Culture of India
Introduction : Religions of India
India has diverse religions and is a secular country where everyone is treated equally, irrespective of their religion.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest religion and tradition of the world. It has continued ever since a very long time. About 80 percent of the Indian people are Hindus. They believe in one Supreme God. In addition, they also worship a number of deities, such as Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Ganesha, Rama, Krishna, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and others. Their sacred books are many, such as the Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Geeta etc. They pray in a variety of ways. We can find their temples almost everywhere.
Islam
Muslims follow Islam, which was founded by Prophet Mohammad. They believe in one Supreme God or Allah, and their sacred book is the Quran. Muslims offer prayers in a mosque.
Sikhism
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev. It has a tradition of ten Sikh gurus. Its holy book is the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikhs offer prayers in a gurudwara.
Christianity
Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ. Its holy book is the Bible. The Christians offer prayers in a church.
Buddhism
Buddhism was founded by Lord Buddha. This religion teaches universal love and brotherhood.
Jainism
Jainism is an ancient religion which was popularised by Lord Mahavira. The Jains believe in right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
Zoroastrianism
The followers of this religion are called Parsees. They came to India from Iran about 1200 years ago. Their holy book is the Zend Avesta.