India

People and Religion

Religious LifeHinduism is the major religion in India

It is polytheistic – they believe in many godsThe Gods make up the universal spirit called Brahma the creatorAll living things have a spirit or soulAll animals are treated with respect especially cows which is the sacred animal

Other religions in India are Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Jainism

Religious LifeHindus believe in Reincarnation

Ultimate goal is to find unity with BrahmaThey reach this goal by being reborn or reincarnated

Ganges River is their Sacred RiverDrinking the water of the Ganges or bathing in the river purifies the soul

Hindus believe in a caste systemIt is a social hierarchy in which people are bornOne can not change castes until the next life

Religious LifeThe Hindu caste system

Brahmans – the highest case is priests, teachers and judgesKshatriyas – warriorsVaisyas – farmers and merchantsSudras – craft workers and laborersUntouchables or outcastes – street sweepers, garbage collectors, and tanners

Village LifeSeven out of ten people live in villagesTwo types of living based on how prosperous a family is

Poor people live in mud houses with earth floorsMore prosperous have brick houses with a tiled roof and cement floors

Most Indians are primarily vegetariansSome eat pork, fish and chickenAlmost no one eats cows because they are the sacred animal

Village LifeClothing

Typically light and loose due to warm climateMany women cover their faces in public

Hindus live in joint family systemsHusbands take their new wives to live with his familyHouseholds include the extended familyEach person in the family has their own job

Technology is starting to be seen in the villagesElectricity and televisionMovies

Towns and CitiesCities and towns are growing

There is mass migration to the citiesMore jobs in cities and better opportunity

Varanasi is a holy city in India because it is located on the Ganges river

Economic ImprovementsChallenges

Only a small percentage of farmers make enough food to sellMost farmers are subsistence farmers

They have improved agricultural lifeImproved types of wheat and rice have increased productionRedistributed the land so poorer farmers can produce more

Education has increased

Economic ImprovementsIndia is one of the world’s leading industrial nation

Increases in computers and space technologyIncreases in consumer goods such as TVs and VCRsAll this has resulted in a growing middle class

General health has increased in IndiaLife expectancy went up from 32 to 61Water supplies have been cleaned upMedical practices have improved