Religious Rituals and Their Impact on Indian Family Cohesion: A Sociological Analysis
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The paper explores the role of religious rituals in fostering family cohesion in Indian families through a sociological analysis. Using secondary data from surveys, sociological studies, and academic literature, it explores how practices in Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and other religions influence family unity, emotional bonding, and the intergenerational transmission of values. The findings highlight that rituals, such as prayers, festivals, and life-cycle ceremonies, provide structured opportunities for shared participation and spiritual experiences, strengthening emotional connections and family ties. These rituals also serve as tools for conflict resolution and preserving cultural heritage. Moreover, they play a crucial role in the intergenerational transmission of religious and cultural values, ensuring continuity and solidarity within families. By examining diverse traditions, the study concludes that religious rituals significantly contribute to family resilience amidst societal changes. This research broadens understanding of how religious practices shape family dynamics in culturally diverse societies like India.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Anderson, J. W. (2012). Rituals and family dynamics: A cultural approach to social cohesion. Journal of Family Sociology, 23(4), 401–419.
Babb, L. A. (1975). The divine hierarchy: Popular Hinduism in Central India. Columbia University Press.
Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. University of California Press.
Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. G. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241–258). Greenwood.
Cort, J. E. (2001). Jains in the world: Religious values and ideology in India. Oxford University Press.
Desai, S., & Vanneman, R. (2015). Cultural diversity and family structures in India. In India Human Development Survey: Insights and analyses (pp. 89–108). Oxford University Press.
Dube, L. (1998). Sociological dimensions of family in India. Sage Publications.
Durkheim, E. (1912). The elementary forms of the religious life. Free Press.
Ghosh, A. (2018). Cultural symbols and family cohesion: Sociological perspectives in Indian contexts. Routledge India.
Gombrich, R. (1988). Theravada Buddhism: A social history from ancient Benares to modern Colombo. Routledge.
Khan, S. (2013). Ramadan: A month of blessings and reflection. Journal of Muslim Society and Culture, 10(3), 29–38.
Kumar, A. (2015). Rituals and modernity: Understanding adaptations in Indian urban families. Sociological Inquiry, 47(1), 67–82.
Kumar, R. (2015). Joint family systems and Indian family cohesion. Indian Journal of Sociology, 10(1), 45–56.
Levitt, P. (2012). Religion on the Edge: De-centering and Re-centering the Sociology of Religion. Oxford University Press.
Mahoney, A. (2010). Religion in families, 1999–2009: A relational spirituality framework. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(4), 805–827.
Parsons, T. (1951). The social system. Free Press.
Razzaq, N., Farzeen Khan, E., & Razzaq, S. (2023). Analyzing the Role of Language and Religion in Culturally Competent Healthcare: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Annals of Innovation in Medicine, 1(3).
Siddiqui, M. (2010). Islamic rituals and family dynamics: A study of Indian Muslim families. Journal of Islamic Sociology, 8(3), 155–174.
Singh, G., & Kaur, H. (2014). Community service and family cohesion in Sikhism: The role of Langar and Seva. International Journal of Religious Studies, 22(4), 89–102.
Singh, H., & Kaur, R. (2014). Sikh religious practices and their role in family cohesion. Sikhism and Family Life, 1(2), 30–45.
Singh, N.-G. K. (2014). The name of my beloved: Verses of the Sikh Gurus. HarperCollins India.
Singh, P., & Fenech, L. E. (2014). The Oxford handbook of Sikh studies. Oxford University Press.
Tatla, D. S. (1999). The Sikh diaspora: The search for statehood. Routledge.
Uberoi, P. (2006). Family, kinship, and marriage in India. Oxford University Press.
Vaidyanathan, R. (2012). Hindu rituals and their sociological impact on family life. Journal of Indian Culture and Society, 20(1), 88–104.