Topic of your choice for this week's MLC 110 Cultural Post
India's religious diversity is an interesting phenomenon to observe, as India is home to many different religious traditions; however, people unfamiliar with India commonly assume that because one is Indian, one must be Hindu. Often, this is not the case. In my experiences in India, I found people's experiences with religion to be a blend of different practices and faiths. Religion seemed to be more about appreciating the unknown, rather than adhering strictly to a certain tradition. During my time in India, I went to many historical Sikh gurdwaras, a Hindu temple, a Sufi festival, and a Buddhist temple. Additionally, as a person who does not adhere to a particular faith tradition, I found it very interesting to see how different aspects of religion permeated many aspects of daily life in India. For instance, although my host family was Sikh, they still had Hindu sculptures of Ganesh and other deities around their home to "bring good luck and prosperity." In the morning and evening, the housekeeper, my host mom, and my host dad would all pray in a certain room in the house that held the Sikh holy scripture. It was interesting to see how these different roles, so varied in socioeconomic status, all came together in spiritual worship.
India is home to Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, and many other religious traditions. Hinduism is the predominant faith tradition (practiced by about 80% of the population). In Punjab, Sikhism is one of the most widespread religions. Sikhism is a religious tradition that, in the 1600s, diverged from Hinduism and Islam, the most common faith traditions of the time. Sikhism is monotheistic, opposes the caste system, supports equality between men and women, and has a holy book that includes the teachings of the Sikh gurus (teachers). On the other hand, Hinduism is polytheistic, with many different gods that one could worship. Hinduism supports the caste system and also proposes the existence of karma. Hinduism has many different religious festivals that are associated with gods and goddesses, as well as with the earth -- for example, there is Holi (spring festival), Dussehra, Diwali, and more.
In India, I really enjoyed seeing how people of different religions came together and supported other religions as well. For instance, at the Golden Temple (a major Sikh place of worship in India), people of all religions are welcomed, despite the religious/political conflicts between Sikhs and Hindus in the 21st century. Similarly, with my host parents, I learned that being of a particular faith does not mean having to not practice traditions of other faiths. To them, religion was about appreciating spirituality through many different perspectives, whether Sikh, Hindu, or Buddhist. This view of religion reflects the nature of India as a whole, with many multifaceted traditions, languages, and beliefs.
Here is one of the pictures I took at the Golden Temple at sunrise during the summer:
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