Dimensions
285 x 215 x 19mm
From a humble postal worker performing puja for the safe passage of a parcel, to a former refrigerator salesman who has renounced his material life and set off on the path of self-realisation, religion suffuses every aspect of life in India. 'Sacred India' explores the presence of the divine in the mundane, though breathtaking photographs and the intriguing stories of the people they capture.
India boasts the world's largest Islamic population, one of the world's oldest Jewish communities, and is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Tribal religions and Zoroastrianism add to the seemingly bewildering array of faiths jostling for space. That India has mostly been able to contain these disparate creeds is a miracle in itself.
Seeking out the thoughts of a young bride at a Hindu wedding, a Sikh woman on a pilgrimage to the Golden Temple at Amritsar, or the impressions of Western visitors to the holy site of Pushkar, 'Sacred India' is a lavish affirmation of the strength we derive from our spirituality - whatever its form.
The book is a sumptuous survey of the different ways humans have sought to find deeper meaning in their lives in a country synonymous with spiritual exploration. In true Lonely Planet style, this is not just a pretty picture book. 'Sacred India' examines the less savoury aspects of religious life, such as sati.
This is the perfect book or gift for anyone who has ever travelled to India and wondered at the worship of holy cows or the discipline of Ramadan fasters. It is also the perfect book for those who have never travelled to distant lands, but who like to explore the different paths of the inner world. Above all, it is a book that will delight the eye and enrich the soul.
