“Hinduism is a Way of Life”: Supreme Court Says Temple Visits Not Necessary to Prove Faith

The Supreme Court observed that Hinduism is a “way of life” and that visiting temples or performing rituals is not mandatory to establish one’s faith.

The remarks were made by a nine-judge Constitution Bench headed by Surya Kant during hearings concerning religious freedom and gender-based restrictions at places of worship, including the Sabarimala issue.

Justice B.V. Nagarathna noted that faith is personal and need not always be ritualistic, while the CJI remarked that even lighting a lamp at home is sufficient to express religious belief.