Gujarat

Gujarat is a state in western India. Gujarat borders Pakistan to the north west and the state of Rajasthan to the north and northeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, Maharashtra and the Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the south. Historically, the North was known as Anarta, the Kathiawad peninsula, "Saurastra", and the South as "Lata".Gujarat was also known as Pratichya and VarunaThe international border with Pakistan is to the north-west. The Arabian Sea makes up the state's western coast. Its capital, Gandhinagar is a planned city and is located near Ahmedabad, the commercial center of Gujarat. Gujarat has an area of 75,686 sq mi (196,077 km²).

Haryana

Haryana is a state in the Punjab region of northern India. It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south. Eastern border to Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh is defined by river Yamuna. Haryana also surrounds Delhi on three sides, forming the northern, western and southern borders of Delhi. Consequently, a large area of Haryana is included in the National Capital Region. The capital of the state is Chandigarh which is administered as a union territory and is also the capital of Punjab. The name Haryana means "The Abode of God" from Sanskrit Hari (the Hindu God Vishnu) and ayana (home), although it may also refer to the lush green landscape of the state (from Sanskrit harit meaning green).
Haryana was the cradle of the Indus Valley and Vedic Civilizations, both flourishing on the banks of the now lost Saraswati river. Several decisive battles were fought in the area, which shaped much of the history of India. These include the epic battle of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra(including the recital of the Bhagavad Gita by Krishna), and the three battles of Panipat. Haryana was administered as part of the Punjab province of British India, and was carved out on linguistic lines as India's 17th state in 1966. Haryana is now a leading contributor to the country's production of foodgrain and milk. Agriculture is the leading occupation for the residents of the state, the flat arable land irrigated by submersible pumps and an extensive canal system. Haryana contributed heavily to the Green Revolution that made India self-sufficient in food production in the 1960s. The state of Haryana has the 3rd highest per capita income in the country at Rs 29,887, including the largest number of rural crorepatis in India. It is one of the leading industrialized states of India, and is considered to be the current growth engine of India,with the city of Gurgaon rapidly emerging as a major hub for the information technology and automobile industries. Gurgaon is home to Maruti Udyog Limited, India's largest automobile manufacturer, and Hero Honda Limited, the world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers. Panipat, Panchkula and Faridabad are also industrial hubs, with the Panipat Refinery being the second largest refinery in South Asia. There are also long established steel and textile industries in the state.

Haryana CultureWith all this martial progress across their lands, it is hardly surprising that the people of Haryana are a brave and proud race and, inevitably, the different races and creeds that traversed the land left traces behind. A prime example of this is the co-existence of Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs in the State and the existence of a robust local folklore and folk culture that have survived battles, incursions and politics.
What is late 20th century Haryana like? It is still at heart an agricultural State, a land of hard-working farmers and their equally sturdy wives who help out with much of the farm work. The Haryanvi is a simple, straight-forward, no-nonsense person who believes in the virtues of hard work and then, when the work is done, of enjoying himself and relaxing. The small towns and villages that cover the State are slowly coming to terms with such modern-day intrusions as video shops and satellite dishes but there is still a robust folk tradition that has survived. Haryana is, generally, a prosperous State and even the smallest village will have bustling markets and shops where the farmers and their families arrive on their tractors to do their shopping.

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is a state in the Punjab region in north-west India. Himachal Pradesh is spread over 21,629 sq mi (56,019 km²), and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains.
Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhoomi (the land of the gods). The Aryan influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rigveda. After the Anglo Gorkha war, the British colonial government came into power. It was initially in Punjab, except Siba State of Punjab Hills, under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh till 1857 . In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971 Himachal emerged as the 18th state of Indian Union.
Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest per capita incomes of any state in India. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab & Rajasthan. The economy of the state is highly dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture. Hindus make up 95% of the state population. The major communities are of Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. According to a 2005 Transparency International survey, Himachal Pradesh is ranked the second-least corrupt state in the country after Kerala.

