Exploring Maori Culture of New Zealand

New Zealand's Māori culture is an integral part of Kiwi life and adds a unique, dynamic experience for visitors.New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture is accessible and engaging. Join in a haka, the war dance made famous by the All Blacks rugby team, or chow down at a traditional hangi (Maori feast cooked in the ground).

Traditionally Maori used the spoken word as their means of communication, this oral culture placed – and still places- a great emphasis on songs, stories, poems and legends: it is here Exploring Maori Culture recorded their history. Today Te Reo Maori, an official language of New Zealand, is spoken to varying degrees throughout the country; and many place names have retained, or returned, to their original Maori name. By learning a few basic rules of word formation and pronunciation, the language is fairly logical and consistent: give it a go.  

Rotorua Maori culture

Rotorua is the Heartland of Maori culture and the spirit and heritage of local Maori Culture enriches the region as surely as the geothermal activity enlivens it. Ngati Whakaue, the name of the local tribe, arrived in Aoteroa New Zealand, aboard the waka (canoe), Te Arawa. The people are often called Te Arawa, for the name of the mighty waka that brought Tamatekapua, the leader of the tribe, and his people to Ohinemutu on the bank of Lake Rotorua.

Maoritanga Maori Culture

Maori culture, integral to the identity of Aotearoa New Zealand, is a rich and diverse tapestry of art, craft, song, dance and story-telling. Ancestral methods and traditional arts are time honoured through reproduction, whilst contemporary expression is also very popular. A day exploring Maori Culture art forms is just as likely to reveal kapa haka (dance and song) performances or meaningful carvings in native wood or pounamu (greenstone) or moko (tattoo) as it is modern paintings or avant-garde film or hip-hop.

Maori Art & Performance

Maori art and satisfaction is deeply associated with New Zealand’s landscape and environment. Maori art draws heavily on Polynesian carving and weaving techniques. Weaving and carving are utilized to visually convey important myths, legends and history. Maori art forms such as these are therefore similar to the written word in European culture a kind of visual literature. Whilst many international visitors will know about the Maori haka, performed prior to each All Blacks game, there are lots of other forms of Maori Culture performance. Grouped together under the term ‘kapa haka’, performance arts such as poi dances, waiata a ringa (action songs) and waiata tawhito (traditional Maori chant) are used to tell stories, convey history, celebrate, protest and entertain.

About Indian Traditions And Customs

The customs and traditions of India have been reformed and molded by the long and dynamic history of Indian society. Through its distinct geography and social adaptation to new cultures, traditions customs, and ideas, and national heritages, India stands as a monumental example of cultural and social diversity.

The Indian traditions and customs date back to 8000 BCE, and have a continuous history since the time of the Vedas, believed variously to be 3,000 to over 5,500 years ago. Indian traditions are most intriguing and perhaps one of the world's most interesting as it unveils an amazing plethora of mythical stories that astounds the imagination. India is a blend of diverse cultures and religions that have continuously influenced Indian traditions customs.                        

India is well known for its film industry, which is based in Mumbai and is often referred to as Bollywood. The country began as a major producer of movies in the 1930s. Today the films are known for their elaborate singing and dancing and Bollywood produces more films per year than Hollywood. Indian Culture dance has a tradition of more than 2,000 years. The major classical dance traditions Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam and Kathakali — draw on themes from mythology and literature and have rigid presentation rules.

Indian clothing is closely identified with the colorful silk saris worn by many of the country’s women. The traditional clothing for men is the dhoti, an unstitched piece of cloth about 5 yards long that is tied around the waist and legs. Men also wear a kurta, a loose shirt that is worn about knee-length. For special occasions, men wear a sherwani, which is a long coat that is buttoned up to the collar and down to the knees.

Indian cuisine boasts Arab, Turkish and European influences. It is known for its large assortment of dishes and its liberal use of herbs and spices. Cooking styles vary from region to region.Wheat, Basmati rice and pulses with chana (Bengal gram) are important staples of the Indian diet. The food is rich with curries and spices, including ginger, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, dried hot peppers, and cinnamon, among others. Chutneys thick condiments and spreads made from assorted fruits and vegetables such as tamarind and tomatoes and mint, cilantro and other herbs are used generously in Indian cooking.

Wheat, Basmati rice and pulses with chana (Bengal gram) are important staples of the Indian diet. The food is rich with curries and spices, including ginger, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, dried hot peppers, and cinnamon, among others. Chutneys thick condiments and spreads made from assorted fruits and vegetables such as tamarind and tomatoes and mint, cilantro and other herbs are used generously in Indian cooking.

Famous Religous Places in india

Religion plays a very important role in India. There are a number of religious places in India . Find out about the location of important religious places of India.

