CULTURE
With
nearly 1 billion citizens, India is the second most populous nation
in the world. It is impossible to speak of any one Indian culture,
although there are deep cultural continuities that tie its people
together. English is the major language of trade and politics,
but there are fourteen official languages in all. There are twenty-four
languages that are spoken by a million people or more, and countless
other dialects. India has seven major religions and many minor
ones, six main ethnic groups, and countless holidays.
Religion
is central to Indian culture, and its practice can be seen in
virtually every aspect of life in the country. Hinduism is the
dominant faith of India, serving about 80 percent of the population.
Ten percent worship Islam, and 5 perscent are Sikhs and Christians;
the rest (a good 45 million) are Buddhists, Jains, Bahai, and
more.
