When talking of a place that has diverse religions, India is the probably the first one to cross your mind! Being a secular country, it has a place for every religion and every belief. In the ancient times, India comprised of several small kingdoms that were spread across the land, each having their own culture. It is therefore inevitable for the united India to have such varied religions. During the British Raj, India was constantly fighting for her freedom. After independence, the constitution was carefully drafted by some of our best leaders. Every act and article of this manuscript confirms the secularity of India. Article 25 of the Indian Constitution and the preamble states that any Indian citizen has the right to practice any profession or propagate any religion. So it can be seen that 'free India' created a space for all existing and upcoming religions. Inspite of the upheavals in the name of religion, India gives each person a platform to fight for their rights as per the constitution. Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism are the most prominent religions in the country.
Indian Religions
Every religion, significantly, adds to the culture and traditions of India. With its own set of beliefs, all of them make the country appear extremely diverse. Hinduism, for example, revolves around numerous Gods and Goddesses that are worshipped for different reasons and thus, giving the devotees the freedom to choose their own path of life. Christianity believes that there is only one God and that his son, Jesus Christ, came down to this Earth in order to save mankind from death. Sikhism also follows one God with the prime importance of leading a life of faith, justice and discipline and ultimately the goal of salvation. On the other hand, Buddhism strives to create an environment where everyone lives in peace and distributes love through the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Islam is a monotheistic religion wherein the Muslims believe that God created the Universe and is the Supreme power that rules all. Prophets such as Ibrahim made were successful in teaching the people about the truths of life. Jainism is yet another religion known for its peace loving nature. It is taken as far as not allowing the killing of insects, as the followers believe that every living being has a soul.
These are just a few examples of the varied and numerous belief systems that exist in India. Even in the same religion, there are different cultures and traditions which are adhered to in different parts of the country.