Christianity is often seen as a religion that spread in India solely through conversion during the Colonial period. The tradition is often kept out of narratives regarding the indigenous development of other religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and other faiths.
India is indubitably a land of many traditions and faiths. Moreover, these faiths tend to intersect and practices between them blend and adapt together. For example, in Christian traditions in India, a number of similarities to Hindu practices can be observed. Through this project, I want to explore the origin and development of the community, as well as talk about my personal experiences as part of the tradition.
During the winter break I travelled to my ancestral land of Kerala, situated near the tip of the Indian subcontinent. A land traditionally known as a trade hub, where spices flowed like water, Kerala is home to diverse communities, as well as a large Christian tradition. A large number of churches can be found scattered across the state, each belonging to the plethora of denominations that co-exist in the region.
I also visited the historic city of Kochi, and walked through the Old part of town, visiting Churches, museums and a synagogue. Through this project, I want to discuss my observations on what I saw, as well as provide a narrative on the history of the tradition.
My name is Rohan Mathew, and welcome to Endurance.
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