Temple Bells Chime across the still silence of the Desert, the peals a clear sound that ring for a while, resound & are then swallowed up into a great nothingness. It is sound that bathes the dawn with an enchanted, magical beauty that gives definition to a life of harsh realities: in sand and scrub, the people have found not discomfort but faith, a force that gives them is a celebration of their energies and their beliefs.

Every home in Rajasthan has its deities – those from the Hindu pantheon, Folk Heros, Mother Goddess, Sati Matas, even Maharajas who ran their kingdoms like exemplary welfare states. Every village has its Temple – from the vermilion daubed stones revered under the thickening trunks of ancient trees to carved Temples that celebrate the spirit of their Faith. Every faith has its God – whether Hindu, Islamic or Jain in the nature of Gurus, or as the cosmos itself. And every one of them has a place in Rajasthan, not only tolerant of each other’s religions, but also participating in many of the events, or letting faiths intermingle to create a new vocabulary for those who believe in Gods, and the Power of God.

The religious Kaleidoscope is truly amazing: the chanting of Jain Hums, and their observance of strict austerities is at odds with the Bhil Zest for ritual festivities in Honor of the Gods, or even the Rajputs exuberance in their faith, and in the preparations leading up to a ceremony, or the Muslim month of mourning and fasting even in the harshest climatic conditions. The Jains do not eat after Sundown, the Muslims share their Sweet porridge of Sewaiyan with others on the occasion of ID, and Rajputs sacrifice goats before their Gods, and serve it as consecrated food. Yet, between them, there has always been a sense of Harmony. The Rajputs Kings not only gave permission to Muslims and Jains to build their religious Shrines, they also, often, gave them Lands on which to do so.