Culture of Agra is a beautiful amalgamation of cultures, the result of Rajput, Muslim and British rule in the region. Indian culture is well-known all over the globe for its diversity and the cultural heritage of Agra is one of the richest in the country due to its fascinating history. The city has been the nourishing ground for art, architecture, music, poetry, literature and crafts having been nourished by its rulers, especially the Mughals, for centuries. We find reminiscence of the Mughal influence in the traditions, customs, food and lifestyle along with the monuments of yesteryear that attract thousands of tourists every year to the city. And it is also due to this influx of tourists every year that Agra today has developed a unique culture.
The city that is home to one of the seven world wonders gives tourists a reason to feel proud. Due to recurrent tourist influx the city has developed a culture of its own. Thousands of tourists from India and around the world come to this city to have a glimpse of beautiful monuments of love and romance, Taj Mahal that acts as a inspiration to the numerous newly weds.
People of Agra are amiable and hospitable and believes in offering tourists and guests best of the services during their stay in the city that is truly at par with the Indian notion of 'Atithi Devo Bhav' meaning guest is god. The city nestled on the banks of river Yamuna has numerous monuments and heritage buildings offering a sneak peek into its interesting culture. The city has been ruled by various rulers in the past and remnants of its glorious past are spread over length and breadth of the city. Needless to say, the city has got recognition worldwide due to monuments of love and romance Taj Mahal but there are other famous monuments like Agra Fort, Moti Masjid and Dayal Bagh to give it company.
People
People of Agra are warm, calm, and very cooperative. This majestic city is a home of diversified people from different beliefs. The residents of Agra have adopted a contemporary style of dressing and lifestyle. The men wear trousers and shirts and women wear traditional wears.
Language & Religion
Agra is enriched with different cultural and traditional values. The most prominent religions practiced in Agra are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. And some of the castes in Agra are the Jatavs, Baniyas and Jats. The most widely spoken languages in Agra are Hindi and Urdu, and Punjabi is also spoken.
Local Festivals & Art and music
A variety of colourful festivals are celebrated in this cultural city. Taj Mahotsav held in Shilpgram is a ten-day long festival that hosts an exhibition of crafts, arts, classical song and dance performances. The Islamic festival Id is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city.
Food
Once being a home of the Mughals, the city is widely famous for the Mughal cuisines like Kebabs, Kormas and curries that involve curd, cream, nuts, almond and selected spices. The most popular food item of Agra, apart from the famous Mughlai dishes, is the Pethas made from pumpkin and glucose and is popular all over India. Dal moth is a kind of snack and also one of the specialties of the city.
