In the whole of Arampur block, 86% of residents are Hindu and 14% Muslim (aside from the single Christian reported), roughly reflecting the proportion in India generally. Hindus and Muslims do not live in exclusive enclaves without contact. Even in their religious activities, many share common forms of ritual, as the devotion of one Hindu family to the tomb of a shahid outside Arampur demonstrates. About twenty of this family gathers at the side of a saint's tomb near Singhpur one day a year. There they place a garland of orange flowers atop the half-dozen embroidered cadars ("sheets") draped on the concrete surfaced barrow of the tomb. They stand facing the edge of the raised brick platform upon which rests the barrow and perform dua, a prayer form from the Islamic tradition. One of the elder family members explains that, although they do not know the name of the saint, his family does this puja because he once helped them. While identifying his own family as Hindu, he describes the Muslim man who performs the ritual as a pujari (a Sanskrit term meaning "sacrifier") and "Muhammedan by caste."

Particular types of religious activity promote shared experiences and a common local identity through the integration of an individual and his or her family into a general map of religious devotional spaces which includes temples

and the tombs of saints. The religious activities that most prominently serve this end are the Muslim holidays of Baqar id and Id ul-Fitr. After Muslims gather at the local idgah for the prescribed community prayers they return home where friends - Hindu and Muslim both - visit Muslim households in their own and other villages sharing hospitality offered with cigarettes, tobacco, and paan.

Although Hindus would not attend prayers at an idgah or mosque, a great many seek help at the Sufi tombs that pepper Arampur and the nexus. Far less commonly, some Muslims go to the Shastri Brahm temple, particularly in search of relief from physical or mental incapacitation.

Overall, many Hindus and Muslims may know little or nothing about

the religious lives of each other but still avoid any interference or public disrespect toward each other's traditions. Because their lives inextricably intertwine daily in so many ways and because they share so many other identities if not religious identity, tolerance becomes the norm and conflict the exception. Their places of worship often stand across the street from one another, temple spire and mosque minaret sharing the same sky, and they may purchase their religious art from the same vendor or store. When members of one community process through Arampur’s streets in celebration or commemoration of a deity or event, members of other communities may not march with them but likely will gather in front of their homes and stores to share the event as an audience.