Culture of Agra

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.

People of Agra

The city of Agra though has been ruled by the Muslims for centuries, has higher population of Hindus. The second largest population, however, is that of the Muslims, with a spattering of people from other religions such as Jainism, Christianity, Sikhism and Buddhism. 

However, this diversity in faith has only unified their spirits and helps them lead a harmonious life. The dialect spoken in Agra is Braj Bhasha in addition to the standard Hindi, Urdu and English languages.

Attires in Agra

The people of Agra are colourful and love to sport colourful clothes. You will find people here sporting both traditional as well as modern clothing. In the past people chose to stick to traditional wear such as sarees, salwar-kameez, dhoti-kurta or kurta-pyajamas. For festivals and marriage functions people prefer wearing sherwani, lehenga-choli and ghagra-choli.

Tradition in Agra

The name of Agra is derived from the city’s ancient name Agrevana meaning ‘border of the forest’, found mentioned in the Hindu epic The Mahabharata. It is one of the most important historical places in India and houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World in the modern times, the Taj Mahal a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Agra is also home two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The cities of Vrindavan and Mathura situated very near to Agra have left an indelible mark on the culture of the city, which finds expression through the celebration of Braj Raslila, Ram Lila, Charukala and Rasiya.

Agra having inherited a rich culture and traditions from antiquity celebrates a plethora of cultural events and festivals in a grand manner. Dussehra, Diwali, Id and Ram Barat are the major festivals celebrated in the city with great fanfare. Other cultural events and festivals celebrated by the people of Agra are Taj Mahotsav, Kailash Fair, Janmashtami, Ram Lila, Dusshera, Urs Sufi Sahib and Bateshwar Fair to name a few.

Cultural Events in Agra

Kalakriti Cultural and Conventional Centre Agra
As the name suggest, the Kalakriti Cultural and Conventional Centre is an art and cultural centre in the city. The centre is instrumental in promoting and celebrating the charm of the city’s traditions through a cultural play, Mohabbat-the-Taj: The Saga of Love, and various works of art that are on display in the handicrafts showroom in the centre.