Religions and Cultures in India
Rohan Panaparambil
DIVERSITY OF RELIGION
HINDUISM, BUDDHISM, SIKHISM, JAINISM
HINDUISM
- most common religion in India
- developed from Vedism
- four Vedas
- pantheon of gods
- Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
ISLAM
- largest minority
- trade with Arabs
- Mamluk Turk Qutbuddin Aibak
- Aurangzeb
BUDDHISM
- Siddhartha Gautama
- Middle Path
- Ashoka
- popular among lower castes
JAINISM
- Vardhaman Mahavira
- jina - conqueror
- complete nonviolence
- staunch vegetarianism
CHRISTIANITY
- Saint Thomas
- Saint Xavier 1542
- spread north and east from Kerala
SIKHISM
- combination of Hinduism and Islam
- Guru Nanak
- Guru Granth Sahib
- 10 gurus
- influenced by Sufi Islam
ZOROASTRIANISM
- brought by Persians who migrated to India
- got permission from Jadhav Rana
- promised to live in India unobstrusively
- Ahura Mazda
DIVERSITY OF CULTURE
LANGUAGE
- There are over 200 languages, and almost 1600 dialects spoken in India
- 20 more common languages
- Currency printed in 15 languages
CLOTHING
- based on religion
- styles of wearing vary regionally
- sari, lungi, dhoti
- salwar-kameez, kurta
- rumal, topi, turban
FOOD
- based on religion
- rice and wheat are staples
- oils and spices
- sweets, sugar and milk based
- seafood in coastal regions
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
- tourism
- heritage
- flora and fauna
- integration
- profession
DISADVANTAGES
- tension
- corruption
- wealth gap
- conflicting interests
CONNECTION TO GOD OF SMALL THINGS
The God of Small Things takes place in Ayemenem, Kerala. The major characters are all Syrian Christian, which makes them a minority in India, but a fair representation in Kerala. The lifestyle in Kerala is also significantly different from other regions of India, and it is interesting to watch as the diversity in India plays out in the novel.
WORKS CITED
Articlesbase.com. Articlesbase.com, n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.
"Kamat's Potpourri: The Diversity of India." Kamat's Potpourri: The Diversity of India. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.
"Religions in India - Indian Religion - Religions of India - Major Religions in India." Religions in India - Indian Religion - Religions of India - Major Religions in India. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.