Indian Religions – Introduction to different religions in India

India is a secular state and the Indian religions comprises of people and followers from every faith and religion, it is a vast country and one of the most populous in the world approximately home to almost 1.4 billion people. The country offers religious freedom to its citizens and you can practice the religion of your choice as long as you are not disturbing others. India is home to the largest population of Hindus, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, and Bahai’s, Jains, and along with them, it is home to Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims. People from different faiths and communities have loved this multi-religious land. In India, religions from all across the world flourish and co-exist in harmony with one another which makes it a great place to be.

Indian Religions list as per the 2011 Census – Source Wikipedia

• Hindu – 79.8%
• Muslims – 14.2%
• Christians – 2.3%
• Sikhs – 1.7%
• Buddhists – 0.7%
• Jains – 0.4%
• Other incl. Baháʼí Faith, Judaism, Zoroastrians – 0.15%

Hinduism is the biggest religion of India

The ancient Hindu religion which is also called “Sanatan Dharam” in the local language is the most practiced in India, dating back to 4000 years Hinduism has been in the country since time immemorial and is one of the ancient religions of India. They practice sacred worship and rituals to idols and believe in various gods and goddesses it is said there are 0.36 billion gods and goddesses in the Hindu religion. This spirit of people towards their religion, and gods can be visible in every nook and corner of the country and it is a sight that you would create memories you would cherish for life. Be it visiting the temple, or seeking rituals on the rivers and lakes, the Arti, and worship being performed with chanting, dancing, and excitement.

Christianity in India

Christianity is the third most popular religion in India and was introduced to the country in the 6th AD, in the Malabar region which is the present-day Kerela. The country was a colony of Portuguese, like Goa, the presence of the East India Company, and other colonial regions was also a great contributor to the number of Christians in the country. These colonies were an introduction to Christianity and people who wanted to convert their religion were allowed to practice their freedom of religion. There are parts of the country where one can find Christianity dominating the religion, especially in South and East India.

Jews in India

It is said that Judaism was one of the first foreign religions which was introduced in the country in approximately 5000 BC. Most of them established themself in the southwest part of the country. There are multiple synagogues in various cities across the country. Today there are multiple cities like Pushkar and Mc Leodganj in the Himalayas which are home to many Jews who explore the country and enjoy the vibes of the region.

Buddhism in India

Buddhism was born in India, Mahatama Buddha founded Buddhism in 5 BC. He left the pleasures of his kingdom and went on in search of Nirvana or the Eternal Truth under the Bodi tree at Bodh Gaya, near Varanasi. People from all across the globe visit this small town of Bodh Gaya where a museum and stupa are built. Buddhism was born in India and later on, spread and flourished in Southeast Asian countries.

Sikhism in India

Sikhism was founded in the 15th century in the Punjab reason by Guru Nanak, India is home to the largest number of Sikhs in the world. The Sikhs follow the Guru Granth Saheb the holy book which guides them. The community kitchen at Gurudwara – the place of worship of the Sikhs offers free food to everyone in the Langar or the community kitchen.

Muslims in India

Islam started in India with the arrival of Arabs in the country during the 7th Century, with the arrival of the Mughals who ruled a large part of the country, there were significant conversions to Islam. It is the second-largest Indian religion in the country, earlier Muslims settled on the west coast of the country, and later on with the arrival of Mughals who ruled the country, Islam spread in the central part of the country.

Along with the above-mentioned Indian religions, many other religions have flourished in country, given the freedom of religion offered by the country, today one can find people from the Bahai Faith, Jainism, Zoroastrians, and many other religions being practiced in the country. India is a secular state and is guided by the principle of humanity over any specific religion. You are free to practice your preferred religion and culture as long as you are not disturbing or causing trouble to anyone.

The various Indian religions make it unique for those seeking religion, faith, and cultural experience. This vast country is open for all and it is the beauty of India to seek harmony among people from all faiths. They celebrate festivals together and live with peace and harmony, by respecting the religious values of others. The country celebrates the religious spirit of all while maintaining a sense of brotherhood and spirit of patriotism for the country.

Come explore vibrant India with expert tour guides who help you experience the best of the religion of India. Join us on our guided tours across the country to see the places of worship, and the rituals of various religions and understand them in depth when in India.

Note – This blog post is a personal opinion of a citizen of the country, your suggestions are welcome.