Jewelry has been used throughout the history of India. Skilled jewelers were inspired by their ancestors to create gifts in gold and silver inspired by nature’s flowers and leaves. Indian jewelry types include both stone- and bead-work. While gold jewelry is the most popular form among South Indian women, emeralds, rubies, garnets, corals and sapphires are also popular traditional jewels in India.
Floral decoration during Onam festival, Kerala, India
Kathak is a Sanskrit word which implies a meaning of story. It is an ancient dance where people use to tell stories that also include some sort of dance. Sophisticated hand movements and the fast foot movements are the main part and style of the dance.
As it is a really old Art, so you can clearly see the amalgamation of different cultures that it passed through. There have been colors of devotion and bhagti that has been merged with the colors that it acquired from the Mughal era. When talk about Mughal era, the main thing that brought a change in the whole facet of this dance was the Persian dancers which danced in the Mughal courtyards.
As it is a traditional and old dance, hence, there are some of the ways to learn this form of dance which is classified in the Gharanas. There are three main gharanas for Kathak which are the Jaipur gharana, the Lucknow gharana and the Banaras gharana.
Story told in Kathak in those old times were more of a religious one; however, today it has gained a more of a recreational aspect. You can also experience a lot of musical instruments which are used to create a feel in the Kathak. For instance, Bansuri, Dilruba, Ghungroo, Sitar, Tabla, Tanpura and many of this kind.
The combination of these instruments along with the exotic steps and movements taken by the Kathak dancers, develop a great atmosphere that really needs to be felt by oneself as it is different reading about them compared to be a part of one such performance. The whole thing about his dance form is delicacy, whatever move you take with your hands and feet, it has to look graceful and that is the very soul of the dance. It has regained its popularity in India as now people are getting training for this form of dance from their childhood.
SOURCE;http://www.gii.in/India
India as a country is an eclectic mix of different geography, landscapes, cultures and languages. Therefore it is only natural to have the food of different regions too as varied and suited to the region as possible.
Hence, the thali too has variations according to the regional differences.
Some popular thali kinds are,
South Indian Thali – With dishes like rasam, sambhar, idli, dosa or appam.
Gujarati Thali – With traditional gujarati dishes like dhokla, khandvi, kadi, chaas etc.
Punjabi Thali – Spicy and great tasting dishes like chole, bhature, palav etc.
Rajasthani Thali – Having the ditstinct flavor of Rajasthan with dishes like gatta, ker sangri, heavily buttered roti and more.
Sometimes, a is also differentiated with the amount of food you are served. Some have fixed menus in which you are served the complete meal at once and you cannot ask for more (most times you don’t even want to because of the huge quantities served the very first time). There are others which are called as unlimited thalis in which you can keep on asking for more and more until of course, the heart says yes but the overloaded tummy says a big NO.
A thali has the usual vegetarian and non-vegetarian options too but not everywhere. Indians love there vegetables and there are more number of vegetarians here than those who eat meat. Hence, vegetarian thalis are more widely available and popular than the non-veg. versions.
SOURCE :http://www.brighthub.com
Ikebana is known as the art of Japanese flower arranging. But it is directly translated as the arrangement of plant materials, meaning the artist is not 
limited only to the showy and colorful blooms of traditional Western florists. Ikebana began as ancient monks offered flowers at temples, in much the same way that bonsai developed as a discipline. We now recognize the minimalist style and its influences everywhere. The arrangements express poetry, emotion, and aesthetic appreciation. And they are also meant to mirror natural ways, where symmetry and perfect balance are eschewed.
Many rules govern the true schools of Ikebana, including dictating the height of the stems, the types of containers, and even the angles at which stems can be placed. This is because Ikebana is a discipline, historically practiced by the samurai. It is my belief that these rules are important, but do not let them intimidate you. The benefits of working with plants and flowers can still be had for the novice. Flowers will always enhance the home, and with Ikebana, they enhance your artistic soul.
Source
http://blog.craftzine.com
Exchanging Varmala is the sign that makes the beginning of an Indian marriage. Wedding Garlands are exchanged between one another and is a traditional way to welcome guests.
In Indian weddings… ceremony is an important main ceremony. It is also known as Jaimala and basically involves exchange of garlands between the bride and the groom. Like all other customs and rituals, this is also a
significant ceremony which finds reference even in the Vedic literature. It is an ancient practice and is still observed . The var mala ceremony takes place after the groom reaches the venue for the wedding, along with the baraat.
Rajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural tradition which
reflect the ancient Indian way of life. Reflecting the colorful Rajasthani culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror-work and embroidery. A Rajasthani traditional dress for females comprises an ankle length skirt and a short top, also known as a lehenga or a chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for protection from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in bright colours like blue, yellow and orange.
The most important and magical festival celebrated in India is Diwalii. Homes are adorns with marigolds and mango leaves as fragrant decorations, thousands of oil lamps are lit as symbols of good luck, and everyone enjoys sweets to the sound of firecrackers and revelers. Diwali Barbie is just one of dozens of themed, collectible Barbies created by Mattel. Other exotic variations include the Hawaiian Hula Honey, Swahili princess,oktoberfest Barbie, and Brazilia
in Carnaval dolls. $3 billion in annual sales, Barbie boasts of being the world’s largest girl brand. Diwali Barbie doll wears a traditional teal sari with golden detailing, a lovely pink shawl wrap, and exotic jewelry. The final detail is a bindi on the forehead – a jewel or a mark worn byHindu women to indicate that they are married.
Princess ofIndia Barbie doll is awe-inspiring in her sari – the best-known type of Indian clothing. Made of soft, shimmering materials, this extraordinary pink sari features golden accents and is draped around her body and over her head in an intricate style. Like some princesses, she wears a golden headpiece called a tikka, a forehead ornament. The tikka hangs above her bindi, the dot on her forehead. A golden choker and earrings complete this wonderful costume.
Of course, her features never change either. Rajasthan a vast timeless land of mysticism and magnificence is a spectacular mixture of rich culture. Ancient traditions and glorious heritage. Sheer brilliance in colour and remarkable vibrancy in design assume characteristic significance in the world of traditional Rajasthani wear. Barbie drapes herself in her Rajasthani finery complete with trinkets, bracelets, bangles, and rings worn by traditional Rajasthani women giving a strikingly divine cosmetic effect unmatched anywhere Rajasthan. 
The land her people and customs exhorts you to celebrate and savour the best from the home of the enigmatic Rajputs. Dressed in rich, bridal colours that capture the essences of tradition, Sundari Gujarati Barbie doll glows in indescribabe radiance. Her trousseau includes a pure silk “Gharchola” (sari worn in traditional Gukarati style) with elegant zari (gold and silver thread inlay ) work and a golden border. She is adorned in rustic but eye catching jewellery inlaid with stones, which look like mina (semi-precious gems) work.
Festival Fun is a set containing Barbie and Kelly from India. It is a Special Edition set released in the year 2000, exclusively for an Indian market. Shortly thereafter, these gorgeous dolls were stopped in production. Today these hard to find dolls are considered collectors items and highly valuable. Responding to a reporter’s comment that some were concerned about the message conveyed by Diwali Barbie‘s blue eyes and fair skin, a spokesperson for Mattel told India-West in an email Oct. 16, Representing 45 nationalities and sold in more than 150 nations throughout the world, Barbie doll has shown girls that beauty is represented by a diversity of looks. The Diwali Barbie sells the exotic to a Western society eager to be a part of the foreign mystery that is India and the Indian woman. It sells Barbie as the United States has understood it with an “ethnic twist”.
Source:wayfaring.info
It’s a tradition art of Rajasthan. Women paint different design and patterns on the clay wall in the villages.
bangles. Every eastern girl loves to wear bangles. In Pakistan girls wear bangles as a symbol of happiness and tradition like in weddings or in any function or party. Most of the times bangles give a very traditional type of look to the girls and they give a glimpse of totally an eastern girl. A true depiction of a Pakistani girl. There are several designs which change day by day so the latest fashion of bangles in Pakistan is as follow which is liked and appreciated by people of Pakistan.
Jewelry is the most common and important as well. This is the accessory which is used at a large scale by women. Ladies love to wear bangles. To wear bangles is also the tradition of Pakistan. From the origin of Pakistan, Pakistani girls even the girls of sub-continent were used to wear bangles. Every eastern girl loves to wear bangles. In Pakistan girls wear bangles as a symbol of happiness and tradition like in weddings or in any function or party. Most of the times bangles give a very traditional type of look to the girls and they give a glimpse of totally an eastern girl. A true depiction of a Pakistani girl. There are several designs which change day by day so the latest fashion of bangles in Pakistan is as follow which is liked and appreciated by people of Pakistan.
bangles Latest Fashion Trends
In gold or silver they have 
been gracing many beautiful arms. They range from cheap to expensive but look great on practically everyone.
I always associate stacked gold and silver bangles with Indian style. I love it! Do you?