Acknowledgement

This Project is part of my holiday’s homework in which I come to learn a lot about my hometown . It was Fun to discover about you own home town. I was born here but didn’t know all these facts and info about Delhi thanks to my school teachers who gave me this fun filled project. Delhi is multicultural city where lots of people come from different states of . Lots of , cosine, & different festivals of different Faiths are celebrated here. This Project brings me more close to my home town. All thanks to my school Teacher

H armanpreet Singh Index • • Delhi’s Culture • Architecture Of Delhi • Delhi In Field of Arts History of Delhi

Delhi is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India Census. Delhi has grown to be a multicultural, cosmopolitan metropolis. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed Delhi into a major cultural, political, and commercial centre of India

Human habitation was probably present in and around Delhi during the second millennium BC and before, and continuous inhabitation has been evidenced since at least the 6th century BC. The city is believed to be the site of , legendary capital of the in the Indian epic . Settlements grew from the time of the Mauryan Empire (c. 300 BC).[

Remains of seven major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The Tomara founded the city of Lal Kot in AD 736. The conquered Lal Kot in 1180 and renamed it . The king Prithviraj III was defeated in 1192 by the Afghan Muhammad Ghori.

In 1206, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty established the . Qutb-ud-din started the construction the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam), the earliest extant mosque in India. After the fall of the Slave dynasty, a succession of Turkic and Afghan , the Khilji dynasty, the Tughluq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodhi dynasty held power in the late medieval period, and built a sequence of forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi.

In 1398, Lenk invaded India on the pretext that the Muslim of Delhi were too lenient towards their Hindu subjects. Timur entered Delhi and the city was sacked, destroyed, and left in ruins. Near Delhi, Timur massacred 100,000 captives. Delhi was a major centre of Sufism during the Sultanate period. In 1526, Zahiruddin defeated the last Lodhi in the First Battle of and founded the that ruled from Delhi, and .

The Mughal Empire ruled northern India for more than three centuries, with a sixteen-year hiatus during the reign of , from 1540 to 1556. During 1553–1556, the Hindu king, acceded to the throne of Delhi by defeating forces of Mughal Emperor at Agra and Delhi. However, the Mughals reestablished their rule after Akbar's army defeated Hemu during the . built the seventh city of Delhi that bears his name (Shahjahanabad), and is more commonly known as the "Old City" or "". The old city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1638. After 1680, the Mughal Empire's influence declined rapidly as the Hindu Marathas rose to prominence.

A weakened Mughal Empire lost the Battle of , following which the victorious forces of invaded and looted Delhi, carrying away many treasures, including the . A treaty signed in 1752 made Marathas the protector of the Mughal throne at Delhi. In 1761, after the Marathas lost the , Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Abdali. In 1803, the forces of British overran the forces near Delhi and ended the Mughal rule over the city.

After the , Delhi came under direct rule of the British crown and was made a district province of the Punjab In 1911, the capital of British India was transferred from Calcutta to Delhi, following which a team of British architects led by designed a new political and administrative area, known as , to house the government buildings. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens' Delhi, was officially declared as the capital of the Union of India after the country gained independence on 15 August 1947.

During the , thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab and Sindh fled to Delhi, while many Muslim residents of the city migrated to Pakistan. Starting on 31 October 1984, approximately three thousand Sikhs were killed during the four-day long anti-Sikh riots after the Sikh body guards of then-Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, assassinated her. Migration to Delhi from the rest of India continues, contributing more to the rise of Delhi's population than the birth rate, which is declining.[

The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Act gave Delhi its own legislative assembly, though with limited powers. In December 2001, the building in New Delhi was attacked by armed militants resulting in the death of six security personnel. India suspected the hand of Pakistan-based militant groups in the attacks resulting in a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Delhi again witnessed terrorist attacks in October 2005 and September 2008 resulting in the deaths of 62 and 30 civilians respectively. Culture Of Delhi

Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the capital of India. This is exemplified by the many monuments of significance found in the city; the Archaeological Survey of India recognises 1200 heritage buildings and 175 monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites. The Old City is the site where the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architectural marvels like the Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque) and . Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and 's Tomb—are located in Delhi Other monuments include the , the Jantar Mantar (an 18th-century astronomical observatory) and the (a 16th century fortress). The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham, the Bahá'í and the ISKCON Temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of and other notable personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Important structures include the , the Secretariat, , the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk. Safdarjung's Tomb is an example of the style

Delhi's association and geographic proximity to the capital, New Delhi, has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events like , and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Delhi. On India's Independence Day (15 August) the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedomThe Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might. Over the centuries Delhi is known for its composite culture, and a festival that symbolizes it truly is the , which takes place each year in September, and where flowers and fans embroidered with flowers, pankha are offered to the shrine of 13th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki, along with the Yogmaya Temple also situated in .

Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak's Birthday, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Chhath, Krishna Janmastami, Maha Shivaratri, Eid ul-Fitr, Moharram and Buddha Jayanti. The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi. The Auto Expo, Asia's largest auto show, is held in Delhi biennially. The World Book Fair, held biannually at the Pragati Maidan, is the second largest exhibition of books in the world with as many as 23 nations participating in the event. Delhi is often regarded as the "Book Capital" of India because of high readership.

The Auto Expo is held annually at Pragati Maidan and showcases the technological prowess of the Indian automobile industry

Punjabi and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in Delhi. The street food there is known to be delicious and includes chaat, golgappe and aloo tikki. Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan and migrant population, cuisines from every part of India, including Gujarati Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Hyderabadi cuisines, and South Indian food items like idli, sambar and dosa are widely available. Local delicacies include Chaat, Golgappe, Aloo-Tikki and Dahi-Papri. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine, including Italian, Japanese, Continental, Middle-Eastern, Thai and Chinese. Within the last decade western fast food has become more popular as well.

Historically, Delhi has always remained an important trading centre in northern India. Old Delhi still contains legacies of its rich Mughal past, which can be found among the old city's tangle of snaking lanes and teeming bazaars. The dingy markets of the Old City have an eclectic product range, from oil-swamped mango, lime and eggplant pickles, candy-colored herbal potions to silver jewelry, bridal attire, uncut material and linen, spices, sweets. Some of old regal havelis (palatial residences) are still there in the Old City. , a three-century-old shopping area, is one of the most popular shopping areas in Delhi for jewellery and Zari saris. Notable among Delhi's arts and crafts are the Zardozi (an embroidery done with gold thread) and Meenakari (the art of enameling). , , Pragati Maidan offer a variety of Indian handicrafts and handlooms. Over time Delhi has absorbed a multitude of humanity from across the country and has morphed into an amorphous pool of cultural styles. Architecture Of Delhi

The architecture of Delhi has a rich heritage which includes the imperial and also the gothic style of architecture incorporated by the Colonisers. Being the capital city, Delhi has been the seat of power for various dynasties and has thus witnessed an amalgamation of different cultures and tradition at various times in history which has resulted in the diverse architectural style of Delhi. Even post independence there are some exquisite architectural specimens that has being constructed in Delhi such as the brand new Akshardham temple built on the immaculate banks of river .

History of architecture in Delhi has a mythological past which dates back to the period of Mahabharata, the Indian epic. Delhi has been mentioned there as a city named Indraprastha. Mahabharata speaks volumes of the beautiful architecture that the city was endowed with. In reality too the architectural heritage of Delhi is ornate and majestic. There are both secular and sacred architecture in Delhi which is a magnanimous array of Mughal forts, towering temples and monuments representing Gothic architecture. Major architectures of this city began with the advent of the Muslim rulers.

The first Muslim building to be constructed in Delhi was the Quwwat-ul-lslam Mosque, built in 1206 A.D. by Qutb-Ud-Din Aibak who started the Slave Dynasty. The construction was based on Islamic style of architecture but more proficient traditional Muslim construction techniques are seen in the tomb of Iltutmish and in Alai Darwaza. The Qutub complex is an excellent example of Indo- Islamic style of architecture. The buildings were constructed by destroying Hindu and Jain temples because depiction of animals and human figures on the wall is not permitted in Islam. There is not much decoration on the inside of the mosques in Delhi but the sturdy pillars, support true arches which look more archaic and are a step closer to genuine Islamic architecture. The tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq is an important architectural specimen of Delhi.