Himachal Pradesh has a rich tradition of handicrafts. These craft items are woolen and pashmina shawls, carpets, silver and metal ware, embroidered chappals, grass shoes, Kangra and Gompa style paintings, wood work, horse-hair bangles, wooden and metal utensils and various other domestic things. Pashmina shawl is one of the products which is popular not only in Himachal but all over the country. But lacks of market facilities, these artistic and elegant handicrafts were not sold very much. Though, the demand for handicrafts has increased within and outside the country. Anglo-Indian architecture church in Shimla.Himachal was one of the few states that had remained largely undamaged by external customs, largely due to its difficult territory. The condition of state changed drastically with the technological advancements. It is a multireligional, multicultural as well as multilingual state like other Indian states. Most commonly spoken languages include Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari, Dogri, Kangri and Kinnauri. Himachali caps are also famous art work of the people. Due to extreme cold winters, there is necessity of wool weaving. Shawls of Kullu are famous for unique patterns and lively colors. Typical local music and dance reveals the cultural distinctiveness of the state. These dances are performed during local festivals and other special occasions.

The eatables used by Himachal Pradesh people are lentil, broth, rice, vegetables and bread. non vegetarian items are more preferred. Some of the specialities of Himachal include Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery, Patrode, Beduan and chutney. Many well-known people came from Himachal. English author Rudyard Kipling, Indian film personalities Dalip Singh Rana, Anupam Kher, Preity Zinta, Amrish Puri and Prem Chopra, economist and former vice-president of World Bank Shahid Javed Burki, Satyananda Stokes who introduced apple in the region, writer Idries Shah, ornithologist Allan Octavian Hume, former general of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and current President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai are the famous entity related to Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is also attracted tourist for adventure sports. A lot of people visit Himachal in the winters too, for exploring the several opportunities the state offers for winter sports.
To conclude, HimachalPradesh is varied in its rich culture. Diverse traditions of this state are represented by Saints, philosophers, music, handicrafts and its festivals with all their colorful rituals and ethnicity. It is advisable to visit the state is during the summer months, basically from April to July and again from September to November.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and (Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर; ) is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the People's Republic of China to the northeast, the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and Pakistani-administered territories of Kashmir, namely Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas to the west and northwest respectively. Formerly a part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, this territory is disputed between China, India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir is referred to in India as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and some international agencies refer as Indian-administered Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir consist of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital, and Jammu, its winter capital. While the Kashmir valley, often known as Paradise on Earth, is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape, Jammu's numerous shrines attracts tens of thousands of Hindu and Muslim pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture.Distinct from the rest of the country, Jammu and Kashmir sports a multifaceted, multicolored and unique cultural blend. Not only the geographical conditions of the state are different but it can also be set apart demographically with varied ethical and social entities, diversity of religions flourishing in the area, different language and cultural forms and heritage albeit with an over-reigning harmony that blends in with the serenity and beauty of the region. One gets dazed by the sheer diversity and richness of art and architecture, fairs and festivals, rites and rituals, seers and sagas, languages and mountains that thrive amongst the unparalleled cultural cohesion, which is exemplary. Kashmir has been the highest learning centre of Sanskrit and Persian as Indo-Aryanic civilization has originated and flourished here. It also embraced the advent of Islam along with the virtues of Persian civilization such as tolerance, brotherhood and sacrifice. Nature's grand finale of beauty, Kashmir is the masterpiece of earth's creation and the folk performances of Kashmir are intimately mingled with the moods and movements of the seasons. Jammu, the land of the Dogras, has some beautiful dances and music that originated in its lap and were developed by the hardy and graceful women of the Duggar to divert themselves from the long spell of separations from their soldier husbands and brothers. Besides the purpose of adding cheer to their lives in their free moments, there are folk songs and dances that echo their feelings of separation and the ever-increasing yearning for reunion with the beloved, the hard life on the mountain slopes and various other themes that are connected with their day-to-day lives. Kud is basically a ritual dance performed in honor of Lok Devatas mostly during nights. A spontaneous dance, people of all ages and sexes participate in this folk dance form accompanied by musical instruments used during this dance are Narshingha, chhaina, flute and drums. Heren is a traditional theatre form performed during Lohri festival and is mostly performed in hilly regions of Jammu. The ladies perform Fumenie and Jagarana on the eve of groom's departure to in-laws house accompanied by the songs are sung by a group of females. This traditional dance form depicts the feelings and emotions of women folk. Bakh is known by many different names such as Gwatri, Kark and Masade and is actually a chorus narrative sung by a group of 10 singers without the accompaniment of any musical instruments. Gawatri is a tradition in which the singers narrate some text, which is enacted by the Gwatari dancers. Karak is a ballad with a story sung by the Jogi community who narrate a popular folk tale in their dance performance done by three members to the accompaniment of typical folk instrument called Rabab. The chorus singing tradition performed by specific tribal communities called Gujjars and Bakerwals is known as Benthe, which 5 to 7 members participate in the dance performance. Kashmir region has its own musical performances that have won the hearts of many of its visitors. Bhand Pather is a traditional folk theatre style exhibiting combination of play and dance in a satirical style where social traditions, and evils are depicted and performed in various social and cultural functions. Bhand Jashan is performed by a group of 10 to 15 artists in their traditional style accompanied by light music for the entertainment of people. The most popular form of Kashmiri folk music is called Chakri that bears resemblance to Chakra of mountainous regions of Uttar Pradesh. It was accompanied by Garaha, Sarangi, Rabab once as the musical instruments but today harmonium plays an important role in its presentation. Sufiana Music migrated to Kashmir from Iran in the 15th century and flourished here as the classical music form of Kashmir. It absorbed a number of Indian Ragas and Hafiz Nagma was once a part of Sofiana Music. In Hafiz Nagma a dancer is a female while her accompanists on various instruments are males. An Hafiza (dancer) moves her feet on musical notes. The instruments that go with this form are Santoor, Sitar, Kashmiri Saz, Wasool or Tabala. Today, only a few families in Kashmir are practicing this musical for.

