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Religion
There were Hindus, Christians and Muslims in Lakshadweep. Majority of the people in Lakshadweep are Muslims.
The Muslims in Lakshadweep believe that there is no other God but Allah and that
Muhammad is his Prophet. But Pir (saint) worship has become a common feature
with them. The Urs of Ubaidullah (at Andrott) and Syed Muhammed Kasim (at
Kavaratti) are celebrated every year. Devout Muslims keep awake for the whole
night and recite the maulood during the ceremony. The majority of the Muslims
belong to the Shufi School of the Sunni sect and acknowledge besides the Koran
the authority of the Sunnet. Other sects among the Muslims are Wahabis and
Ahamadiyas who are in a microscopic minority. The Wahabis have separate mosques
in Agatti and Kavaratti and the Ahamadiyas are found only in Kalpeni.
Wahabis are Muslim purists who reflect all traditional teachings except that of
the Prophet, prohibit pilgrimage to shrines or tombs and try to restore Islam
to be condition of its ancient purity.
There is no differences in the religious beliefs, manners and
customs of the different classes in Lakshadweep but they have been separated by
social barriers.
In some islands Melacheris are not allowed to perform
the religious ceremony of Ratheb in certain mosques. Other social disabilities
which existed in the past like prohibition against the use of chappals, holding
umbrellas and singing are now a thing of the past.
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