RELEGIONS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES IN INDIA

 Religious activities are deeply engrossed in Indian culture. These activities are lavish household affairs with everyone contributing their mite. These traditional activities result in persons learning about their heritage, religion and other spiritualities in the company of seniors. There are several rituals in any such religious functions which is difficult to understand in the right perspective and the present generation, moving away from tradition, try to be sarcastic about them. However, if tried to understand logically and learning from experience, we discover the nuances which are thoroughly scientific and meant for purification of the body and soul.
Our marriages, which are generally arranged by elders, are mostly settled on the basis of horoscopes. This is our tradition, but the logic is that people the world over believe in stars and their effect on them. Our marriages are also performed according to specific rites, which are very logical, due to which couples believe that it is a lifelong union. The percentage of separation and divorce is thus comparatively low among Indian communities.
 In India, tradition has always been to welcome different streams of thought. This is why, Indian culture has witnessed so many religions intermingling and prospering over the ages without bias.
Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Buddhism, the Khalsa Panth, and Christianity, to name a few, have been in India over the centuries and it is a part of our tradition that we have not tried to enforce any specific religion on the masses. Our culture teaches tolerance and we have progressed not in spite of it but due to it.


Shruti Venkatesh