Discuss in brief the life in Harappa City.
Answers
Answer:
About 5000 years ago, a highly advanced urban civilization called the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilization, existed along the river Indus. Their towns were well planned and they had brick houses which were situated along the roads. Every house was equipped with a staircase, a kitchen and several rooms.
The social and economic life of of the people of Harappan Civilization was systematic and organized. The Indus valley population consisted of Australoid, Mediterranean, Mongoloid and Alpine races. The approximate population of Mohenjo-Daro was 35000.
Food
The food of the Harappans was supplied from extensive areas cultivated in vicinity of the city. Rice was probably grown in the Indus valley. The staple food of the people comprised wheat, barley, rice, milk and some vegetables like peas, sesamums and fruits like date palms. Beef, mutton, pork, poultry, fish etc. were also eaten by the Indus people. Agriculture appears to be the main occupation of the Indus people. The discovery of a granary at Harappa lends support to this.
Clothing
The discovery of large number of spindles proves the use of cotton for weaving social cloths. Wool was also used. The garments might have been sewn. Both men and women used two pieces of cloth. The men folk wore some lower garment like dhoti and upper garment like shawl. The upper garment wrapped the left shoulder. Female attire was the same as that of men. Men wore long hair, parted in the middle and kept tidy at the back. The women of Indus valley usually wore long hair in a braid with fan-shaped bow at the end. The females of the Indus valley had a taste for culture like their modern sisters. The “vanity case” and the toilet jars found at Harappa consisted of ivory powder, face-paint and many other varieties of cosmetics.
Decoration
Most of the house-hold articles were made of pottery or of metals like copper and bronze. The art of pottery attained a wonderful excellence at Mohenjo-Daro.
Utensils and Tools
Most of the kitchen utensils including jars, vessels, dishes etc. were made of earth and stone. There is lack of defensive weapons like sword. Chairs and tools were used for decorating rooms and for sitting comfortably.
Pastimes
Hunting of wild animals, bull fighting, fishing and clay modeling were general social amusements of people. It is suggested by scholars that there was strong family organizations among them. The craftsmen taught their skill in crafting to their children. The toys were used by children of the family.
Communication and Intelligence
The large number of seals engraved with letters presents the idea that there was high percentage of literacy among the Indus people. The drainage system also speaks of their cleanliness and public hygiene. The seals, the terracotta figurines, the images of dancing girls prove the artistic taste of the Indus men.