Culture and Religion in India

The culture and religions of India are as varied as the people. India is considered a very tolerant country as the traditions and laws require that every citizen maintain tolerance of each person's chosen religion and ways of worship. India is a country that houses a number of subcultures that all bring their own beliefs and traditions to the country's own traditions and beliefs. Because of this, India is known as the place with the most diversity in beliefs and cultural norms.

India's Religions

Four religions were started in India: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Hinduism is now the most practiced religion throughout India followed by Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism. Many India natives practice Zoroastrianism, a religion that follows the teachings of Prophet Zoroaster, and basically pits good against evil. Because India has declared itself a secular nation, people are free to practice any religion they want as long as their worship practices do not violate the social or moral laws of the country.

Christianity is not widely practiced in India, and most Christians reside in southern India. The branches of Christianity often found in India include Roman Catholic, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians. Historically, Muslims and Hindus have had tensions between them that have led to violent clashes between the two groups. Even today, India sometimes experiences riots or other violent clashes between the Hindus and Muslims. Although the Hindus and Muslims fight, India's refusal to adopt a national religion has led to many different religious subgroups forming and worshiping freely in the country.

India's Culture

Much of India's religion dictates how it responds culturally, but some of the India's cultural traditions are commonplace throughout the entire country. Arranged marriages are still commonplace in India, although more couples are now given a choice in who they would like to marry as long as that person has the same beliefs and customs. It is very rare for couples from different religious, political, or socioeconomic backgrounds to marry.

It's believed that the Indian people do it this way as the extended family is the common way to live, with up to three or four generations occupying one home. If the new bride and groom are from similar backgrounds, it's easier for the family to get along. Until recently, the divorce rate in India was below 1%, but more women want to marry men they love as opposed to men who are just similar to them, increasing the divorce rate.

The Indian people celebrate a number of holidays, notably Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandi Jayanti, and 1st May. There are other festivals and celebrations held within the different states for different events, too. Most festivals and celebrations have religious undertones and are celebrated only by people of certain religions.

Clothing in India often signifies the socioeconomic status of a person. The climate also dictates how people dress. Women commonly wear draped dresses and the men wear loose fitting trousers and shirts. In the Hindu culture, many women will have a red bindi on their forehead signifying marriage, but the bindi has started to become a fashion statement and more women, single and married, are sporting what some call the third eye. As India continues to grow and evolve, the culture continues to change. However, there will always be some traditions known throughout the country.