Hinduism, castes and tradition

India has more than 1,200 million inhabitants, and Hinduism is the oldest and most widespread religion in the country. It is estimated that 80% of the population professes it.

The caste system (legally abolished) is based on the belief that people come from the body of the Hindu god Brahma; and, depending on which part of the body they come from, they are divided into 4 main castes with endless subcastes. Apart from these is an outcast category, the dalit, or untouchables, a group of people considered to be social pariahs.

Castes are hereditary and determine the life and death of people, their socio-economic level, work, marriage. While it is true that in the big cities these traditions are losing strength, approximately 70% of the Indian population lives in rural areas where such customs remain firmly in place.

Film: Land of the Gods