India has strong roots of spirituality and religion. There are various religious and spiritual places in India . India has a great historical past and the ancient cities are the proofs of the past. To experience the best of spiritual India a visit to all below mentioned cities is a must when in India. There are seven sacred cities in India namely Mathura, Kashi, Haridwar, Ujjain, Kanchipuram, Ayodhya and Dwarka.          

Varanasi

Set on the banks of the Ganges, Varanasi (also called Kashi, the "City of Light") has long been revered as a place of spiritual power. Hindus bathe at dawn in the river, visit the temple of Shiva as Kashi Vishvanath, and sometimes bring the ashes of their beloved dead to commit to the river.

Amarnath

Amarnath is 145 km east of Srinagar in Kashmir. There is an ice Silva-linga here that changes size with the seasons, and also as the moon waxes and wanes it becomes bigger and smaller. On the full moon day the linga is about 6 ft high. Each year on the full moon day of July-August (Sravana) when the Siva-linga attains its maximum height there is a festival at this cave temple. It is said that Lord Siva first appeared on this day.

Badrinath

Badrinath Temple is also known as Badrinarayan temple, situated along the Alaknanda River, in the hill town of Badrinath, Uttarakhand in India. The  temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is widely considered to be one of the holiest Hindu temples in India. The temple and town are also regarded as one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites. It is one of the five related shrines called as Panch Badri and also one of the 108 Divya Desams, holy shrines for Vaishnavites.

Gangotri 

Be it man's urge to placate the Gods above or to quench his desire for adventure, Gangotri is an ideal location. Gangotri, the origin of the sacred river Ganges, attracts tourists in large numbers every year. The confrontation with the daunting rivers and attempts to unravel the mysteries of the supernatural world are ubiquitous sights here. Along with the thrill of conquering nature, what one experiences here is the mystical aura that India is so famous for.

Dwarka

Dwarka as well is amongst the seven sacred cities of India. Dwarka is situated on the west coast of Gujarat on the shore of Arabian Sea. Dwarka was ruled by Lord Krishna and was known as Dwarka Nagri. It is one of the famous pilgrimage centres in India. The most famous temple in Dwarka is Dwarkadheesh Temple. The temple is said to be 2500 years old. There are a total of 60 columns that supports the roof of the main hall. The 5 storey temple stands 157 feet tall above the ground.

Facts About French Traditions And Customs

Most people associate French culture with Paris, which is a center of fashion, cuisine, art and architecture, but life outside of the City of Lights is very different and varies by region. Historically, the French culture was influenced by Celtic and Gallo-Roman cultures as well as the Franks, a Germanic tribe. France was initially defined as the western area of Germany known as Rhineland but it later came to refer to a territory that was known as Gaul during the Iron Age and Roman era.

The slight regional differences in modern France are displayed in colorful linguistic tradition and customs, religious tolerance, fashion, family structure, industries and cuisine. This lap of the Renaissance is now distinct in social, cultural and political scene of belonging. The modern urbanization and mass media have engraved French culture in regional autonomy and the phrase 'la France profonde', which means 'heartland'. Traditions and customs followed in the overseas and metropolitan departments are specific in culture and language.    

 
Art

The country's long, colorful and often tumultuous history is said to be responsible for the sheer extent of France's artistic wealth. France has produced several big names in art and architecture, that are world-famous and French culture art has made important contributions to Western Art. French music includes folk, Latin American, hip hop, rock and techno-funk genres.Food is one of their great passions of the French culture and is a vital part of their culture with great attention being paid to detail. The French are known to value manners and politeness and every member in a family setup has responsibilities.

clothing

Paris is known as the home to many high-end fashion houses; the French culture people are known for their understated elegance in clothing.Many French people dress in a sophisticated, professional and fashionable style, but it is not overly fussy. Typical outfits include nice dresses, suits, long coats, scarves and berets.

Cuisine

The traditional cuisine of France banks heavily upon the secret sauces. Regional varieties do exist in the cuisine of France and ingredients and cooking techniques differ heavily from region to region. Traditionally, French culture specifies on the importance of haute cuisine. Cheese and wine are vital components of French culture food. Entrées with preplated appeal, inclusive of croissants and fruit yogurt are distinctive to French meals. France produces some of the finest wines in the world. Bordeaux, Champagne and Bourgogne French wines are essential components of French culture.

Religion

French culture movies, music and literature are vibrant and multicultural. The language follows a predetermined official 'originality' standard that may not be mandatory in application everywhere, but sure has enthusiastic advocates. French culture is widely spoken across the globe, in spite of repression of regional and foreign languages in certain countries. It is part and parcel of the education forum and a popular option in many bilingual educational institutions. Even though France is a secular country, which implies that the state has no official religion it does play a part in defining the culture of this country.

