1. United States Of America

The United States boasts one of the largest Indian populations, with millions of Indian Americans contributing to the country’s rich cultural tapestry. According to the latest statistics, the Indian diaspora in the United States numbers over 4 million, making it a prominent and influential community. Indian communities have established themselves in several major cities across the United States. These cities, including Silicon Valley, New York, Chicago, and Houston, have become hubs for Indian professionals, students, and families. They host a plethora of cultural events and festivals that reflect the vibrancy of Indian traditions in America.

• Population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 1280000

• Population of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 3180000

• Population of Overseas Indians – 4460000

2. The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom shares deep historical ties with India, dating back to colonial times. Today, the Indian diaspora in the UK is a vibrant and integral part of British society. The presence of numerous Indian communities, especially in cities like London, has led to a cross-pollination of cultures and traditions.

Indian immigrants have made significant contributions to the UK’s multicultural society. From politics and business to the arts and academia, individuals of Indian origin have excelled in various fields. The UK is home to a wide range of Indian restaurants, cultural events, and religious sites, highlighting the enduring connection between the two nations.

• Population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 351000

• Population of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 1413000

• Population of Overseas Indians – 1764000

3. The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has witnessed an exponential increase in its Indian expatriate population over the years. Today, Indians constitute a significant part of the country’s total population, with their numbers reaching into the millions. This rapid growth is a testament to the economic opportunities and global exposure the UAE offers to Indian professionals and workers. The Indian expatriate community in the UAE has played a pivotal role in the nation’s economic development. From contributing to the growth of sectors like construction and healthcare to establishing successful businesses, Indians have left an indelible mark on the UAE’s landscape.

• Population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 3419875

• Population of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 5269

• Population of Overseas Indians – 3425144

4. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia hosts a significant Indian workforce, primarily in sectors like construction, healthcare, and information technology. The Indian community in Saudi Arabia consists of skilled professionals who have made substantial contributions to the nation’s infrastructure and economic development. Indian cultural centers and community groups have flourished in Saudi Arabia, providing a platform for Indian expatriates to celebrate their cultural heritage. Events like Diwali, Holi, and Eid are celebrated with enthusiasm and offer a taste of home to the Indian community residing in the Kingdom.

• Population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 2592166

• Population of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 2781

• Population of Overseas Indians – 2594947

5. Malaysia

Malaysia is home to a diverse range of Indian ethnic groups, each contributing to the nation’s rich tapestry of cultures. Malaysians of Indian origin primarily consist of Tamils, Malayalees, Punjabis, and Bengalis, among others. This vibrant mix of ethnicities brings a myriad of traditions, languages, and culinary delights to Malaysia. The Indian community in Malaysia plays an integral role in the nation’s development. From trade and commerce to education and politics, Malaysians of Indian descent have been active contributors to the country’s progress. Their cultural influence is evident in religious celebrations, festivals, and the enchanting art of Bharatanatyam, which is widely appreciated.

• Population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 227950

• Population of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 2760000

• Population of Overseas Indians – 2987950

6. Canada

Canada has been a destination of choice for Indian immigrants seeking a better quality of life and new opportunities. With a significant presence of Indian Canadians across the country, the Indian diaspora has shaped the multicultural fabric of Canada, contributing to its reputation as one of the world’s most diverse nations. Indian Canadians have embraced their cultural roots while integrating into Canadian society. The diversity of Indian communities in Canada is evident in the array of cultural festivals, religious celebrations, and culinary traditions that enrich the country’s multicultural landscape.

• Population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 178410

• Population of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 1510645

• Population of Overseas Indians – 1689055

A new genus and species of giant madtsoiid snake that lived in what is now India around 47 million years ago (early Middle Eocene epoch) has been identified from a partial vertebral column unearthed in the Indian state of Gujarat. Scientifically named Vasuki indicus, the new species thrived during a warm geological interval with average temperatures estimated at?28 degrees Celsius. The ancient snake was part of Madtsoiidae, an extinct group of primarily Gondwanan land snakes with a temporal range spanning about 100 million years from the Late Cretaceous epoch to the Late Pleistocene.

