Andaman and Nicobar

Introduction

Andaman and Nicobar islands are located in India. It is India's union territory. It has 3 districts and its capital is Port Blair. Port Blair is the largest city as well. 

History

In 1790, the British established Andaman island as a penal colony but it was abolished after a few years. Again, the British developed a new penal colony i.e., Port Blair. During World War II, it was occupied by the Japanese. The territory has been administered by the Government of India since 1947, and the penal colony was destroyed. In 1979, the Andaman Cellular Jail became a national monument of India.

Fairs and festivals

Andaman and Nicobar islands have distinct religions and diverse cultures. The people of Andaman and Nicobar enjoy fairs and festivals tremendously. The top fairs and festivals are Durga pooja, Ganesh pooja, holi, Saraswati pooja, vilakku pooja, pradosha pooja, Mariamman festival, sankatahara chaturthi pooja, island tourism festival, film festivals, food festival, and much more.

Geography

It is spread over 8,249 km² of area. There are 572 islands of which 325 islands are under the Andaman group and 247 islands are under the Nicobar group, and 38 are permanently inhabited. The arc commemorates the boundary between the Andaman sea and the Bay of Bengal to the east and west. It has major island groups: North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Little Nicobar, and Great Nicobar.

Demographics

Andaman and Nicobar islands had a 3,79,944 population of which male and female population was 2,02,330 and 1,77,614 as per the 2011 census. The majority religion in the union territory is Hindu, and the minority religions are Christianity and Muslims. 

Culture

The people of the Andaman and Nicobar islands don't cover their bodies with a piece of fabric. They are usually covered by leaves, aprons, or bark apparel. 

Language

Andaman and Nicobar islands have their official language i.e., Hindi, while the additional official language is English. The most spoken language is Bengali. It is used by 28.49% of the population, while Hindi is followed by 19.29%. 

Tourism

It has varied tourist spots. Everyone visits to catch a glimpse of it. There are attractive temples like The Rajasthan temple, Sri Vetrimalai Murugan, and Sri Shirdi sai baba temple. This place is one of the satisfactory places for snorkeling and scuba diving. The beautiful museums, monuments, and national parks are the pride of India. 

Education

The Andaman and Nicobar islands had an 86.600% literacy rate as of 2011. It has two educational institutes and five colleges. 

Dances and music

Dance and music are an integral part of the territory. Andamanese has a unique music style, and the popular folk dance is the Nicobari dance.

Cuisine

Andaman and Nicobar islands maintain the Indian culture in their cuisine. The delicious taste of food has been the flavor of different civilizations since ancient times. It is also famous for its delightful seafood dishes such as fish curry, grilled lobsters, tandoori fish, and macher Jhol. The dishes you must give a try are coconut prawn curry, Amritsar kulcha, chili curry, and barbeque dishes.