Meaning of India: Definition of Name, Country, Official Language to Special Food

Kapanlagi.com - India is one of the countries in Asia that has a fairly high population worldwide. India itself is a country rich in culture. India itself means a name that comes from the name of a river. And the river flows throughout the country in India, namely the Indus River.

The Indus River used to have another name derived from Sanskrit, namely Sindhu. And in Sanskrit, the word Sindhu itself means sea. This name then changed due to pronunciation by various nations in different languages. Like the Iranian people who pronounce the letter S as the letter H so that the word Shindu is pronounced as Hindu.

Then there are also the Greeks who pronounce Shindu as Indus, which eventually became the name of the river until now. Then the name India was created and is currently used as the name of the country. Well, it's not just the meaning of India that you need to know. There are many other things about India that you can learn.

Therefore, according to various sources, here is the meaning of India along with other explanations of the country with so many cultures. Let's check it out, KLovers.

1. India is

Illustration (credit: Pixabay)

India is one of the first places inhabited by humans after migration from Africa. Humans arrived in India through the coasts along the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf. According to Wikipedia, all the northern and northeastern states of India are formed by the Himalayan Range. The other regions consist of the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains.

Then, in the west, bordering southeastern Pakistan, there is the Thar Desert. The Indian Peninsula in the south is mostly part of the Deccan Plateau, which is a highland in India. On both sides of this plateau, there are two coastal ranges, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.

India also has several major rivers such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, Godavari, and Krishna. These rivers make the northern region of India fertile, making it suitable for agriculture. In addition, the weather in India is diverse, KLovers.

Yup! India is one of the countries that has many seasons. From tropical weather in the south to moderate weather in the north. Some parts of India located in the Himalayan mountains have weather similar to the winter season in the North Pole. India also has a monsoon season, so the country has more than 2 seasons.

2. Official Language of India

Illustration (credit: Pixabay)

In addition to the meaning of India and the origin of the name and the country itself, India itself has an official language that they use in communication. The Constitution of India states that the official language of the Government of India is Hindi written in the Devanagari script. In addition to Hindi, there is also English, which is one of the official languages of the government in India.

These two languages are used for official purposes such as parliamentary processing, judiciary, communication between the Central Government and the State Government. However, for other regions in India, they are free to choose which language they will use, because India itself has 22 official languages recognized by the Indian government.

3. Major Cities in India

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Because India has a vast territory, this country has a lot of big cities. Yup! India itself has 10 popular big cities. For Hollywood lovers, surely you are familiar with the names of these big cities in India. And here are some lists of big cities in India:

1. Mumbai, is the capital of the State of Maharashtra in India. This city has more wealth than other cities in India. This is because Mumbai is home to the highest number of Indian millionaires and billionaires.

2. New Delhi, is a union territory or administrative division in India. It means that this city is governed by the Central Government of India. The official name of this city is National Capital Territory of Delhi.

3. Kolkata, is the administrative capital of West Bengal and the third most populous city in India.

4. Chennai, is the capital of Tamil Nadu. In 2015, this city was selected as the safest city in India. This city receives more health tourists than any other city in India, making it the Health Capital of India.

5. Bangalore, located in the southern Deccan Plateau region of India. Bangalore is the administrative city of the state of Karnataka. The official name of this city is Bengaluru. There are more IT companies in Bangalore than in any other city in India.

6. Hyderabad is the official capital of the state of Telangana. This city also serves as the de jure administrative center of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.

7. Ahmedabad is the former capital of the state of Gujarat. Currently, it serves as the headquarters of the Ahmedabad district government. And Ahmedabad has become the largest city in Gujarat.

8. Pune is the capital of Pune District in the state of Maharashtra, India. Pune is the second largest city in the state after Mumbai. This city has some of the most famous and top-performing educational institutions in eastern India. It is estimated that 50% of the total international student population in India study in Pune.

