Almost every facet of Indian culture is rich with variation. Besides the obvious gender and urban/rural divides, Indian society is also fragmented along linguistic, economic, religious, caste, and regional lines. Marriage and familial practises are two areas where North and South India diverge significantly. Indian culture is incredibly complex, possibly more so than in any other major civilisation; it resembles a region as diverse as Europe rather than a single country. Rapidly occuring changes impacting different geographies and socioeconomic classes in India provide even more nuanced variation to modern Indian culture. Despite the many moving parts of Indian society, there are underlying cultural elements that serve to maintain peace and order.

Diversities of ethnic, linguistic, regional, economic, religious, class, and caste groups crosscut Indian society, great civilizations, socioeconomic group