INDIA IS A LAND OF DENSE FORESTS, ARID DESERTS, FERTILE PLAINS, AND
TROPICAL COASTS, AND IS HOME TO ONE BILLION PEOPLE. Hindi is the national language, although there are fourteen major languages and more than a thousand different dialects. Geography and climate play a major role in Indian cuisine. While the dry northern region produces large quantities of wheat, providing the main ingredient in the staples chapati and puri (wheat breads), the humid southern part of the country produces the much needed and revered rice crop.

Holidays and festivals also play a major role in Indian culture and cuisine. Whether they commemorate a historical event, honor a religious leader, or express gratitude for a much awaited harvest, they are all celebrated with enthusiasm. One of the most anticipated holidays is Diwali, the festival of lights, observed in October or November. The rituals of this festival symbolize the defeat of spiritual darkness in India. Families whitewash their homes and adorn them with colorful designs, oil lamps, and candles. Indians travel throughout the streets with garlands of lights and offer sweet treats to friends and neighbors. There are many wonderful treats shared during the celebration of Diwali—sweet carrots, sweet rice, and almond cookies, to name a few.