South Indian Culture

South Indian Culture refers to the culture of South Indian states where people are fully steeped in their traditions and beliefs. South India is the area encompassing the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana as well as the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

Covering the southern part of the peninsular Deccan Plateau, South India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean in the south. In South Indian states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana), there is a beautiful gentle pace of life with some wonderful beach attractions.

There are several factors like South Indian food, classical music & dance, Kalaripayattu (ancient martial arts), and Ayurveda which work as a highlight for this region. Overall, this part of the country comprises amazing wildlife, forested valleys, mountains, and mind-blowing historical architecture. With the range of Hindu pilgrims, you can witness the point of Land’s End during your visit to Kanyakumari.

People

The people of South India are intelligent, cultured, and humble. People of south India are Hindu, the main spiritual traditions of South India include both Shaivite and Vaishnavite branches of Hinduism, although Buddhist and Jain philosophies had been influential several centuries earlier.

Christianity has flourished in Kerala, there is a large Muslim community in South India, particularly in the Malabar Coast, Madras and Cochin is home to one of the oldest Cochin Jews and Paradesi Jews.

Tradition

Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Pongal, Ugadi, Saraswathi Pooja, Vishu, etc are celebrated. South Indians are far more traditional than north Indians. Many festivals are called with different names in various regions but are the same, South India festivals are celebrated in Dakshinayana.

Gudi Padwa (or Ugaadi), Vishu, and Onam are given prominent importance. The South Indian Culture is essentially the celebration of the eternal universe through the celebration of the beauty of the body and motherhood.

Dressing

Traditionally south Indian women wear saree, the half- sari which is popular in rural south India is seldom seen in the north women. and women in the south wear gajras.

For men, it is lungi in south India esp in Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, South Indian men do not cover their upper body. Sometimes, in a formal situation, a piece of cloth may cover the upper body.

Food

Rice is the staple diet, while fish is an integral component of coastal South Indian meals. Coconut and spices are used extensively in all dishes, giving them a distinct aroma and flavor. The traditional way of eating a meal involves being seated on the floor, having the food served on a banana leaf.

Some of the popular dishes of South India are idli, sambhar, rasam, appam, Pongal, dosa. In the South, they will use mostly coconut oil. so it gives more flavor to the dishes of the North. But the carbohydrate and protein content of South Indian dishes is mostly due to the Idlis and Doshas that they eat!!.

Language

South Indian languages comprise one of the five Dravidian languages of Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Tulu.

Dance

Dances of South India includes Koodiyattam, Bharatanatyam, Oyilattam, Karakattam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Thirayattam, Theyyam, Bhuta Kola, Ottamthullal, Oppana, Kerala Natanam, Mohiniaattam and Yakshagana.

Carnatic music is famous in the south, and musical instruments like mridangam, gottuvadyam, violin, veena, and jalatarangam are favored in the south.

Suggested Read: North Indian Culture