INDIA

BY: EVA

Welcome India is it’s own subcontinent apart from Asia, and it has the

2nd largest population in the world! Some famous tourist attractions are the Bodh Gaya and the Taj Mahal. India is the seventh largest country in the world and it has the worlds largest democracy.

The Indian subcontinent is split into 2 major parts - India and Pakistan. The capital of India is New Delhi. Did you now that India is only one third the size of the U.S. but it has 10 times the population!!

In India music, art ,and dance is very popular. In India there are about 47,000 types of plants and at least 89,000 species of animals.

Map with Key

Government The type of government India has is a federal republic.

Since Great Britain ruled over India for almost 180 years India’s government is similar England’s in some ways. Like the U.S., India has 3 branches of government- the legislative, the executive and the judicial branches. The executive branch includes the president, the prime minister and the council of ministers. The legislative branch includes the council of states and the house of the people. The judicial branch includes the supreme court, the high courts and the lower courts.

India is split into 28 states. Each state has its chief minister and legislature.

SchoolIn India the school day starts at 8:00am and ends at 3:00pm. Young students go home after lunch but older students stay for classes until 3:00pm. In some classes students sit at desks shared with another student. In other classes students sit on mats on the floor. At school Indians study English, Math, History, and Geography. Indians go to grade school from age 6 to 10. When Indians turn 11 they leave grade school and go to middle school. The Indian law says that students have to finish middle school before moving on. Many Indian students choose to attend secondary school after middle school. If Indians do well in middle and secondary school, they can choose to attend one of India’s fine colleges.

Many Indians work as traders. They grow crops and make things then sell them to different countries. They don’t just sell them for money they also trade for other useful items.

India is also becoming known for it’s scientists. Indian scientists are making new discoveries in medicine, cars, electronics and a lot more every day!!!

Work

From 1757 to 1946 Britain ruled over India. In the 1900s Indians wanted independence from Britain. Mohandas Gandhi started to lead non-violent protests to gain independence from Britain. After many years of protests India gained independence in 1947. Then the Indian sub-continent became 2 countries - India and Pakistan. Later, East Pakistan became Bangladesh.

Many woman and girls in India wear saris which are long colorful dresses made of silk. Also many Indian woman wear a round dot on their forehead called a bindi. If you wear a bindi it means that you are married. Sometimes Indian girls have them to wear as decoration.

History/Culture

Many boys and men in India wear dhotis. A dhoti is a long white strip of cotton that passes between their legs and wraps around their upper legs and waist. Turbans are also worn by men and boys in India. Turbans are long pieces of cotton that wrap around the man or boys head.

History/culture continued

WeddingsWeddings are very important occasions in India. In Muslim

and Hindu families the night before the wedding the brides’ sisters paint beautiful designs on the bride’s hands and feet. When the bride washes up the next morning the designs turn from black to red, a lucky color in India. On the day of the wedding the bride wears a beautiful, long, red sari embroidered with gold and wears lots of gold jewelry. The man just wears a tuxedo and a turban.

Food In India spicy food is very popular. Curry is the

most popular flavoring in India. Many Indians dine on fruits, vegetables, and rice because they are vegetarians - they do not eat meat. Sometimes rice is the whole meal in India. Tea is also very common. Chai tea is the most common type of tea. Sometimes a drink called Lassai is served with the meal. Lassai is a mixture of water and flavored or plain yogurt.

India’s national holiday is Republic Day on January 26th. In India Holi is a very important holiday to the Hindu religion. Holi means ”festival of color”. Colorful water and sand is poured over many people. Diwali is also an important holiday. Diwali means ”festival of lights.” Indians celebrate Diwali by hanging lights everywhere. Colorful lights are even found on the streets, bikes , cars, and even animals!!!

Holidays

EconomicsNatural Resources/Products

Some of the major industries in India are coal, and iron ore. Some Indian factories make steel and iron. Some of the crops grown are rice , wheat,

sugar cane, coffee, corn and tobacco. India makes it’s own satellites, and fertilizer for their crops. India also produces clothing. India produces radios, T.V.s and computers in their own factories.

India also produces many motorized vehicles. Did you know India produces more tea and spices than any other country in the world. Indians mine for coal. Indians also make handicrafts which are basically pottery, silk, baskets, carpets, and metal.

TransportationIndia’s forms of transportation are motorcycles, bicycles, taxis , buses, and cars though few Indians own them. Also there is a train system that Indians use to travel across the country. The train system handles about 5,000 passengers per day. India has the largest train system in Asia. The Indian train system is very busy so if you don’t get a seat in the train you stand on a platform and hold on for the long or short train ride.

India’s “kabaddi” is the most popular sport in the country! In kabaddi 2 teams each take one side of a playing field. One person on each team runs to the other side and tags as many players as possible and then return to their sides without taking a breath. The runners prove that they do not take a breath by yelling,” Kabaddi , Kabaddi, Kabiddi!”over and over again while running.In India cricket is very popular. So is soccer, tennis, and field hockey which is played throughout India.

Entertainment

Flag

The first stripe colored orange symbolizes the nations courage. The middle stripe is white. In the center is India’s national symbol called Dharma Chakra which means truth and peaceful change. The last stripe is colored green representing the great fertility of India’s soil. India’s flag was made on July 22nd 1947.

Official name: Republic Of India Population:1,095,351,995 Languages: Hindi, English, Sanskrit and about 600-

700 other languages National holiday: Republic Day January 26th Square miles: 1.27 million Money: the Rupee Capital: New Delhi Religions: Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and many more Government: federal republic

Fact File

Fun FactsMany Indian houses are made out of clay, brick, palm,

bamboo and mud.Cricket is very popular in India India has many tropical forests India and Nepal are homes to the tallest mountains in the

world, the HimalayasMore movies are made in India in a year than any other

country in the world.The longest river in India is the Ganges riverCows, camels, and even monkeys roam the roads

English Hindi How you say itHello& goodbye Namaste NAH-MUH-STAYPlease Kripaya KRI-PAH-YAHThank you Dhanyavad DHAN-YAH-VADIndia Bharat BAH-ROTOne Ak EKTwo Do DOHThree Tin TEENMotherMata MAH-TAHFather Pita PIT-AHHow are you? Kya hal hai KEY-AH-HAHL-HI

Say it in… Hindi

Amazing Plants &AnimalsSome animals in India are Indian elephants, king fishers (birds), monkeys, apes , leopards, one-horned rhinos (which mostly live on the Deccan Plateau in the south), and snow leopards which are found near the Himalayas. Bengal Tigers are also found In India.

BibliographyBook Title/Website Name Author Year

India Enchantment of the World Don Nardo 2012

Welcome to India Patrick Ryan 2008

Q&A India Nathan Olsan 2005

Countries of the World India Michael Dhal 1998

First Reports India Sarah E De Capua 2003

Traditions From India Shelby Mamdani 1999

Culture Grams

World Book

Ducksters