Zulu Tribe Women Clothing in South Africa

South Africa a women's clothing can incorporate beaded and woven skirts, blankets and cloaks with elaborate motifs. The colorful jewelry are made from metal including copper, grasses and beads.South African Tribes culture is incredibly interesting because it is so diverse. Every south African region is a mix of tribes each with their own unique language and culture, living and women clothing. The idea of South African zulu tribe clothing inspires images of rich colors and ceremonial dress but, the fact is, South African women clothing is as diverse as the African continent. South Africa’s ancient civilizations demonstrate the continent’s long history of creating women clothing for utilitarian as well as celebratory and symbolic purposes.    

Womens Clothing A single maiden will wear only a short grass skirt embellished perhaps with beads whilst an engaged girl will cover her breasts and allow her hair to grow. married woman covers her entire body to indicate that she is taken and wears a thick cowhide skirt that has been treated with charcoal and animal fat. Over this skirt may be another of cloth in white, red or black. Over her breasts, the woman wears a cover decorated with beads with a message understood only by her husband.The most impressive adornment is the hat which is constructed with grass and cotton that is sewn into the hair. These may measure as much as a meter across and last for a few months, whereupon the procedure is repeated.

Married Woman covers her body completely signalling to other men that she is taken. When a young girl gets married, she then has to wear certain coloured beads in her hair and around her skirt so that everyone in the village can see that she is married.

Unmarried Woman who are avaiable are proud of displaying their figure/body. They wear a short skirt made of grass or beaded cotton strings and puts on a lot of creative beads.Women Clothing for Zulu girls is mainly made of beadwork and is usually revealing.They also wear isidwaba, a pleated skirt made of cowhide and softened by hand. Younger women sometimes decorate their skirts with beads.

Engaged Woman will let her traditionally short hair grow. They cover their breast with a decorative cloth. This shows respect for her future husband and family. Allows people to know that she is spoken for.

Rich Art Craft of Indian Culture

Arts, crafts and handicrafts – India is the name that comes to your mind. With thousands years of history and more beyond that, multiple ethnicities, religions and cultures – India has a variety of crafts unparalleled by any other country or culture. Each state and every region in India has a rich tradition of handicrafts and art works that narrate the legacy of Indian culture. Crafts in India presents a unique online heritage tour of the major crafts centers of India.

A collection of three museums comprise the Sanskriti: the Museum of Everyday Art, the Museum of Indian Terracotta, and the Museum of Indian Culture Textiles. There are also childrens’ workshops, guided tours, craft demonstrations, lectures, and seminars on site. A special library containing over 2000 books on art, culture, museums, Indian Culture textile traditions, and terracottas round out the educational mix.    

The earliest specimens of Indian Culture painting are the ones on the walls of the Ajanta Caves dating back to 2nd century BC. The typical ‘figures in profile’ art of India came to be when the Jain manuscripts were being illustrated. The Mughals had a huge impact on Indian Culture art. The miniature, which had been only on palm leaves in the northeast, came into prominence. The influence of Persian art brought placid garden scenes, illustrations from myths, legends and history into Indian art and craft. Later schools include the Bengal School of Tagore and the Company School of European influence. More recently the opulent paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the paintings of M.F. Hussain, Jamini Roy and Ganesh Pyne among others rule the art scene.

Word craft, handicrafts, architecture and sculpture all contribute to this rich and varied domain. Indian Culture literature, both in English and in the vernacular, is ever more popular around the world. Handicrafts are as varied as the country itself. The Mughal and colonial structures and the temple architecture across the length and breadth of the country are testaments to the lands exciting past. Sculptures adorn temple walls, stupas, street junctions and ancient caves. The oldest schools are the Gandhara and the Mathura.

India is a land of many religions with its deep historical roots. It is the home to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, and has also given adequate space to migratory religions like Islam and Christianity. Indian religion is not reachable without understanding its religious beliefs and practices, which have a large impact on the society and its people.

Enjoy the mouth-watering delicacies of Indian food. Rich and diverse Indian cuisine is simply tempting and irresistible. The North Indian, South Indian Culture and East and West Indian Cuisine have their own flavor and specialties. Traditionally, meals are eaten while sitting on the floor with the fingers of the right hand.

The legacy of dance in India is tremendous. On temple walls, on an urban stage, in impromptu bursts by a mellow evening fire, men and women twinkle their toes in expression of joy. The classical dances of India are numerous. Characterised by stylised movements and elaborate costumes, these dances communicate age-old tales of love, longing and rage. Kathakali of Kerala, Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri and Odissi from Orissa are the prominent dance forms in this country that sways to an altogether novel beat.

