Tag: Indian vegetarian cuisine

According to a 2008 CNN-IBN survey, around 31% of the Indian population identifies as vegetarian, making it the country with the highest number of vegetarians in the world. This statistic highlights a profound truth: yes, there are cultures that are vegetarian, driven by centuries-old religious and philosophical beliefs.

Approximately 97% of Jains follow a strict vegetarian diet, making Jainism the most prominent Indian religion with mandatory vegetarianism for all adherents. This practice is rooted in the central tenet of 'ahimsa' or non-violence, a principle also respected to varying degrees by other major Indian religions.

Despite a common stereotype, only about 20% to 30% of India's population is strictly vegetarian, meaning the vast majority of the country's citizens do eat meat. The misconception that India is a primarily vegetarian nation is challenged by surveys and research that reveal a more complex reality, with significant regional and demographic variations in dietary practices.