In the Mughal era there were considerable modifications in the architecture of Delhi for example the garden architecture or Char bagh was introduced in India by the Mughals. One of the earliest constructions of the Mughal era is Tomb of Humayun It is a large complex, with a garden on four sides and the mausoleum in the middle. Red sand stone and marble were extensively used as materials for construction. The Red fort for example is built of red colour sandstones. The inside of the fort was a town and even now, the road that leads to Lahore gate, is lined with shops as in a castle market. The structures highlight the care given to detail in Mughal construction. The royal prayer room called the Moti Masjid is a small marble structure built in the Baroque style. The Jama Masjid in Delhi is the biggest mosque in India is built in a combination of red sandstone and marble and has three domes crowning it. The construction style of Jama Masjid is similar to that of Humayun`s Tomb. The Jantar Mantar of Delhi is built as per the style of construction by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of the Rajput state of Amber.

The capital of India was shifted from to Delhi by the Britishers and they re-named it as New Delhi which is to the south of the old city. Under the colonisers the architecture of New Delhi was designed systematically by combining the elements of Gothic, imperial, English renaissance and Victorian style of architecture. The Rashtrapati Bhavan or the Viceroy’s house in Delhi is a classical European building with some features of Mughal architectural style. The Secretariat, built in the western classical style is a set of twin buildings that face each other in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The British National Church was devoid of any influences of Indian traditional style and the structure is very neat and graceful.

Post independence a number of buildings have been built in Delhi which has enhanced the architectural exquisiteness of the place. Architectural monuments and buildings after independence were still inspired by the British architecture but also incorporated certain indigenous elements. The towering Jeevan Bharti building for instance is a splendid creation in glass, metal and stone. The State Trading Corporation building is built with an inspiration drawn from traditional Indian architecture. It has a blend of red and yellow sandstone which draws from Mughal architecture. The Scope Office complex is set up on a large area and each of the buildings have their own unique character, while at the same time, stand together, to form a composite whole. The Akshardham temple complex on the bank of Yamuna River was completed in the year 2005 and displays traditional Indian and Hindu architecture.

Delhi, thus, exhibits an opulent bouquet of architectural heritage that dates from mythological past to the present day. The architectural specimens vary from Mughal forts to temples to colonial pattern of buildings. Even the post colonial architecture are quite awe inspiring and makes Delhi a pivotal place for architectural magnificence on the map of India. Art of Delhi

As the capital of India, for centuries the flourishing court culture attracted itinerant artists to seek the patronage of kings. Delhi has overtaken Mumbai and Calcutta as the cultural capital of the country. Struggling artists now flock to Delhi in search of fame, fortune and acclaim. Many of India's most celebrated artists, dancers, musicians and theatre personalities reside here too.

Rich in terms of cultural centres, museums, auditoria and cinema houses, Delhi sparkles and delights, winter or summer. Art enthusiasts should try to time their visit to coincide with the cultural season which picks up in August and fades out by April.

Delhi has always been a great centre for performing arts. It even boasts of its own gharana (family tradition) of music. Theatre and cinema are becoming increasingly popular. Music festivals, dance recitals, art exhibitions, theatre and cinema are no longer confined to a few connoisseurs - the milling crowds that throng these events tell their own tale.

Delhi was the center of different dynasties and sultants that led it to promote the culture and art in this region The ancient city still reflects the remnants of the glorious old-age charm and cultureAt the Nizamuddin Shrine, one can still hear the 'Qawwalis'. 'Gurbani' (the verses from the Granth Sahib) and prabhat ferries can be heard in the Gurudwaras, 'bhajans' and 'aartis' in the temples and Sunday masses in Churches. The traditional fairs and festivals like 'Phoolwalo-Ki-Sair' are still being celebrated. With the increasing number of people from different states, the regional festivals like 'Chhath Puja' of Bihar and 'Durga Puja' of Bengal are also being observed. Since Delhi shares its borders with , Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, its people and their lifestyle is often influenced greatly by these regions.

Though Punjabis dominate Delhi, it has now developed a number of pockets dominated by other communities also, such as South Indians in R.K. Puram and Bengalis in C.R. Park. It is this diversity that makes Delhi so lively and colorful. Indo-Persian art is reflected in Jama Masjid, while Birla Temple and the Chattarpur Temple complex exude amalgamations of North and South Indian architectural styles. Lotus temple is notable not only for representing the Bahai way of worship, but also the splendid architectural design. Jains and Buddhists also have their own shrines in the city, while the Tibetan monastery near the Interstate bus terminus is representative of the Tibetan culture in India.