Jharkhand

Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar state on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east. An area of 28,833 sq mi (74,677 km²).
The industrial city of Ranchi is its capital. Some of the other major cities and industrial centers are Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Sindri, Deoghar, Hazaribagh.
The name Jharkhand comes from the Sanskrit Jharikhanda which is the ancient name of the regions dense forest - Jharikhanda.
Jharkhand is famed for its mineral wealth and forestry products.
Jharkhand is now advancing economically much faster than its northern neighbor, Bihar. Jharkhand's poverty rate declined 2% per year from 1994-2002. Unlike some other Indian states, Jharkhand's reduction in poverty was faster in the rural areas than in the urban ones. Its percentage of immunized children grew from 9% in 1998-99 to nearly 50% now, according to UNICEF. Jharkhand has made primary education so accessible that 95% of children ages 6-11 are enrolled in school as opposed to 56% in 1993-94. In general Education has manage to get a higher priority in Jharkhand.Jharkhand has a rich variety of flora and fauna. The National Parks and the Zoological Gardens located in the state of Jharkhand present a panorama of this variety.
Betla National Park (Palamu), 25 km from Daltonganj covers an area of about 250 square kilometres. The national park has a large variety of wild life like tigers, elephants, bisons locally called gaurs, sambhars, hundreds of wild boar and 15 to 20 feet (6.1 m) long python, herds of spotted deer (cheetals), rabbits and foxes. The mammalian fauna to be seen at Betla National Park also include langurs, rhesus, blue bull and wild boars. The lesser mammals are the porcupine, hare, wild cats, honey badgers, jackals, Malabar giant squirrel, mongoose, wolf, antelope, etc. In 1974, the park was declared Project Tiger Reserve

