In our free time in India, we found ourselves visiting the numerous temples and monasteries that were sprinkled throughout the area. We visited Buddhist monasteries, Christian churches, Sikh gurdwaras, and Hindu temples. All of these places of worship coexisted within a small radius of one another. It was so interesting visiting these places of worship, and I found myself learning so much about religion outside of my regular coursework. I learned about Lord Shiva and Nanda Devi of the Hindu religion, and how Hanuman, a Hindu deity, loves mangoes and picked up a mountain in search of a medicine to rescue his wife. I learned about the generosity of the Sikh religion, and how they provide shelter and food for those in need. I learned about the prayer flags that whisper “Om Mani Padme Hum”, the mantra of Tibetan Buddhism, into the wind. 

Tibetan Prayer Flags:

We visited a Sikh gurdwara in Paonta Sahib:

I had many conversations about religion. I visited an art exhibit titled “Boundary Crossings: Artists in Interfaith Dialogue” that brought together artists of all different faiths from all over the world. This art exhibit demonstrated how many religions have similar underlying principles of forgiveness, kindness, and service. Several people that I talked to about religion actually worship all Gods of all religions, and had just a general belief in a higher power. I had never thought of faith in this way before. The United States also enables many religions to coexist within the same area. In Pittsburgh, there are places of worship for Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews. However, in the United States, talking about religion can be almost a taboo. Being in India has enabled me to be curious about others’ beliefs and ask questions about them. This general openness of religion in India has enabled a greater acceptance of different faiths.

We dipped our feet into the sacred Yamuna River:

Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh: