India is a crazy place – chaos, noise, colors, over-stimulation of all your senses at all times. Except those rare snatches of calm. Those moments of serenity. Those deep breaths and gentle smiles.

Sometimes that’s what religion is. A visit to the temple to touch the feet of a goddess in contemplation.

Hanging your sari to dry in the afternoon sun while you nap at the ashram.

A stolen look while the pandit waves fire in the sky and attracts a crowd.

And while I shy away from the stereotype that India is a spiritual place (in general I find people more concerned with having the newest mobile phone than praying to any god), I do see religion everywhere – in the people, the humanity, the control buried in the chaos, the moments of calm and connection. And if this counts as religion – India has it in abundance.