India: A Country Profile

Capital: New Delhi (formally called the National Capital
Territory of Delhi).
Other Major Cities: India has 35 cities and urban agglomerations with more than 1 million
persons. The most populous cities are Mumbai (Bombay) with 16.4 million people, Kolkata
(Calcutta, 13.2 million), New Delhi (12.8 million), Chennai (Madras, 6.4 million), Bangalore
(5.7 million), Hyderabad (5.5 million), and Ahmadabad (4.5 million).
Date of Independence: Proclaimed August 15, 1947, from Britain.
National Public Holidays: Makar Sakranti (January 14); Republic Day (signing of national
constitution, January 26); Id-ul-Juha (movable date); Muharram (Islamic New Year, movable
date); Holi (movable date in March); Ramnavami (birthday of Rama, movable date in March or
April); Mahavir Jayanti (Birthday of Mahavir, movable date in April); Good Friday (movable
date in March or April); Milad un Nabi (birthday of Prophet Muhammad, movable date); Buddha...