“The Madtsoiidae family existed for around 100 million years from the Late Cretaceous to the Late Pleistocene and lived in a broad geographical range including Africa, Europe, and India,” said Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee paleontologists Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai. “Vasuki indicus represents a lineage of large madtsoiids that originated in the Indian subcontinent and spread via southern Europe to Africa during the Eocene, approximately 56 to 34 million years ago.”

A series of 27 mostly well-preserved vertebrae from a fully-grown Vasuki indicus was recovered from the Panandhro Lignite Mine, which is part of the Naredi Formation in the Gujarat state, western India. The vertebrae measure between 3.75 and 6.3 cm (1.5-2.5 inches) in length and 6.24 and 11.14 cm (2.5-4.4 inches) in width, suggesting a broad, cylindrical body. Vasuki indicus reached an estimated length of between 11 and 15 m (36-49 feet), making this species the largest known madtsoiid snake. “This is comparable in size to the longest known snake to have ever lived, the extinct Titanoboa,” the researchers said. “The large size of Vasuki indicus made it a slow-moving, ambush predator akin to an anaconda.”

1. Holi is a lunar celebration : Holi falls on a full moon day in the month of phalgun, as per the lunar calendar. Phalgun generally occurs around February/March.

2. It is a spring festival : Holi is celebrated at the onset of spring season. The budding of flora is an anticipation to rich harvest for the year.  In celebration of this communities come together to dance, smear coloured powder and throw water balloons at each other.

3. There’s not just one story behind the festival : One of the core stories behind the festival is based on the legend of Hiranyakashyap, Prahlad, and Holika from Hindu mythology. However, in some regions, the focus of the celebrations shift to blessings for good harvest, commemorating ancestors, celebrating victories and more!

4. The use of natural colours was influenced by ayurveda : Traditionally, Holi colours were derived from natural sources like leaves, fruits, roots etc which are key ingredients of ayurveda medicines. The colours are used either in particulate powders or liquid splashes.  All natural, it’s a way to rejuvenate the skin with the plants’ healing and refreshing properties.

5. There are showcases of dance, music and processions : Some cities have elaborate processions lasting up to two weeks!  Traditional folk songs and dances take the centre stage. More popular in urban areas is to have selective Bollywood songs that resonate with the festival. Some cities even organise local rock concerts!

No plastic

When in Goa, do keep in mind that this beach destination has announced a blanket ban on certain single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. Also, as per the notification issued by the pollution watchdog, stocking, manufacturing, and sale of these single-use plastic items is prohibited in Goa.

Be cautious of water activities

Recently, the state tourism department also noted that boating/water sports activities from areas other than those permitted and conducted within demarcated zones, will not be allowed. They have also warned touts against selling of cruise boat tickets or any other tourist activities at places other than authorised ticketing counters and offices.

No cooking on beaches

Next time when you’re in Goa, don’t try to cook food or consume alcohol on the beaches, as new stricter rules have been put in place to regulate such activities of tourists. If reports are to go by, the Goan Government has also updated the Registration of Tourist Trade Act to regulate fines on drinking and cooking on the beaches.

Cooking near roadsides

Not only beaches, one will also not be allowed to cook near the roads. Reportedly, the state tourism department has also prohibited any sort of cooking near the roads, as it has been found that many tourists often cook and create a mess by the roadside.

Ban on desk beds lying on beaches

Take note that there is also a ban imposed on illegal placement of deck-beds, tables, and other items on all the beaches of the state without acquiring valid permissions from the prescribed or competent authority. So, make sure that you have all the required information before using any of these.

Unauthorised vehicles

During your next Goa vacation, make sure that you take a vehicle for use after carrying out thorough research, and checking their valid documents. This is because it is now illegal to drive any unauthorised vehicles in tourist places, especially on Goa beaches.

The current government is considering a yet another silly thing – to change the name of the country from India to Bharat! The invitations to a state dinner to mark India’s hosting of this year’s G20 came not, as you’d expect, from the office of the president of India, but from the “president of Bharat”. There’s a growing push among BJP MPs to adopt the name change, since “India” – the conventional English rendering of the country’s name – to some at least, symbolises “colonial slavery”. The nation of more than 1.4 billion people is officially known by two names, India and Bharat, but the former is most commonly used, both domestically and internationally.