Famous Traditional Food in French Culture

The most popular Traditional Food culture  In France, there is a distinctive culture of French Culture food that is undeniable. It is accompanied with pride, exclusive ingredients and techniques, a world renowned culinary school and those special regions that are known for one particular kind of food. To not experience the food, both regional and national, is to not truly experience France.

French culture Food and Cuisines Food plays a major role in the country’s social life. Food and wine are central to life at all socioeconomic levels, and much socializing is done around lengthy dinners. Wine and cheese are sources of national pride and reflect regional differences. Meals are ritualized, and full of social and cultural meaning. There are also political aspects to the meaning of food.    

                 
Culture Languages in French, the official language, is the first language of 88% of the population. Most of those who speak minority languages also speak French, as the minority languages are given no legal recognition. 3% of the population speak German dialects, predominantly in the eastern provinces of Alsace-Lorraine and Moselle. Flemish is spoken by around 90,000 people in the northeast, which is 0.2% of the French Culture population.

Soupe à l'oignon 

This is a traditional French soup made of onions and beef stock, usually served with croutons and cheese on top. Its origins can be traced back to Roman times. However, its current version originated in the 18th century. The remarkable taste of the soup is due to the caramelisation of the onions.

Bring Cheese

It is popular in france cultural food.You can't talk or even think about famous French food without mentioning cheese. The fromage stand at any French market can be detected half a mile away due to the highly pungent nature of many of their local varieties.However, the aroma simply accentuates some of the most incredible flavours and textures you're likely to encounter in life, and even well loved classics known worldwide such as camembert, brie and roquefort become something truly magical when coupled with some fresh baguette, some local fresh fruits and a glass of wine.

Artisan Cheese

The French consume an average of 45 pounds per person of cheese per year! It is safe to say that cheese is a major staple of the French Culture diet and should you be visiting France Culture, you would be remiss not to sample the region's cheese. There are some 400 different types of French cheeses.

Confit de canard

Duck confit is a tasty French meal made of duck legs. The preparation of the meat may take up to 36 hours! The duck meat is gently mixed with salt, garlic and thyme and left to absorb their aroma for more than a day. It is generally fried or grilled afterwards, and served with roasted potatoes and garlic on the side.

Bread and Pastry

Who hasn't eaten a French baguette before? In France, most people go to the boulangerie, and get their bread fresh or bake it fresh on a daily basis. Bread is eaten with chocolate or with cheese. In the morning, you might have pain au chocolat avec café ''(bread with chocolate and coffee) or in the evening you might take your bread with wine at your meal.

Popular Erotic Art of Khajuraho Temple of India

The Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh are amongst the most beautiful medieval monuments in India. Originally a group of 85, they are the largest group of Hindu and Jain Khajuraho temples in the world, although only about 25 of them remain today. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, they have awed generations of people with their architectural brilliance, intricate carvings and, most famously, their erotic sculptures.

These Khajuraho temples took almost 200 years to become completed from the 9th through the 13th centuries.They were built from the Chandella rulers within the Indo Aryan Nagara style of architecture. However, only 20-22 of the 85 Khajuraho temples, have survived the ravages of your time. Khajuraho Temple , also known as Khajuravahaka, was the cultural capital of the Chandellas and the village derived its name from your abundance of ‘Khajura’ or date palm trees there. Actually the whole area was supposedly enclosed with a wall with eight gates with two golden date palms adorning each.                    

       
Matangeswar Temple

The Matangeswar Temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and is adjacent to the Laxman temple. This is the only ancient temple where Pooja or religious ceremonies are performed which is not possible in any other temples due to their dilapidated state. A yellow flag fluttering on top of the temple indicated that a ceremony is underway in the temple of india. The main attractions of this temple are the eight feet long Shiva Lingam and the ten day fair held here during the festival of Shivaratri.

Dulhadev Temple

Dulhadev Temple is the last temple of Khajuraho Temple and is exquisitely carved with images of Apsaras or heavenly nymphs. The Khajuraho temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located near the Ghantai temple. The interior of the temple has a Shiva Lingam or the phallic symbol of Shiva who is considered as the god of destruction by Hindus.

Devi Jagdambā Temple

This temple is located on the western side of the site and is a place of worship for goddess Kali. According to some sources the temple started as a place for worship of Vishnu but was later converted. This temple also has some erotic carvings; however they are located on the highest of the three houses of it.

Pārsvanath Temple

The Pārsvanath Temple is the largest of the Jain temples of its kind and one which has been heavily renovated. This temple has the least erotic art compared to all other temples in Khajuraho Temple; however is noted for its carvings of Sura Sundaries (heavenly nymphs) in various enticing positions. Even though this is a Jain temple it also has carvings depicting various Hindu gods and goddesses.