The amazing diversity found in India may affect your genealogical research in surprising ways. This is one of the most varied countries in the world when it comes to ethnicity, culture, religion, and everyday practices. Many regional traditions still flourish today and are often passed down from elders to the newer members of the family.
Exploring Indian heritage involves discovering where your ancestors came from, what they believed and valued, and how they celebrated life. Learn about festivals, everyday foods, music, art, and more as you dive back through time to uncover the rich history of your own family.
Key Takeaways on Indian Genealogy
- Last names stem from fathers, castes, villages, and influences of colonialism.
- Different regions have unique foods with fragrant spices dominating everywhere.
- Carnatic and Hindustani music styles are the main classical types.
- Celebrations focus on religious holidays and family events like weddings.
What Your Last Name Says About Your Indian Roots
Indian surnames generally come from the paternal line, but this set rule doesn’t hold up in different cultural groups or regions. In Northern India, father’s names became a person’s middle name. In the south, surnames often came from village names or didn’t exist at all. Other possibilities include designations based on caste, religious ties, bestowed titles from high-ranking individuals, or ones that come directly from Muslim cultural practices. Many misspellings or shortened forms arose during the time of British rule. If your family immigrated to an English-speaking country, there is a chance their last name was anglicized at that time.
Identifying the changes of a last name over time can cause some troubles in genealogical research. However, they will also tell you a lot about the places, time periods, and lives of those relatives. Some unique naming methods exist, such as the Sikh practice of using Singh for men and Kuar for women. You can even find Portuguese last names like Fernandes in some regions.
Special and Everyday Foods to Celebrate Life
Chances are that a local Indian restaurant in the western world may have some dishes your family members might have eaten long ago. However, not all are authentic, of course. The vast amount of diversity in India also means that foods you might consider traditional are only limited to a rather small region. When you learn more about where your family came from, you have a better understanding of what they ate for everyday meals as well as special celebrations.
While northern regions eat more wheat, rice and lentils dominate in the south. Breads like naan and roti are commonly used to sop up the sauces or as utensils for eating things like spiced chickpeas, chole, or lentil stew, sambar. Common spices include cloves, cumin, cinnamon, and coriander. While vegetarianism is common, you can also find fish and meat dishes everywhere.
Art, Music, and Dance Styles Across Groups
Indian art styles, music, and dances come from the unique cultures and diverse ethnic groups in the country. While your ancestral research will not lead you back this far, the art began as cave paintings. Carved items and rich textiles are commonly seen in temples, museums, and used during everyday life. Color plays a huge role in symbolism.
Traditional music is divided into two main types. Southern Carnatic music uses the sitar among other instruments in devotional styles. Northern Hindustani music has more Persian influence and generally allows for more creative expression than regimented beats and melodies. The dances that go along with these and more traditional musical styles often tell stories or are designed as expressions of joy and celebration.
Major Celebrations and Festivals in India
Celebrations usually fall under the various religious umbrellas in India. For Hindus, Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and Holi, the Festival of Colors, are two big ones. Holi is especially unique as it involves throwing colored powder on everything and everyone in public. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Sikhs have Vaisakhi, while Buddhists have Buddha Purnima, and Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter.
Traditional festivals that do not strictly follow religious calendars are often associated with harvest times and the spring planting season. Families put a lot of emphasis on ancestral remembrances and weddings, which are particularly long and lavish. These are often a wonderful opportunity to experience the music, artistry, costume, and food of your Indian culture.
Frequently Asked Questions on Indian Genealogy
What does your family surname tell you about your ancestry?
Not only do last names trace the paternal line, but they can also indicate home villages, cultural groups, or caste. In many cases, colonial influence and anglicization after immigration can make researching genealogy using names more difficult. In the past, some locations in the south didn’t use last names at all.
What are the most commonly celebrated Indian festivals?
Although there are many related mostly to religious traditions, the two most well-known are Diwali and Holi. Finding out what religion your ancestors followed will help you discover more options to celebrate today.
Does India have a national dish or most popular food?
No. Because the country is so diverse, there isn’t one quintessential Indian food. Things like butter chicken, biryani, and masala dosa are quite popular. It’s important to note that some dishes thought of as Indian may not be at all: for example, chicken tikka masala is actually a British dish.
What types of music come from India?
The two common traditional music varieties include Carnatic, from the south, and Hindustani, from the north. Raga is the word for the melodic framework used during improvisation. There are several that are designed to be used for unique feelings, times or day, season, etc.
How can I find out what region or group my ancestors came from?
Start by asking your older relatives. Look in family records and any documents you get from your research. Things like last names, religious affiliation, and traditional celebrations can help you narrow down locations, castes, and cultures. If members of your family lived there during British rule, also search national archives for births, deaths, and immigration.
The post Being Indian: Traditions and Genealogy appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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