With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 'Panchayatan' refers to:

Indian Art and Architecture

1. The evidence of the earliest Indian art can be seen from the Indus River valley during the second half of the 3d millennium BC.

2. From the great Maurya dynasty, the most famous remains are the edict pillars erected throughout North India by Emperor Ashoka to proclaim his devotion to Buddhism.

3. The earliest extant stupas date from the Sunga dynasty (2d–1st cent. BC) and early Andhra dynasty (1st cent. BC).

4. India is the place where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism took birth. 

5. Gandhara art and art of Mathura were developed between the 2d and 5th cent. AD.

6. The Khajuraho temples of Madhya Pradesh represent one of the nagara buildings' high points.

7. In South India, the 7th-century Pallava dynasty introduced the Dravidian style temple in several pyramidal raths (temples) at Mahabalipuram.

8. The most famous surviving Buddhist paintings are from the caves at Ajanta. Little is known of Hindu wall painting except for fragments at Ellora and Tanjore.

9. Indian artists adapted Western techniques and produced gouache paintings to suit the tastes of European buyers. Patua scrolls, containing swiftly executed watercolour illustrations of many subjects, became one source for the revival of Indian themes during the 20th cent. 

10. Major modern artists include Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher Gil, N. S. Bendre, M. B. Samant, Francis Souza, Bhagwan Kapoor, M. F. Husain, Bhupen Khakhar, Ram Kinker, Dhanraj Bhagat, Amar Nath Seghal, Chintamani Kar, and Amina Ahmad.

11. Festivals of the Hindus: Deepawali, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Ganga Dashahara, Sheetla Ashtami, Naag Panchami, Krishna Janmashtami, Vaishakhi Purnima, Ganesha Chaturthi, Ram Navami, Vijaya Dashmi, Makar Sankranti, Vasant Panchami, Kartik Purnima, and Shivaratri.

12. Muslim Festivals: Eid, Muharram, Bakrid, Barawafat and Shab-e-Barat.

13. Festivals of the Christians: New Year's Day, Good-Friday, Easter and Christmas.

14. Buddhist Festival: Buddha Purnima

15. Jains Festival: Mahavir Jayanti for Jains

16. Sikh Festival: Guru Nanak's birthday, Martyr's day of Guru Teg Bahadur and Vaishakhi

17. Traditional Clothing: Sari and wrapped garments, Salwar Kameez, Churidaar, Lehenga Choli (skirt and blouse), Undergarments, Dhoti, Panche or Lungi and Achkan.Traditional clothing: Sari and wrapped garments, Salwar Kameez, Churidaar, Lehenga Choli (skirt and blouse), Undergarments, Dhoti, Panche or Lungi and Achkan.

18. Indian dance includes eight classical dance forms, many in narrative forms with mythological elements: Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (Uttar Pradesh), Kathakali and Mohiniattam (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Yakshagana (Karnataka), Manipuri (Manipur), Odissi (Odisha) and the Sattriya (Assam).

19. The current music of India includes multiple varieties of religious, classical, folk, filmi, rock and pop music and dance. 

20. Cave paintings from Ajanta, Bagh, Ellora and Sittanavasal and temple paintings testify to a love of naturalism. Rangoli is still a common sight outside the doorstep of many Indian homes. Raja Ravi Varma is one of the classical painters from medieval India.