La diversité religieuse en Inde : étude en anlais

India known as the land of spirituality and philosophy. Religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices.

India is the birthplace of four of the world's major religions; namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Religion has been an important part of the country's culture. Religious diversity and religious tolerance are both established in the country by the law and custom.

Hinduism :

The most dominant religion in India today is Hinduism. About 80% of Indians are Hindus. Hinduism is a colorful religion with a vast gallery of Gods and Goddesses. Hinduism is one of the ancient religions in the world. It is believed that there are 33 deities.

Some customs are so important for the people that sometimes, they sacrifice their lives for them. When Hindus meet each other, they greet each other by saying ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar.’ Hindus do not wear footwear inside homes, temples, and other holy places. They do not enter the temples after consuming alcohol and/or nonvegetarian food. They do not eat nonvegetarian food on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and many other festival days.

Most of the marriages are of arranged type. A married Hindu woman wears a Mangalsutra around her neck, bangles in her hand, and toe rings, which indicate that she is married. She also applies a Kumkum spot or sticks a bindi between her two eyebrows. Generally, Hindu women and girls wear clothes, which would cover all the body except face.

Islam: Along with the religions that developed in India, there are followers of non-Indian religions. The largest non-Indian religion is Islam. They are about 13% of India's population. Muslims who arrived in India converted Indians to Islam. According to Muslim followers Allah is their one and only deity. They believe that Allah is the most powerful and person who is the creator, designer of universe.

Quran is a holy book for Muslim where all the messages of Allah have been written. According to islamique customs a Muslim should pray or Salat 5 times a day. Zakat is a social activity by which one reach person provides money or wealth to the poor ans needy people. Basically this is a religious activity and it performed during the festival of Bakra Eid. There is a ritual in Muslim community to go at least one time to Mecca for each and every Muslim in the world. Muslim girls and women in northern India have the lowest levels of education and are the least likely to leave home to work. As Per Indian law, which is applicable to all Muslims in India, polygamy is legal: a Muslim man may marry a maximum of four women without divorce and with few conditions.

Christianity: Christians are more then 2% of India's population. Most of the Indians were converted to Christianity by the missionaries who arrived in India with the European powers from 15th century. The Indian Christians consist of three main sects viz: the Syrian Christians, Roman Catholics and Protestants.

Well, coming back to weddings, as in other Indian ethnicity, the Indian Christians too opt for the traditional arranged marriages ,

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