Few countries in the world have such an ancient and diverse culture as India's. India's physical, religious and racial variety is as important as the history of how it become what "Modern India." In India, religion is very important to the people. It is a major part of the entire Indian tradition. For the majority of Indians, religion takes over every aspect of life, from commonplace daily chores to education and politics. Hinduism is the dominant faith, practiced by over 80% of the population. Besides Hindus, Muslims are the most prominent religious group and are an essential part of Indian society. Common practices are now a part of most religious faiths and all communities share many of the festivals that mark each year with music, dance and feasting. Each has its own pilgrimage sites, heroes, legends and even culinary specialties, mingling in a unique diversity. Hinduism and Buddhism are very similar, being the most practiced by the Indians. The exact explanation of Hinduism cannot be easily defined. There is no unique philosophy that forms the basis of the faith of the majority of India's population. It cannot be traced to a specific founder nor does it have a "holy book" as a basic scriptural guide. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism does not advocate the worship of one particular deity. One may worship Shiva or Vishnu or Rama or Krishna or some other gods and goddesses or one may believe in the 'Supreme Spirit' or the 'Indestructible Soul' within each individual and still be called a good Hindu. This gives an indication of the kind of contrasts this religion is marked by. At one end of the scale, it is an exploration of the 'Ultimate Reality'; at the other end there are cults that worship spirits, trees and animals. Buddhism, another religion followed by in India, originated as an offshoot of Hinduism, but eventually it became popular all over Asia. Buddhism is based on the principle that everything is subject to change, although some things may last longer than others.
