India SC: Hinduism a Way of Life, Not Mandatory Rituals

India's Supreme Court observed on Wednesday that Hinduism is a way of life rather than a set of mandatory rituals, stating that temple visits or formal ceremonies are not required for someone to identify as Hindu. The nine-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, emphasized that even simple acts like lighting a lamp at home suffice to demonstrate faith. The remarks came during hearings on petitions addressing discrimination against women at religious sites, including the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala, and the scope of religious freedom under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.

The bench, comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna, M.M. Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B. Varale, R. Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi, was on the 15th day of arguments. Advocate Dr. G. Mohan Gopal, representing an intervenor, argued that demands for social justice are arising within religious communities. He questioned past judicial definitions of Hinduism, such as a 1966 ruling linking it to acceptance of the Vedas as supreme authority, noting that not all Hindus endorse this view.

Responding, Justice Nagarathna said, "That is why...