Karnataka

Karnataka Kannada: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, pronounced [kəɾˈnɑːʈəkɑː]is a state in the southern part of India. It was created on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as the State of Mysore, it was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
Karnataka is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest. The state covers an area of 74,122 sq mi(191,976 km²), or 5.83% of the total geographical area of India. It is the eighth largest Indian state by area, the ninth largest by population and comprises 29 districts. Kannada is the official and most widely spoken language.
Though several etymologies have been suggested for the name Karnataka, the generally accepted one is that Karnataka is derived from the Kannada words karu and nādu, meaning elevated land. Karu nadu may also be read as Karu (black) and nadu (region), as a reference to the black cotton soil found in the Bayaluseeme region of Karnataka. The British used the word Carnatic (sometimes Karnatak) to describe both sides of peninsular India, south of the Krishna River
With an antiquity that dates to the paleolithic, Karnataka has also been home to some of the most powerful empires of ancient and medieval India. The philosophers and musical bards patronised by these empires launched socio-religious and literary movements which have endured to the present day. Karnataka has contributed significantly to both forms of Indian classical music, the Carnatic (Karnataka Music) and Hindustani traditions. Writers in the Kannada language have received the most number of Jnanpith awards in India. Bangalore is the capital city of the state and is at the forefront of the rapid economic and technological development that India is experiencing.The culture of Karnataka is a potpourri of the myriad elements of human life. The culture is rich and colorful and expresses itself in manifold ways. Religion plays an important role in every sphere of Karnataka culture and one is awestruck by the profusion of sacred pilgrimages all over the state. The culture of Karnataka has nurtured indigenous elements and has embraced new dimensions from the neighboring states. Classical dances and music are a way of life in Karnataka and the state has contributed immensely to the pan-Indian scenario. The people of the state are amiable in nature and have proven to be great hosts for tourists. The culture of Karnataka is a unique blend of all these elements and much more. Come to this land and explore the cream of Karnataka culture.People and Lifestyle in Karnataka – Bound by Indigenous Traditions
A varied mix of ethnicity, culture, religious and race comprise of the people of Karnataka. The amicable population of Karnataka lives in perfect harmony and mutual contact with their neighbors and inmates. Malayalis, Tamils, Marathis and people from Andhra Pradesh and all over the country have co-existed in mutual harmony with the endemic people of the land for centuries.The dress of Karnataka is very similar to the pattern of other states of South India. Known for their grace, convenience and decency which is an integral part of their culture, the men can be found in shirts or kurtas along with a lungi on the upper and lower body respectively. The women are seen in Sarees, the traditional dress of women. Saree is worn in the characteristic nivi style of southern India with pleats in the front and sometime passed on to the rear to facilitate movement. However, this can differentiate as per the norms of a particular region.Just like the culture and traditions of Karnataka, the language of the state is nonpareil as well. Kannada is the official language of the state that is spoken by the majority of Karnataka people. However, other lingual groups like Tamil, Malayali, Konkani, Hindi and Urdu also exist. The majority of people follow the Hindu religion which is further followed by Islam and Christianity. The Malayali groups are centered around Mysore and have a distinct socio-linguistic group

Kerala

Kerala (Malayalam: കേരളം; Kēraḷaṁ) is a union state located in the southwestern part of India. With an Arabian Sea coastline on the west, it is bordered on the north by Karnataka and by Tamil Nadu on the south and east. Major cities are Thiruvananthapuram(the capital), Kochi, and Kozhikode. The principal spoken language is Malayalam but many other languages are also spoken.
Kerala is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata(800 BC) at several instances as a tribe, as a region and as a kingdom[citation needed]. The first written mention of Kerala is seen in a 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor Asoka the Great, where it is mentioned as Keralaputra. This region formed part of ancient Tamilakam and was ruled by the Cheras. They had extensive trade relations with the Greeks, Romans and Arabs. In the 1st century AD Jewish immigrants arrived, and it is believed that St. Thomas the Apostle visited Kerala in the same century.The Chera Kingdom and later the feudal Nair and Namboothiri Brahmin city-states became major powers in the region.Early contact with Europeans gave way to struggles between colonial and native interests. The States Reorganisation Act of 1 November 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood.
Late-19th-century social reforms by Cochin and Travancore were expanded by post-independence governments. The state is known for achievements such as a literacy rate at 89.9 which is among the highest in India, although still behind developing countries such as China (93%) or Thailand (93.9%). Kerala is one of the five states which receive "serious" malnutrition situation rating from Global Hunger Index, slightly ahead "alarming" ratings received by most states. A survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country. The state confronts comparatively high suicide, alcoholism, and unemployment ratesA large proportion of the population has moved away and Kerala is uniquely dependent on remittances, mainly from the Gulf countries.

