A ritual slowly unravels in India
CHANDIGARH, India -- The rapidly shrinking number of young Sikhs who wear turbans and have unshorn hair has alarmed many in this religious minority of 20 million. Although there are no formal surveys, community groups say that only 25 percent of Sikhs younger than 30 follow the practice. Many young Sikhs say the daily tedium of combing and tying up their long hair and a desire to assimilate are pushing them to give up the turban, a sacred symbol of a religion founded in the 15th century.
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Tradition is no match for the march of evolution. All religions change over time, or they die out as people and their needs change. Sikhism will have to find ways to justify changes to their traditions if they want to integrate into the wider world. Perhaps their ritual daggers will have to shrink to become dagger-shaped pendants, closely-trimmed beards will be replacing years of growth, and linen caps will replace turbans.
Or perhaps the more conservative elements will insist that the outer forms of their religion must remain unchanged, driving people into rival religions' arms. C'est la vie.
Posted on April 16, 2009 8:06 AM
As Jesus so powerfully emphasized, religion is not a matter of outward ritualism - which becomes a hindrance to the real issues of spirituality if taken more seriously than it deserves. I think regularity and ritual can be wuite useful; but only if it is kept in perspective. Unfortuantely, over the years these forms can become religionism: a substitute for true inner spirituality.
Posted on April 17, 2009 7:28 AM