From The Peopling of New York City: Indian Communities
Despite having relocated across an ocean, the Indian immigrant population of New York appears to have successfully preserved much of its culture, or, rather, cultures.
While the government generally categorizes everyone from the Indian subcontinent as “Asian Indian”, the large group is actually split into a myriad of smaller groups, each with their own language, customs, and religions. One thing that all of these groups have in common is a strong attachment to their traditional languages, foods, clothing, and culture.
There are chains, such as Patel Brothers and Subzi Mandi in Jackson Heights, which can cater to most needs of Indian cooking in New York. It is possible to go to any branch and during season find vegetables, fruit, snacks and spices specific to many regions of the country. Also, cultural Indian events that take place in the streets and institutions of New York City, which can be discovered in any of the newspapers released by the Indian community.
Facets of Indian Immigrant Culture:
- Cultural Events serve to preserve Indian culture amongst immigrants living in the United States. Indian immigrant groups host large events that signify important religious, as well as nonsecular holidays.
- Religious Institutions in New York City allow Indian immigrants to practice the religions of their homeland, including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. Houses of worship (namely temples) and arranged marriages are two of the most important institutions that have followed the influx of Indian immigrants into the United States.
- Food is one of the most key ways that Indian immigrants have integrated their traditional culture into the urban landscape of New York City. With that said, it is also one of the esential elements to cultural preservation for these communities, although even the most staunchly traditional specialty grocery store or restaurant cannot avoid taking on elements of the cuisine of the surrounding immigrant and native communities.
- Media bridges Indian immigrant communities with those still in India, and provides social networking amongst immigrants across their New York neighborhoods. Indian Newspapers, Indian Television and Bollywood are three of the most prominent Indian media found in New York City.
- Shopping allows immigrants to dress or to decorate their homes in traditional Indian items. Through the purchase of traditional Indian clothing, jewelry, and media, immigrants are permitted an important level of comfort in their new home in New York. Additionally, the ethnic specialization of stores, which often sell only Indian-style items for consumption, allows immigrants with highly specialized skillsets to find jobs soon after coming to the United States.