Native traditions of classical performing arts include koodiyattom, a form of Sanskrit dramaor theatre and a UNESCO-designated Human Heritage Art. Kathakali (from katha ("story") and kali ("performance")) is a 500-year-old form of dance-drama that interprets ancient epics; a popularized offshoot of kathakali is Kerala natanam (developed in the 20th century by dancer Guru Gopinath). Meanwhile, koothu is a more light-hearted performance mode, akin to modern stand-up comedy; an ancient art originally confined to temple sanctuaries, it was later popularized by Mani Madhava Chakyar. Other Keralite performing arts include mohiniyaattam ("dance of the enchantress"), which is a type of graceful choreographed dance performed by women and accompanied by musical vocalizations. Thullal, padayani, and theyyam are other important Keralite arts.
Kerala also has several tribal and folk art forms. For example, Kummattikali is the famous colorful mask-dance of South Malabar, performed during the festival of Onam. The Kannyar Kali dances (also known as Desathukali) are fast moving, militant dances attuned to rhythmic devotional folk songs and asuravadyas. Also important are various performance genres that are Islam- or Christianity-themed. These include oppana, which is widely popular among Keralite Muslims and is native to Malabar. Oppana incorporates group dance accompanied by the beat of rhythmic hand clapping and ishal vocalizations.
However, many of these native art forms largely play to tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among ordinary Keralites. Thus, more contemporary forms — including those heavily based on the use of often risqué and politically incorrect mimicry and parody — have gained considerable mass appeal in recent years. Indeed, contemporary artists often use such modes to mock socioeconomic elites. In recent decades, Malayalam cinema, yet another mode of widely popular artistic expression, have provided a distinct and indigenous Keralite alternative to both Bollywood and Hollywood.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP) : Middle Province), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh was originally the largest state in India until November 1, 2000 when the state of Chhattisgarh was carved out. It borders the states Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The state has an area of 308,252 km².
Between 1999 and 2008, the annualized growth rate was very low 3.5%Global Hunger Index report states that Madhya Pradesh has the India's worst malnutrition situation.

The culture of Madhya Pradesh is curbed out due the ample contributions of tribal communities. The history of Madhya Pradesh is glorified by the impact of Maurya and Mughal era. They had left behind not only the marvelous monuments and architectural wonders but also shaped the cultural modes of the region. Madhya Pradesh is the home of numerous tribes, which also has resulted in amalgamating their own tradition. In fact three distinct tribes namely Gonds, Bhils and Oraons influence the culture of Madhya Pradesh . The scenic beauty, fertile plains, flora and fauna, have nurtured the inhabitants , thus enabling them to fructify their creative acumen. Music, dance and other traits of Madhya Pradesh culture is, thus, colored by the creative zeal of the `desi` tribes, integrating to the magnanimous culture of Indian subcontinent.Khajuraho Dance Festival""1No one can claim to have known the region fully without identifying its festival jamboree. Festivals, too, enrich the culture of Madhya Pradesh. The region of Madhya Pradesh is the locale of fairs and festivals, which also becomes its style mantra. In other words, culture of Madhya Pradesh is incubated due to exquisite festival celebrations. Apart from celebrating all other Indian festivals like Holi, Dusshera , the tribal festivals and fairs are also observed in full vigor and merrymaking. Revelry, drinks and alien amusement like cock fighting, dancing label these tribal festivals in Madhya Pradesh.. `Kalidas Samaroh`, `Tansen Samaroh` and a dance fete in Khajuraho are celebrated, in great fiesta, with vast number of avid participants. Religious festivals too are observed with veneration. In West Nimar and Jabua regions of Mandhyanchal , a colorful festival called Bhagoria Haat is feted by the Bhils and Bhilalas tribes.

Madhya Pradesh - Bastar Tribal Music and Dance""1Music too is rich and vibrant encompassing the rich heritage of musicians. The culture of Madhya Pradesh , in true sense, is widely recognized for its musical extravaganza and dancing rhythms . Folk songs, songs of Indian classical music genre are equally popular among music lovers. In Bastar, the Muria and Sing Maria tribes are famous for the songs namely relo. These are hummed by the tribal children. The region is also fructified by dhankul songs colligated with evoking Danteshwari, a goddess, and the `chait parah`. In Jagdalpur, leha songs are famous. These are ritual song sung at the time of the departure from near and dear ones. The Kamar people are cognized for wedding song, often directed to fabled cornetist, known as Moharia. During festivals, the swaying tunes of songs in accompaniment with bansi, harmonium, flute, chastise both young hearts as well as oldies. The bans is an instrument excusively found in Madhya Pradesh.It is an `aerophonic` The ambience of frenzy is even more heightened by the suave steps of the dancing troupes. The colourful Maria Gonds of Bastar fete their important events by dancing. The most popular dance form is the outstanding wedding dancing, called the Gaur is worthy to watch . Tribal dances like Phag, Lota and various stilt dance styles are also prevalent Dressed up in colored clothes, the tribal population dance and hum melodious numbers thus depicting various aspects of socio-political and cultural scenarios. In nutshell, these bonanzas create a spectacular aura to its audiences both at home and abroad.musical instrument about four feet in length. It is made of bamboo, and fiddled by the Rawats.

