.

Indian fashion has witnessed a great modification since the ancient period. The basics of Indian clothing remaining same, great western influences are seen in modern Indian dress designs. As far as the Ancient Indian clothes and accessories are concerned, dresses were not stitched together. Cotton clothes were mostly preferred. But affluent people also used silk clothing materials.

Cotton clothing was predominantly used in India during the olden days. This was as early as the Harappan civilization. Ancient india clothing was mainly cloth tied around various parts of the body. Even though needles are said to have existed not much use was made of it in ancient Indian clothing. From the Sari to the turban and the dhoti, ancient India clothes were mostly wrapped around in various ways. The sari was worn with a breast-band tied with a knot at the back. Even children just wore a piece of cloth tied around the waist with strings. Both men and women wore ornaments. Early ornaments were mostly made of terracotta beads or shells strung together till metals came on the scene. Jewelry like necklaces, bangles and earrings etc were common.

¤ Ancient Indian Clothes and Accessories for Women
The women of ancient India mostly preferred sari. Both cotton and silk saris were in use. Saris were usually 5 to 9 yards in length. The women wore sari as a skirt with its upper portion around the shoulder. At times, sari was also tucked between the legs. This pattern of wearing sari has remained the same till date. Wearing of blouses with sari were also common in ancient India. The blouses were just fastened with a knot at the back. The Persian influences introduced the fashion of wearing Salwar Kameez came into existence. The women of ancient India also loved to wear a variety of accessories. Ancient India often associated Gold with luck. Thus, wearing of gold jewelry was very common in the ancient days.

¤ Ancient Indian Clothes and Accessories for Men
In Ancient India, men were comfortable in dhotis and kurtas. White dhotis were mostly preferred. They wrapped the dhoti (DOE-tee) around their legs to make sort of pants like the working women. Dhotis though were shorter so they didn’t have the part that covered the chest and shoulders. Men also often wore long cotton cloths wrapped around their heads as turbans.