The Diversities found in India in terms of Religion:
(i) Religious diversities are found in India. There are eight major religious communities found in India. Population Wise Hindus are found in majority i.e. about 83 per cent followed by Muslims (11.8 per cent), Christians (2.6 per cent), Sikhs (2 per cent), Buddhists (0.7 per cent), Jains (0.4 per cent), Zoroastrians (0.3 per cent) and Jews (0.1 per cent). Besides these eight religions, some tribal communities have their own religion. They have their own deities and rituals. Out of the eight major religions, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism are indigenous religions, whereas Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Jew came from outside India. All the eight religions are further subdivided into different sects.
(ii) The Hindus worship a wide range of deities. Broadly, there are four types of worshipers: Vaishnav (worshiper of Vishnu), Shaivite (worshiper of Shiva), Shakta (worshiper of Shakti or mother Goddess in different attributes like Kali, Durga etc.) and Smarta (worshiper of all the above three gods). Besides these, the cults of Gurus and saints are widely prevalent among the Hindus (such as Shivanand, Chinmayanand, Anandmayi etc.). Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj are also a part of Hinduism. In this manner Hinduism provides a broad canvas for all types of believers.
(iii) Muslims are divided into two major groups i.e. Sunni and Shia, out of which Sunnis are found in a majority in India.
(iv) are of two broad denominations: Catholics and Protestants; whereas Buddhism has two divisions: Mahayana and Hinayana which are based on doctrinal differences.
(v) Jains are of two types: Digambara (unclothed) and Swetambara (white robed). Both Buddhism and Jainism came into being as a protest against Brahminical supremacy and the caste systems.
(vi) The Parsis and the Jews in India are very small communities. Parsis live mostly in Maharashtra and Gujarat but have contributed largely into the industrial development of the country (for instance Jamshedji Nasherbanji Tata, the founder of Tata Group of Companies and the Godrej).
(vii) The Jews are mainly found in Maharashtra and Kerala.
(viii) Sikhism is based in Punjab. After partition, Sikhs have spread all over the country and their generous tradition of Gurudwara and langar (free food to all) have become panIndic today (Gurudwaras are found in almost all towns, cities and big villages throughout India).
