A Note on the Syncretistic Values among the Indian Population

Abstract

Syncretism is the process by which two or more independent cultural systems, or elements thereof, conjoin together at a given time and space to form altogether a new and distinct system. The process of syncretism occurs largely due to long time and continued interaction of different cultural systems; howsoever they may be opposed to each other, theoretically and conceptually. In India, due to age-old interaction of the Hindus with the Muslims and the Christians, a number of syncretistic phenomena can be observed in the cultural systems of the respective populations. It should be very clearly noted that syncretism is much more than merely borrowing of cultural traits among two groups, which often takes place when two cultural systems meet together. In syncretism, the elements of a culture, by virtue of circumstances, is so deeply imbibed in another culture that it appears to be its integral part. There are innumerable numbers ofDargah (a Muslim Shrine) in India, where the Hindus pay reverence and propitiate before the shrine to achieve their desired goals. Similarly, a number of Hindu beliefs, rituals, and observances have moved into the Christian and Muslim cultural systems in India, and vice versa. The paper furnishes a number of significant instances ofbeliefs, rituals, and observances that are observed among the Hindus, Muslims, and Christians that manifest syncretistic values.