In India, religion is a way of life, the birthplace of many of the world’s major faiths and the home of many more. Besides temples, mosques, churches, and roadside shrines, it is also found in social laws, cultural practices, and politics.

A comprehensive list of religions practised in India includes Hinduism , Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, and Bahaism.

In addition to Somnath Temples and Babri Masjids, this meticulously researched book also discusses Tirthankaras and Akali Movements, Shariat, Eucharist, and Shavuot. Religions are placed in their historical context, tracing their evolution. The history of key founders, saints, patrons,mystics, deities, and philosophers is presented, with descriptions of lesser-known and regional forms of worship and detailed descriptions of important festivals, customs, and rituals.

The Religion of Hinduism

The majority of the Indian population practises this religion, which is the oldest in the country. There is no known founder of Hinduism. Vedic is the root of Hinduism, which means that Hindus believe that a soul must undergo endless births and rebirths until it achieves liberation. In Hinduism, worshippers worship idols at temples, or mandirs. They believe that the icons reflect God and therefore worship them. As per Hindu mythology, Holi, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi,Durga Puja, etc. are the main festivals of Hinduism. It is further divided into various sects, such as the Arya Samaj, the worship of which is idol-free.

Hindus practice Vedic and Upanishad teachings and principles through their holy books, Geeta and Ramayan.

Islam

It is the belief that Islam believes in the commitment to God that is imperative. Islam is characterised by five pillars such as alms giving, worshipping, fasting, pilgrimage, and confession of faith. Five prayers a day are obligatory in Islam, and idol worship is forbidden. All Muslims view Mecca as a holy place, and Muslims are given full privileges to practise their religions and follow their beliefs. Without a doubt, Muslims form 13-15% of the Indian population. There are Muslims in various regions of India, such as Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kashmir etc. Their main festivals are EidulZuha, EidulFitr and  Muharram .

The Quran is the holy book of Muslims, which is divided into various subsections. Muslims believe in and follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Sikhism

As the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak DevJi always encouraged his students to preach universal brotherhood regardless of colour, religion, or caste. Sikhs celebrate the birthdays and martyrdoms of their Gurus, while identifying themselves as Sikhs with a specific code of conduct. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, founded the Khalsa.Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi, HolaMohalla, and Guru Purab. The majority of Sikhs live in Punjab and nearby areas such as Chandigarh  and Delhi .

In addition to the writings and teachings of the Sikh Gurus, Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs. In their belief systems, the Sikh Gurus teach brotherhood and kindness as the universal religion. According to them, only devotion can lead to true salvation.

Buddhism

The Buddhist religion, founded by Siddharth Gautam, also known as Buddha, accounts for between 2 and 3 percent of India’s population. Buddhists follow the path of wisdom, kindness, and love by believing in and following the teachings of the Lord Buddha, such as Karma, rebirth, and others. Buddhists also follow pilgrimage, chanting, and bowing. A Buddhist festival is the Magha Puja, the Buddha’s birthday, as well as Loy Krathong.

It emphasises the importance of truthfulness, love, benevolence, and respect for the elderly. According to them, man creates his own destiny. 

Ultimately, he will get the results he wants based on the way he acts; there can be no escape from one’s actions. Buddhism’s main principle is nonviolence.

Jainism

There is a belief that Jainism originated in India around the 7th to 5th century BCE. It was founded by Mahavira and adheres to the doctrine of self rather than God. Despite the fact that Jainism has a relatively small population in India, its main festivals include  Maun Agiyara ,Mahavir Jayanti, and Diwali.

There are three principles they follow: no possessiveness, no violence, and no absolutes.

Christianity

According to historical beliefs, Christianity first reached India 2,000 years ago. Despite the fact that they can be found all over the country, Christians mainly live in Kerala. They worship the Saviour of humanity, Jesus Christ. There are three main sects among them: Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Romano-Syrians. Christmas, Easter and Good Friday are among their major festivals. The Bible is the holy book of Christians.

Our country’s minority population also practises Judaism, Animism, and Zoroastrianism.

Judaism

They believe that God and humans are bound by a treaty. Jainism follows a three-fold path known as “Tri Ratna” in order to achieve salvation. Jaism opposes monotheism and is similar to Hinduism in that they worship cows and visit temples like in Hinduism. Jainism ensures that no living body, whether it is a man, animal, insect, or plant, is killed or harmed. Even when walking, they take the utmost care not to harm any insects. It is believed that killing any living being will delay their liberation from the cycle of birth and death. They live in areas such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat,  and Maharashtra.

Zoroastrian

In India, the Zoroastrian religion is found mainly in Mumbai and places like it. Most Parsis are wealthy, well educated, and believe that humans are God’s helpers.

Animist

An animist is a tribal religion in which spirits, ghosts, and souls are worshipped. As a result, they worship things like trees, stones, and hills, believing that all things have souls. They believe that every place is a place of worship, as it is the seat of the spirits that inhabit the places. In addition to stones, rivers, ponds, plants, animals, and mountains, they also include dead bodies as spirits’ places. According to their beliefs, shortages of water, low fertility of soil, diseases, damage to crops, and higher death rates are caused by the worship of evil spirits.

Conclusion

Diversity is a hallmark of India, which manifests itself in the realm of religion as well. Different religions are practised here, but they still flourish harmoniously and without compromising the sovereignty of the country despite their differences. It is important for our country to maintain peace and harmony among all religions, and all religions are respected equally.