Fast+Facts

=Fast Facts about India=

Here are some fun facts about India! Feel free to add your own and elaborate on the ones listed below!

Flag
Can you find the symbolism of the colors and the wheel on the flag? [|This site may help.]

Location
Latitude/Longitude**:** 20 degrees north latitude, 77 degrees east longitude at India's geographic center

Land

 * Area: 1,269,338 square miles
 * Himalayas
 * Northern Plains
 * Southern Peninsula

Climate
Three seasons:
 * cool season (Oct.-Feb)
 * hot season (Mar.-June)
 * rainy season (June-Sept)

Government

 * federal republic

Inventions

 * washrooms
 * sit down toilets
 * airmail

Religion

 * Hinduism - 81%
 * Muslims - 12%
 * Christian - 2%
 * Buddhism
 * Jainism
 * Sikhism

Food

 * sugar
 * pepper
 * mango


 * dhal (soup made from lentil beans)
 * tandoori chicken (cooked in a hot clay oven called a tandoor)
 * chapati (pancake-like bread)
 * bhel puri (puffed rice, crispy noodles, potatoes and sauce)

Many people in India are vegetarians. A typical Indian meal includes flat bread, rice, curry sauces, and yogurt.

Music

 * cymbals
 * sitar (stringed instrument)
 * tabla (two drums)

Animals

 * Indian Cobra
 * Indian Elephant
 * Indian Rhinoceros
 * Bengal Tiger
 * Pygmy hog
 * Sloth bear
 * Sarus Cranes
 * Monkeys
 * wild goats
 * panthers
 * lions
 * wolves
 * bears
 * deer
 * antelope
 * pythons
 * crocodiles
 * peacocks
 * parrots

Games

 * Parcheesi

Fashion

 * Pajamas
 * Sari
 * Cummerbund
 * Nehru jacket
 * Turban

Language

 * more than 1,000 languages and dialects are spoken
 * Hindi is the nation's official language
 * Some states have their own official languages.
 * English is also an official language.

Bibliography:
Harvey, Miles. __Look What Came From India.__ New York: Grolier Publishing, 1999. Mattern, Joanne. __India__. Mankato, Minnesota: Bridgestone Books, 2003.