Religion in India - Statistics and Facts
Lined with Hindu and Jain temples, Sikh Gurudwaras, mosques, and churches, the commercial streets of Old Delhi are the picture-perfect vision of how religious diversity is traditionally celebrated in India. While India, globally, has one of the largest Hindu populations at over 80 percent, it is also home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population at over 14 percent, and other religious minorities (Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, and others) that constitute around 6 percent of the population. The country’s long list of religious public holidays is representative of its plurality.
The impact of religion on Indian society is not just visible in the marriage market but in tourism, commerce, entertainment, and more. The grandiose Ram Temple, constructed at an estimated cost of 18 billion Indian rupees, is expected to attract millions of visitors annually. With sprawling yoga retreats and highly advertised religious circuit tours, spiritual tourism is growing as a major industry in the country.
The religious fabric of the country can also be seen in the consumption trends. T-Series Bhakti Sagar, a spiritual music channel, is one of the most popular YouTube channels in the country. Ramayan, a Hindu mythological series, was the most-viewed TV show in 2023. The religious festive season is a key time for commerce, with ever-growing consumer expenditure. During festivals such as Diwali, Christmas, regional New Years, and Ramadan, the market for religious and spiritual items flourishes. Interestingly, India is one of the leading suppliers of Christmas decorations globally.
Once a fringe ideology, Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in modern India after the right-wing BJP-led government came to power in 2014. Issues and events such as the beef ban in many states, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the inauguration of the Ram Temple on the once-contested site for Hindus and Muslims, have driven religious polarization in the country in recent years.
Currently, the cases of divorce, adoption, and inheritance are governed by multiple religious and customary laws. The present government is pushing to adopt a uniform civil code instead, a move opposed by some minority groups calling it a majoritarian in nature. In a country where 79 percent of citizens believe that India belongs to all Indians and not just Hindus, there is hope that the country’s pluralistic, yet deeply religious fabric will be preserved.
From matrimony to entertainment: Religion influencing consumer trends
Although plurality is a linchpin of the country, so is religious faith. Over 70 percent of Indians believed in God or some higher entity. In a survey conducted across various religious groups, it was found that most Indians prefer to marry within their religion. Matrimonial ads in newspapers or online websites are testimony to this.The impact of religion on Indian society is not just visible in the marriage market but in tourism, commerce, entertainment, and more. The grandiose Ram Temple, constructed at an estimated cost of 18 billion Indian rupees, is expected to attract millions of visitors annually. With sprawling yoga retreats and highly advertised religious circuit tours, spiritual tourism is growing as a major industry in the country.
The religious fabric of the country can also be seen in the consumption trends. T-Series Bhakti Sagar, a spiritual music channel, is one of the most popular YouTube channels in the country. Ramayan, a Hindu mythological series, was the most-viewed TV show in 2023. The religious festive season is a key time for commerce, with ever-growing consumer expenditure. During festivals such as Diwali, Christmas, regional New Years, and Ramadan, the market for religious and spiritual items flourishes. Interestingly, India is one of the leading suppliers of Christmas decorations globally.
Religion, identity, and politics
Most Indians pride themselves in communal harmony and coexistence. Ironically, there are many instances of communal violence in post-partition India, some of the worst having occurred in 1984, 1989, the early 90s, and 2002. Over the years, religion or caste-based vote bank politics became a cornerstone of Indian politics.Once a fringe ideology, Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in modern India after the right-wing BJP-led government came to power in 2014. Issues and events such as the beef ban in many states, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the inauguration of the Ram Temple on the once-contested site for Hindus and Muslims, have driven religious polarization in the country in recent years.
Currently, the cases of divorce, adoption, and inheritance are governed by multiple religious and customary laws. The present government is pushing to adopt a uniform civil code instead, a move opposed by some minority groups calling it a majoritarian in nature. In a country where 79 percent of citizens believe that India belongs to all Indians and not just Hindus, there is hope that the country’s pluralistic, yet deeply religious fabric will be preserved.