Khajuraho Temple""1Hindi and Marathi are the main language spoken by the people. Besides the usage of the tribal languages like Bhili and Gondi has been found out and they belong to the Indo-European and Dravidian language clans. The region looms large in lush textiles and rural handiworks. The people treasure handloom Chanderi and Maheshwar silks. Madhya Pradesh is a hub of `erotic` artistries and beautiful architectural works. Khajuraho Temple in the Chhatarpur district is a perfect example and the ancient Chandela Kings constructed it. UNESCO has announced the Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986) including Devi Jagadambi temple, Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) as World Heritage Sites. Tribal craftsmen are skilled in metal wares and esthetic objects.The people of Madhya Pradesh are enticed by sumptuous dishes, making the cuisine an integral element of the culture of Madhya Pradesh. The foods are hot and spicy . It is interesting to note that within the same region people prefer variations in food meals. Wheat and mutton are favorites for north and west and people of south and eastern provinces devour fish and rice. A special type of wheat cakes, namely, Bafla soused in rich ghee and then it is consumed with `daal` . Sweet ladoos are being savored afterwards. Some people especially those residing in Gwalior and Indore has developed the taste for milk and milk-based cookeries. Bhopalites make dainty mutton and fish dishes. Rogan josh, korma, yummy keema, biryani pilaf and kababs such as shami and seekh are delicacies and become the trademarks of Madhya Pradesh cuisine. To beat the heat of sultry summers , the people of Madhya Pradesh savore voluptuously juicy fruits like melons, custard apples, papayas, guavas and bananas. Lasi is the favorite drink for the Madhya Pradesh natives. Besides the region is productive of alcohols prepared from the sugarcanes. A special type of liqor called sulfi is prepared extracted from the flowers of mohua trees.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located on the western coast of India. Maharashtra is actually a part of Western India, even though many consider it part of North India. It is India's third largest state by area and second largest by population.
Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Gujarat and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, and Goa to the southwest. The state covers an area of 307,731 km2 (118,816 sq mi) or 9.84% of the total geographical area of India. Mumbai, the capital city of the state, is India's largest city and the financial capital of the nation. Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language.
In the 17th Century, the Marathas rose under the leadership of Chhattrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale(who was a SHUDRA - Low Caste King) against the Mughals who were ruling a large part of India. After the third Anglo-Maratha war, the empire ended and most of Maharashtra became part of Bombay state under a British Raj. After Indian independence, Maharashtra Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti demanded unification of all Marathi speaking regions under one state. The first state reorganization committee created the current Maharashtra state on May 1, 1960 (known as Maharashtra Day). The Marathi-speaking areas of Bombay state, Deccan states and Vidarbha (which was part of Central Provinces and Berar) united to form the current state.
Maharashtra is the richest state in India, contributing to 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.2% of its GDP in year 2005-06.

By the early seventeenth century, the Maratha Empire began to take root. Shahaji Bhosale, an ambitious local general in the employ of the Mughals and Adil Shah of Bijapur, at various times attempted to establish his independent rule. The attempts succeeded through his son Shivaji Bhosale. Marathas were led by Chhattrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsle, who was crowned king in 1674. Shivaji constantly battled with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and Adil Shah of Bijapur. By the time of his death in 1680, Shivaji had created a kingdom covering most of Maharashtra today (except the Aurangabad district which was part of the Nizam's territory) and Gujarat.
Shivaji's son and successor Chhatrapatti Sambhaji Bhosale became the ruler of the Maratha kingdom in 1680. He was captured, tortured and brutally put to death by Aurangzeb.
Rajaram's nephew & Sambhaji's son, Shahu Bhosale declared himself to be the legitimate heir to the Bhosale throne. In 1714, Shahu's Peshwa (chief minister) Balaji Vishwanath, helped him seize the Maratha throne in 1708, with some acrimony from Rajaram's widow, Tara Bai.