9. Surat is a port city in India and the capital of Surat district. Surat is located in the state of Gujarat and dominates the state's economy. The city's income comes from the food, diamond, and textile industries. Surat is the third cleanest city in India. Globally, it ranks as the fourth fastest-growing city.

10. Jaipur is the largest city in the state of Rajasthan and serves as its capital. Jaipur is the tenth most populous city in the country. Jaipur has become a popular destination for tourists not only in India but in Asia as a whole.

4. Traditional Food in India

Illustration (credit: Pixabay)

Not only knowing the overall meaning of India, you also need to know what are the typical foods in India. Because India has a large territory with many regions. So it's not surprising that India has many typical foods, just like Indonesia. Well, what are some of these typical foods, KLovers? Here are some typical foods owned by the country of India:

1. Biryani, a dish consisting of rice cooked with Indian spices.

2. Rajma Masala, refers to red kidney beans. The dish is often enjoyed with bread and chapati.

3.Tandoori chicken, is one of the most popular Indian dishes in other countries. The dish has a delicious taste because it uses various Indian spices.

4.Laddu or Laddoo is a cake that resembles gulab jamun, which is small and round. This food has a sweet taste because the main ingredients are flour and sugar. The flour used is coarse wheat flour. In addition, long bean flour and coconut are also commonly chosen as raw materials for Laddu.

5. Kheer, is a rice pudding that is usually enjoyed as a dessert with toppings such as raisins, almonds, and cashews. This dessert is made from a mixture of rice, tapioca flour, wheat flour, sugar, and milk. To make the aroma and taste more delicious, the Kheer mixture is added with selected spices such as turmeric and cardamom.

6.Chole Bature, is a type of bean that has a very tempting shape and can be found in India. The taste of Chole that has been mixed with thick sauce and put into Bhature is so crispy in the mouth.

7.Naan, is a traditional Indian bread made from yeast. The ingredients are processed in a traditional clay oven or also called a tandoor. Usually people consume Naan when they are bored of eating staple food. To make it more delicious, they add other side dishes such as palak paneer and tandoori chicken.

8.Pani Puri, is a typical Indian snack that you can easily find when you visit there. This snack is round like a tennis ball and inside it, there are various fillings, ranging from nuts, boiled potatoes, and spice seasonings to enhance the taste. Pani Puri is often served with a sauce made from a mixture of green chili, mint leaves, cumin powder, and many more.

9.Halwa, is a dessert that is often served as a dessert for the Indian community. This food, also known as Gajar Ka Halwa, is made from grated carrots and turned into pudding. This snack is square-shaped and has almond or raisin toppings on top.

10.Chana Masala or often called Channay or Chole, is one of the typical Indian foods, precisely in northern India. Chana Masala is a dish whose main ingredient is green beans or chana.

11.Jalebi, is a famous Indian food that is also known as a snack. Jalebi has a shape like a pretzel and is always present in Indian households. Jalebi is made from a mixture of maida flour or wheat flour, Indian butter, and turmeric.

12.Samosa, is one of the famous and world-renowned Indian foods. Samosa is a vegetarian Indian dish made from maida or wheat flour, Bombay onions, potatoes, spices, and green chili.

13. Chaat is a dish originating from the northern region of India, specifically from Uttar Pradesh. This dish is made from potatoes, beans, fried bread, salty spices, and Indian sour chili. Usually, Chaat is served with yogurt and green coriander leaves.

14. Dosa is one type of crepe made from fermented rice and black beans batter. Usually, Dosa is served as a snack or breakfast menu with various fillings, such as mashed potatoes and special spices.

15. Sambar and Idli are dishes that resemble Indonesian pancakes or serabi. Sambar is made from fermented lentils and steamed rice. Usually, Sambar is enjoyed with a spicy vegetable curry called Idli. Idli is made from various vegetables and has a thick curry sauce.

That is the meaning of India that you can understand and learn. Not only the broad meaning of India, but you can also find out about everything in India, from cities, languages, to traditional foods.

(kpl/gen/dhm)