Society & Culture

The caste system (Varna and Jati) is perhaps the most complex social structure in the world — and despite its official abolition in 1950, it remains deeply rooted in Indian society.

The four traditional Varnas (classes): Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), Shudras (servants and artisans). Below these four were the Dalits (formerly called "Untouchables") — people assigned the lowest jobs. Within these Varnas, there are thousands of Jatis (sub-castes) that determine daily life: marriage partners, profession, neighborhood, even food.

Officially, discrimination based on caste is prohibited, and the Indian constitution guarantees Dalits reserved quotas in education and public service (reservation system). In practice, caste remains a determining factor — especially in rural areas, in marriages (over 90% of marriages are within one's own caste), and in politics. Caste-based violence against Dalits unfortunately still occurs.

As a tourist, you will hardly experience the caste system directly — but you will see its effects: in the hierarchy of the working world, in surnames (which often reveal the caste), and in the way different social groups interact with each other.

India is the most religiously diverse country in the world — the birthplace of four world religions and home to followers of practically all major faiths.

The Major Religions

• Hinduism (80%): The third-largest religion in the world with over 1 billion followers. No single founder, no single holy book — but a cosmic system of Dharma (duty), Karma (actions and their consequences), Samsara (cycle of rebirth), and Moksha (liberation). Over 33 million deities — most Hindus worship Vishnu, Shiva, or the goddesses (Devi) as the main deity.
• Islam (14%): Over 200 million Muslims — the third-largest Muslim population worldwide. Introduced from the 8th century by Arab traders and later by the Mughal emperors. The cultural heritage is immense: Taj Mahal, Urdu language, Biryani, Qawwali music.
• Christianity (2.3%): One of the oldest Christian communities in the world — the Apostle Thomas is said to have landed in Kerala in 52 AD. Strong presence in Kerala, Goa, and the northeastern regions of India.
• Sikhism (1.7%): Founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak in Punjab. Recognizable by the turbans (Dastar), the five "K" (Kesh/uncut hair, Kara/steel bracelet, Kanga/comb, Kachera/cotton underwear, Kirpan/ceremonial dagger) and the impressive Gurudwaras (temples) with their free communal kitchens (Langar).
• Buddhism (0.7%): Today a minority in its birthplace, but with a growing following among Dalits (after the conversion movement of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar). The Buddhist sites (Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Ajanta, Ellora) are of invaluable cultural significance.
• Jainism (0.4%): Strictly non-violent (Ahimsa) — Jains wear mouth cloths to avoid inhaling insects and sweep the ground before them to avoid stepping on ants. The Jain temples (Ranakpur in Rajasthan, Dilwara in Mount Abu) are among the most ornate in the world.

In India, there are so many festivals that supposedly something is celebrated somewhere in the country every third day. For travelers, the major national festivals are the most impressive experiences.

The Most Important Festivals

• Diwali (October/November): The "Festival of Lights" and the most important Hindu festival. For five days, oil lamps (Diyas) and candles are lit, houses decorated, fireworks set off, and sweets given away. Symbols: the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. Most spectacular in Varanasi, Jaipur, and Delhi — but the whole country lights up.
• Holi (March): The "Festival of Colors" — the most exuberant day of the Indian calendar. Colored powder (Gulal) is thrown, water guns and balloons fly, and social barriers fall for a day. Bhang (cannabis lassi) flows abundantly. Wildest in Mathura and Vrindavan (Krishna's birthplace, 150 km from Delhi). Wear old white clothes — the colors won't come out!
• Ganesh Chaturthi (August/September): For ten days, the elephant-headed god Ganesh is celebrated — with huge, colorfully painted Ganesh statues, carried in processions to the sea or river and immersed on the last day. Most grandiose in Mumbai.
• Navratri & Durga Puja (September/October): Nine nights of dance and worship of the goddess Durga. In Gujarat: Garba dance (thousands dance in circles). In Kolkata: opulent Durga Puja pandals (temporary art installations).
• Eid ul-Fitr & Eid ul-Adha: The Muslim festivals are celebrated with particular intensity — feasts, new clothes, and communal prayers. The Jama Masjid in Delhi is an impressive place for this.
• Pongal (January, Tamil Nadu): Harvest festival — rice is cooked in new clay pots until it overflows (symbol of abundance). Cows are decorated and revered.

Bollywood is the world's largest film industry by number of productions — over 1,500 films per year, watched by a billion-strong audience. The name is a combination of Bombay (Mumbai's old name) and Hollywood, but the comparison falls short: Bollywood is not mere entertainment, it is the common cultural denominator of a country with 22 languages and countless subcultures.

A classic Bollywood film lasts 2.5–3 hours and follows a proven formula: love, obstacles, dramatic family scenes, at least 5–6 dance numbers with hundred-member choreographies, a villain, tears, and in the end, love triumphs. The songs are as important as the film itself — they play on the radio, at weddings, in rickshaws, and temples. Stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh are revered like demigods.

Besides Bollywood, there are significant regional film industries: Tollywood (Telugu, Hyderabad), Kollywood (Tamil, Chennai), and Malayalam Cinema (Kerala) — the latter produces some of the most artistically demanding films in Asia.

For tourists: A cinema visit in India is a must — even if you don't understand a word. The atmosphere in a packed Indian cinema (clapping, cheering, whistling, phones ringing) is a cultural experience. Tickets from 150 ₹ (1.70 €). In Mumbai, you can book Bollywood studio tours and visit famous filming locations.