Bharat is an ancient Sanskrit word which many historians believe dates back to early Hindu texts. The word also means India in Hindi. Given the Hindu-nationalist ideology of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and its push for increased use of Hindi, critics responded to the use of Bharat in the invites by suggesting the government was pushing for the name to be officially changed. Changing India’s name to only Bharat would require an amendment to the constitution which would need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.

The BJP has already renamed cities and places that were linked to the Mughal and colonial periods. Last year, for instance, the Mughal Garden at the presidential palace in New Delhi was renamed Amrit Udyan. Critics said the new names are an attempt to erase the Mughals, who were Muslims and ruled the subcontinent for almost 300 years, from Indian history.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 has landed on the moon’s south pole, making India the first country to reach that region. The successful moon mission has made India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface after the US, China, and the erstwhile Soviet Union. Parties and prayers were held with great fervour across the country ahead of the historic lunar touchdown. ISRO is live telecasting the landing event on its ISRO website. The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 from Sriharikota. The Vikram lander began its descent toward the moon surface at a velocity of 1.68 km per second. It then slowed down before beginning a powered vertical descent to the surface of the moon.

The real test of the mission began at the last leg of the landing. Prior to 20 minutes before landing, ISRO initiated Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS). It enabled Vikram LM to take charge and use its on-board computers and logic to identify a favourable spot and make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. Given the history of India’s second lunar mission, which failed during the last 20 minutes before landing, ISRO was extra-cautious this time in the process. Due to high risk to the spacecraft minutes before moon landing, the duration is dubbed by many as “20 or 17 minutes of terror”. During this phase, the whole process became autonomous, where Vikram lander ignited its own engines at the right times and altitudes.

The spacecraft’s Vikram lander made the soft landing at 6.04 PM (IST), ending the disappointment over the crash-landing of the Chandrayaan-2 lander four years ago. According to ISRO, the mission’s three objectives are to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, to demonstrate a Rover roving on the Moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

India was the first country to mine diamonds

India was the source of diamonds were in the world from the 4th century BC for around 1000 years. The pure diamonds were found in the Krishna River Delta, located in Andhra Pradesh.

They are pioneers

As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, Indians gave the worlds a lot of important inventions and discoveries. You may don’t know, but chess is one of them, the king Balhait ordered an Indian brahmin to design a game to promote the intelligence of people. Wireless communication is another one, this innovation revolutionized the way we communicate by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose.The wireless radio communication, which enables individuals to communicate quickly and transmit data over a distance without the electrical wires or cables.

India is the second largest English-speaking country in the world

Lastly, in our list of facts about India, did you know that India is the second largest country in the world that speaks English? So it is! English is the main language spoken in the country, apart from the 400 languages and dialects we have mentioned before.

India has one of the lowest percentage of population using the internet

Even though India also has the second largest number of internet users in the world, second only to China, the percentage of the population using the internet is among the lowest in the world, with only 48.7% of the population having access to it – well behind the world average of 64.4% (as of 2022).

Home of a mysterious skeleton lake

Located in the Himalayas at about 16,470 feet, the glacial Lake Roopkund has become famous for the human skeletons found in the lake and surrounding areas. It is thought that the skeletons are the remains of people from the 9^th century who perished during a severe hail storm.

India has 22 recognized languages

The numerous languages spoken across India include Santali, Kashmiri, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. However, the official languages are English and Hindi. India also has the world’s second-largest population of English speakers (first is the United States), since most Indians speak their own regional language as well as English for easier communication.

There are A LOT of holidays

In 2019, India recorded 26 official holidays, including Independence Day, Deepavali, Holi, and Christmas. The wide range of celebrations comes from the fact that so many different cultural groups are blended in the Indian population, leading to a plethora of holidays and festivals.

Around 70% of the world’s spices come from India

India is by far the largest producer of spices, which are shipped across continents to restaurants and kitchens worldwide. Some of the best-known spices are turmeric, cumin, saffron, and chili powders