Topics in Religion: domestic religion
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Click on the shrine for a close-up. |
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Within Arampur, the home exists as an important space for devotional practice. For example, many Muslim homes in Arampur, regardless of their size, will often have pictures of the Kaba in Mecca or the Prophet's Mosque in Medina (the two most famous Islamic sites and both situated in Saudi Arabia) on their walls. Often there may be a calendar marked with important religious dates, such as the month of Ramadan, and adorned with verses from the Quran. In Muslim homes, the Quran is treated with special reverance--it is wrapped in a white cloth and nothing can be set on top of it. The Quran and a prayer rug used for worship are also usually kept in a place that will protect them from coming into contact with anyone or anything that might be ritually impure. Hindu homes will have pictures of the gods and goddesses, some of which may be placed in a domestic shrine. As residents of Arampur will tell you, the women of a household will often perform a daily ritual to honor their household deities. The household shrine is understood to be a ritually pure space, and so one should only enter it after taking a bath and removing one's footware. In addition to daily routines of devotion, there are often special rituals that are performed for particular festivals or for purposes specific to the household, such as Chhath. Women will also regularly fast for the welfare of their families. In making these rather general observations about domestic devotion in Arampur, it is crucial to realize that the practices of individual families vary widely, as do the understandings of what we might conventionally call "domestic religion." |