The British governed the region as part of the Bombay Presidency, which spanned an area from Karachi in Pakistan to most of the northern Deccan. A number of the Maratha states persisted as princely states, retaining local autonomy in return for acknowledging British sovereignty. The largest princely states in the territory of present-day Maharashtra were Nagpur, Satara and Kolhapur; Satara was annexed to Bombay Presidency in 1848, and Nagpur was annexed in 1853 to become Nagpur Province, later part of the Central Provinces. Berar, which had been part of the Nizam of Hyderabad's kingdom, was occupied by the British in 1853 and annexed to the Central Provinces in 1903. A large part of present day Maharashtra called Marathwada remained part of the Nizam's Hyderabad state during British rule. The British rule was marked by social reforms and an improvement in infrastructure as well as revolts due to their discriminatory policies. At the beginning of the 20th century, the struggle for independence took shape led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the moderates like Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Pherozeshah Mehta and Dadabhai Naoroji. In 1942, the Quit India Movement was called by Mahatma Gandhi which was marked by a non-violent civil disobedience movement and strikes.

Meghalaya

Meghalaya is a small state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means "The Abode of Clouds" in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long (east-west) and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi(22,720 km²). The population numbered 2,175,000 in 2000. The state is bounded on the north by Assam and by Bangladesh on the south. The capital is Shillong, which has a population of 260,000.
About one third of the state is forested. The Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion encompasses the state; its mountain forests are distinct from the lowland tropical forests to the north and south. The forests of Meghalaya are notable for their biodiversity of mammals, birds, and plants.
The main tribes in Meghalaya are the Jaintias, the Khasis and the Garos. One of the unique features of the State is that a majority of the tribal population in Meghalaya follows a matrilineal system where lineage and inheritance are traced through women. The Khasi and Jaintia tribesmen follow the traditional matrilineal norm, wherein the "Ka Khadduh" (or the youngest daughter) inherits all the property and acts as the caretaker of aged parents and any unmarried siblings. However, the male line, particularly the mother’s brother, may indirectly control the ancestral property since he may be involved in important decisions relating to property including its sale and disposal. The tribal people of Meghalaya are therefore a part of what may be the world's largest surviving matrilineal culture. According to India's National Family Health Survey, Meghalaya is the state where parents have shown the least interest to have a male child -- 73% less than the national average.
The Khasis inhabit the eastern part of Meghalaya, in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Khasis residing in Jaintia hills are now better known as Jaintias. They are also called Pnars. The Khasis occupying the northern lowlands and foothills are generally called Bhois. Those who live in the southern tracts are termed Wars.Again among the Wars, those living in the Khasi Hills are called War-Khasis and those in the Jaintia Hills, War-Pnars or War-Jaintias. In the Jaintia Hills we have Khyrwangs, Labangs, Nangphylluts, Nangtungs in the north-eastern part and in the east. In the Khasi Hills the Lyngngams live in the north-western part. But all of them claim to have descended from the 'Ki Hynniew Trep' and are now known by the generic name of Khasi-Pnars or simply Khasis. They have the same traditions, customs and usage with a little variation owing to geographical divisions.

Mizoram

Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India. It shares land borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Bangladesh and the Chin State state of Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its population at the 2001 census stood at 888,573. Mizoram ranks second in India with a literacy rate of 88.49%

Mizoram has the most variegated hilly terrain in the eastern part of India. The hills are steep (avg. height 1000 metres) and separated by rivers which flow either to the north or south creating deep gorges between the hill ranges. The highest peak in Mizoram is the Blue Mountain with a height of 2210 metres. Its tropical location combined with the high altitude gives it a mild climate all year round. Mizoram is rich in flora and fauna and many kinds of tropical trees and plants thrive in the area. Mizoram literally means land of the highlanders.
Mizoram has a mild climate, not very warm in summer and not very cold in winter. During winter, the temperature varies from 11°C to 21°C and in summer it varies between 20°C to 29°C. The entire area is under the regular influence of monsoons. It rains heavily from May to September and the average rainfall is 254 cm, per annum. The average annual rainfall in Aizawl and Lunglei are 208 centimetres and 350 centimetres, respectively. Winter in Mizoram is normally rain-free.