Pulses, the dry seeds of legume family plants such as peas, beans, lentils or chickpeas, are easy to prepare and have all sorts of positive health effects. They've been credited with helping to prevent diabetes, reduce the risk of heart disease and help with cholesterol and weight loss. But despite their potential to rapidly improve nutrition in the developing world, they are often overlooked.

The list of benefits doesn't end there. Pulses are high in dietary fiber, are a source of low-fat protein and are gluten-free. They are also packed with essential micronutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc, making them a great food source for people who have limited access to nutritious foods.

In Congo, Rwanda, India and several other developing countries HarvestPlus is growing iron-biofortified beans. This variety of bean is reported to have an even greater nutritional value than commonly grown bean varieties. In regions where close to one-third of people are affected by the micronutrient deficiency, anemia, the beans can provide consumers with up to 45% of their daily needs.

Mywish Maredia, a professor of development economics at Michigan State University, argues that pulses are "uniquely positioned" to help tackle the challenges faced by the developing world. Not only do they provide adequate nutrition and health benefits, they are also cheap, easier to source and environmentally less damaging than meat and other agricultural industries.

The UN reports that it costs nearly one-fifth the price to source an equivalent amount of protein from pulses as it does from milk. Furthermore, only around 160 liters (40 gallons) of water is needed to produce 500 grams (1 pound) of pulses, compared with some 7,000 liters for the same amount of beef.

Pulses are often grown in regions without access to irrigation or chemical fertilizers, meaning they can provide nutritional benefits to people unable to grow other crop types that would offer similar health advantages. What's more, pulses are drought and frost-tolerant, with the ability to grow in harsher environments than most stable crops.

Pulses have been part of the human diet for millennia. Archaeological digs in Anatolia — modern-day Turkey — have found signs of chickpea and lentil production (seen above, in Italy) dating back to 7,000-8000 B.C. Beans and other pulses have been important for many cultures. They've been found in Egyptian and Aztec tombs, and black beans were used by ancient Romans to banish specters of the dead.

An integral part of human culture, pulses have inevitably turned up in works of art. Rangoli, an art from that originated in India, uses materials such as colored sand, flower petals, rice, beans or lentils to create intricate and beautiful patterns on the ground. In this photo, Indians show their support for the ongoing farmers' protests with a huge Indian flag made of rice and lentils.

Pulses are highly versatile and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and sometimes for dessert. They can be added as a healthy alternative in cakes, snacks and even some drinks. This candy favorite, the jelly bean, has nothing to do with pulses — but the shape was inspired by the diet of Americans in the 1800s, which was primarily made up of beans and homegrown vegetables.

The name "India" is derived from the River Indus, around which the Indus Valley civilization flourished over 5,000 years ago. The native worshippers referred to the river as Sindhu. Persian invaders changed it to Hindu. The name "Hindustan," often used to refer to India, combines Sindhu and Hindu and refers to the land of the Hindus. However, in the Hindi language, the country is called "Bharat."

India is the birthplace of four major religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. While about 84% of the country identifies as Hindu, it is also the home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. Jews and Christians have also lived in India since 200 B.C. and 52 A.D. respectively. However, religious minorities are increasingly feeling insecure amid the rise of Hindu nationalism.

Hindus have traditionally placed women on a high pedestal, even revering them as goddesses. But treatment of girls and women in today's India has been anything but respectful. The country is considered one of the most dangerous for women, with a woman raped every 20 minutes, according to government data. The practice of dowry and female infanticide are still widely prevalent.

The cow is sacred for India's Hindus, who make up more than 80% of the nation's population, but they do not consider it to be God. In Hindu mythology, the animal is related to several deities, like Krishna, the cowherd god — or Shiva, who rides his bull, Nandi. It also makes economic sense for the poor to use various cow products — milk, curd, butter, ghee, urine, dung — rather than just meat.

However, it's a myth that India is a largely vegetarian country. While government surveys and various estimates suggest that more than a third of Indians do not eat meat, some experts believe that the "cultural and political pressures" cause many Indians to underreport meat consumption — particularly beef — and overreport vegetarian diets. The actual number of vegetarians is likely much lower.

The practice of fasting is an integral part of Hinduism. Fasting does not necessarily mean the body has to go without food; instead, it is sometimes sufficient to eliminate certain types of food and replace them with others, without restricting quantity. Mahatma Gandhi was a fervent supporter of fasting due to religious conviction. He saw it as a way to free oneself from bodily constraints.

The most common daily greeting in India is "namaste." Simply place your hands together at the heart and bow a little. In Sanskrit "namaste" means "the divine in me bows to the divine in you," and it serves as both "hello" and "bye." It can be used at any time, with anyone. Another less common Hindu greeting is touching an elder's feet with both hands to show respect and seek their blessings.

Astrology, Bollywood and Cricket: Experts believe that religion, Hindi movies and the game of cricket is the holy trinity that makes India's heart beat. The three topics attract the most internet traffic, with global tech and media giants exploiting them to penetrate the Indian masses.

Unlike in the West, in India you don't choose to get married on any random day. Families reach out to priests and astrologers to choose an auspicious date. In Hindu families, the horoscopes of the bride and groom to be are also checked for compatibility. A traditional Hindu wedding tends to last over many hours. The event includes multiple ceremonies that occur before the main wedding ritual.

Bindi (ornamental dot on the forehead), bangles and sindoor (vermillion powder) are symbols worn by Hindu married women. They are also known to carry some physiological significance. For example, sindoor consists of turmeric-lime and the metal mercury. Due to its properties, mercury controls blood pressure and also activates sexual drive, one reason why widows are not allowed to apply sindoor.