Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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- 2. Diversity and pluralism
- Many in India do not take a position on whether religious diversity is beneficial or harmful to their country
- Hindus who have a favorable view of the BJP say religious diversity benefits India
- With few exceptions, Indians of different religious backgrounds don’t see much in common with other religious groups in the country
- More Sikhs than members of other religious groups see common ground among religious groups in India
- Generally, Indians say they have limited knowledge about religions other than their own
- Half of Indians say many religions can be true
- Most Hindus in the North and South say many religions can be true; fewer Muslims agree
- Some non-Hindus say they have prayed, meditated or performed rituals at Hindu temples
- One-in-five Hindus in the North say they have prayed, meditated or performed a ritual at a Sikh gurdwara
- Substantial minorities of Indians have worshipped at venues belonging to other religions
- One-in-five Indian Muslims, three-in-ten Christians say they celebrate Diwali
- Diwali celebrations more common among Muslims in the West, South
- Valentine’s Day more commonly celebrated by college-educated, urban Indians; partisanship makes little difference