India boasts of a rich religious tapestry with the key religions being Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Both have greatly influenced the Indian society, culture and values through centuries. The most popular religion is Hinduism, which affects most spheres of life, including rituals and festivals, art, and architecture, as well as the caste system. Its philosophies, such as karma and dharma suffuse social morals and individual behaviors. Its cultural imprint is deep evidenced in the form of temples, mythology, and classical dance forms.
The second largest religion in India is Islam. It adds to the heritage of the country in terms of architecture (e.g., the Taj Mahal), music, food, and language, specifically Urdu. Islamic holidays such as Eid are very popular and Sufi culture permeates Indian spiritual and artistic culture. Christianity was brought by missionaries and colonizers; it is found throughout India, but more so in Kerala, Goa and the Northeast. It has influenced the education and healthcare systems and most of the renowned schools, colleges and hospitals have been established by the Christian institutions. The whole nation celebrates Christmas and Easter.
Sikhism is a Punjabi based religion which focuses on equality, community service and monotheism. It is a policy of inclusivity, and gurudwaras serve free meals (langar) to everyone. Sikhs have significant contributions in Indian military, politics and entrepreneurship. Buddhism and Jainism are the other ancient India religions that encourage non-violence and spiritual control. They are succeeded by lesser number of populations but have had immense contribution to the Indian ethics, art and history. All these religions add up to the pluralistic ethos of India. Inter religion contacts, common celebrations and multicultural living renders religion not only a personal belief structure, but also an essential issue in Indian societal and cultural definition.
