Updated February 5, 2022
Each region has distinct kind food, clothing, poetry, dance as well as art which is collectively known as its cultures. We consider the people in a particular region on the basis of these elements. However, sometimes it is completely different from the truth because the culture of a region evolved from the intermixing of local traditions with the traditions and ideas of others subcontinent. So, we collectively get here the different regional cultures.
The Cult of Jagannatha-
Jagannath is the name of Lord Vishnu which literally translates to “the Lord of the World” or “the God of the Universe”. This Cult is found in Puri, Orissa. This tradition is widely practised.
Lord Jagannath has always remained as mysterious to the knowledge of mankind. The origin of Jagannath cult is a veil in obscurity. The cloak of darkness that pervades over this cult has not been lifted till today. However, God Jagannath has been considered as the representative of the Oriya people, an embodiment of love, a guiding force behind the cultural heritage of this land, a synthesis of all the Hinduite faiths and finally, as the God of the universe
The cult of Jagannath embodies universal brotherhood, combining elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and the native religious practices of the tribal people. The presiding deities of the temple, Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra, portrayed in black, white and yellow, represent the three major races of humanity according to noted religious and social commentators. The cult of Jagannath shows special concern and compassion for the lowliest and the most unfortunate in the society.
Jagannath cult is an amalgam of diverse religious cults like tribal religion, Brahmanical religion, Buddhism, Saivism, Shaktism, Tantricism and Vaishnavism. The prevalent religious trends in Odisha assimilated in the Cult of God Jagannath in due course of time. With the gradual march of time all the religious sects, mingled in the cult of Jagannath. Every Hindu Pantheon saw its god or goddess in Him. Even today, Jagannath, the ‘Lord of the Universe’ is honoured and worshipped by the followers of different religious sects in India.
Puri- The Pilgrimage Centre
One of the important rulers of the Ganga Dynasty in the 12th Century, Anantavarman has constructed the temple of the Purushottama Jagannath. Afterwards, King Anangabhima III, dedicated his entire kingdom to the deity.
The importance of pilgrimage of the temple grew and subsequently, increased its authority in social as well as political spheres. There was a competition amongst the dynasties who conquered the Orissa to gain control over the temple. Amongst these were the Mughals, Marathas as well as the English East India Company. They regarded gaining control over the temple as a means to garner acceptance of the local people.
Rajasthan- The Heroism of Rajput
The Rajasthan was initially known as “Rajputana” by the British official in the nineteenth century since it was mostly inhabited by the Rajput. There were people living in Rajasthan who are not Rajput. However, the Rajput are recognised as contributing to the distinctive cultures to Rajasthan.
They are known as heroic rulers and their ideals and aspirations have a strong influence in this region. From the advent of the 19th Century, Rajasthan was ruled by various great rulers, one of them is Prithviraj was on the most popular rulers.
The Rajput Women-
Women have often been depicted as the cause of conflict between kings who fought battles in order to win them over. The horrifying practice of “Sati” was common in those times where widows were immolated on the funeral pyre of their husbands.
Kerala- The Cheras and Malayalam
It was witnessed in the 9th century that a kingdom Chera of Mahodayapuram had been established in the south-western part of the peninsula, it is presently known as Kerala. Malayalam was spoken in this area. The rulers not only used it in their language but also in inscriptions. This development is considered as one of the earliest examples of the use of a regional language in official records in the subcontinent.
The Sanskritic tradition has great impact on the Cheras kingdom. The literary works in Malayalam draw inspiration from or a direct transliteration of epics in Sanskrit. A 14th-century text, the Lilatilakam, dealing with grammar and poetics were composed in Manipravalam. The literally translates to, “diamonds and corals” which refers to two languages- Sanskrit and the regional language.