Religion in India is a part of life. Though Hinduism is the dominant religion, Indians have learnt to co-exist with people of other faiths. 

Whether it is the ancient shlokas of the Hindu prayers, the aazaans of the Muslim prayers, the gurvani of the Sikhs or the chanting of the Buddhist monks - all fill the sky simultaneously. The main religious communities in India are Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis.

Muslims are India's largest religious minority, accounting for nearly 10% of India's population.  Muslims are followers of Prophet Mohammad and the Holy book is Holy Quran. The aim of every Muslim is to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.  They keep Ramadan (fasting) for one month and follow Zakat (Charity). In every city and town Muslims have mosques where they go for their regular prayers. The Jama Masjid in Delhi is the largest mosque in India. Indian Muslims shined in every walk of life, two presidents of India were  Muslims, sportsmen, film stars and scientists professor Abdual Kalam who received highest civilian award Bharat Ratan for his services in science and technology. Indian muslims are grat artisans who have contributed highly to Indian handicrafts.

Christians in India are generally found in the western coast and Kerala. Christianity has existed in Kerala since very long. Historical evidence shows that the first Indian converts were made by St Thomas, the Apostle himself in 52 AD. St. Thomas preached the Gospel in many parts of India and is said to have been martyred in Madras (now Chennai).

Although Buddhists are a minority in India the religion is of great importance, as this religion originates here. Buddhism was founded in northern India, when prince Siddharta renounced the world and sought enlightenment.It is a religion of philosophy, which has a code of morality.

Sikhism was born out of the teachings of Guru Nanak, at the beginning of the 16th Century. This movement rejected the harmony and the socio-economic divisions of the brahmanical society.

Like Buddha, Mahavir was the prince who founded the Jain religion. In fact the two were almost contemporaries.

Founded in Persia by the prophet Zarathustra in the 6th or 7th Century BC, Zorastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world. He was born in Mazar-i-Sharif, which is now in Afghanistan. The followers of Zorastrianism are known as Parsis, since they originally fled to India to escape persecution in Persia.
Zorastrianism was one of the first religions to advocate God as being omni-potent. Zend-Avesta, their holy book describes the continual conflict of the good and the evil. Their God Ahura Mazda is the god of light and is symbolized by fire. Man ensures the victory over evil by following the principles of 'humata' or good thoughts, 'hukta' or good words and 'huvarshta' or good deeds.
Parsis worship in fire temples and wear 'sarda' or sacred shirt and a 'kasti' or sacred thread. A ceremony known as 'Navjyote' is performed when the children first wear the sacred thread. Since Parsis believe in purity of the elements of the earth, they do not cremate or burn the dead. Instead the bodies are left in 'towers of silence' at the mercy of the vultures.Unfortunately, the Parsi community in India has been gradually dwindling.