#sarnaism

[divinum-pacis]

A woman prays during a sit-in demonstration rally to demand of recognizing Sarna Dharma as a religion in Ranchi, capital of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, Oct. 18, 2022. Tribal groups have held protests in support of giving Sarna Dharma official religion status in the run-up to the upcoming national census, which has citizens state their religious affiliation. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

[divinum-pacis]

November 2022, Ranchi, India: Tribeswomen listen to Salkhan Murmu, former lawmaker and community activist, during a sit-in demonstration to demand the recognition of Sarna Dharma as a religion in Ranchi. Murmu’s sit-in protests in several Indian states have drawn crowds of thousands.

Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP

[honorthegods]

Clinging to ancient faith, India tribes seek religion status

GUDUTA, India (AP) — The ritual began with a thunderous roll of leather drums, its clamor echoing through the entire village. Women dressed

...adherents of Sarna Dharma say their faith is different from monotheistic and polytheistic ones. Sarna Dharma has no temples and scriptures. Its adherents don’t believe in heaven or hell and don’t have images of gods and goddesses. Unlike Hinduism, there is no caste system nor rebirth belief.