Question

Discuss how there has been an intermixing between the worship of deities between villages and cities.

Answer 1

Instructions: Give examples of how there has been intermixing between the rituals, traditions, and deities of folk religions with the mainstream religions followed in the cities.

Solution:

• In India, there have been interactions between different kinds of people and their religions which has led to an intermixing of traditions.
• Therefore, religious beliefs which are a part of folk worship and folk wisdom have been practised by the followers of the mainstream religions and vice versa.
• For example, the worship of the peepul tree, snakes and the mother goddess in mainstream Hinduism was adopted from folk traditions.
• In Islam, the case was different. As we are aware, mainstream Islam believes in monotheism or the worship of only one God i.e., Allah.
• However, the folk followers of Islam began to rever Sufi saints and believed that worshipping at the dargahs would solve their problems.
• This developed a very strong tradition of pilgrimages to dargahs and urs, where people of all faiths participated.