SOCIO-GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS AFFECTING RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS IN CHOLISTAN DESERT

Abstract

Religion has central importance in the life of most of the people in this world. Cholistan is one of the largest deserts of Pakistan where an overwhelming majority of the population is Muslims since centuries. Living with semi nomadic culture, people in Cholistan have poor access to basic human needs such as education, health, housing and drinking water. This ethnographic study aims at exploring various factors affecting religious knowledge and awareness among people of Cholistan. Using qualitative research method, data were collected from 50 participants from both Greater and Lesser Cholistan through protracted qualitative interviews and participants observation. The findings of the study revealed that due to adverse climatic and poor socio-economic conditions, people in the Cholistan were least aware about religious teachings and rituals particularly those living in Greater Cholistan. In the absence of formal ways of religious learning and training, there were number of informal channels such as interaction with people from settled areas, elderly family members, religious gatherings and electronic as well as social media which affect religious knowledge and awareness. The study concludes that social life including religion is affected by environmental conditions and there is less practice of religion in hostile climatic conditions.