Thursday, January 7, 2010

Religion


The Janta Colony is very much a "gated" community: virtually all houses have a metal gate that separates the inner courtyard from the streets and walkways. Many are painted with bright colours and respresentations of Hindu Deities, or strung with icons to ward off the "evil eye".
Hinduism is predominant, but the resident come from many different North Indian provinces and practice a variety of religions: Sikh, Buddhism and Muslim being the most common.
On a Sunday morning, music, chanting and prayers fill the air at an ashram nestled in a small valley next to the river, beyond the hustle and bustles of the bustee. Shrines and statury are common in homes. Like a small band of born-again Christians from Nepal (lead by a Vietnamese missionary), those who adopt new ways of life or new faiths are likely to incorporate elmenets of their past into their present reality.

On a Sunday morning, music, chanting and prayers fill the air at an ashram nestled in a small valley next to the river, beyond the hustle and bustle of the bustee. Like a small band of born-again Christians from Nepal, those who take up new ways of life or new faiths are most likely to incorporate elements of the past into their new realities.

DIR provides services to all residents regardless of religion; in fact, the bustees religious diversity is reflected amongst the Health Promoters.




















































































































































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