Cults, Customs and Superstitions of India by John Campbell Oman, originally published in 1908 and reprinted in 1972, is a fascinating anthropological study that delves into the rich tapestry of India’s religious practices, folk traditions, and societal rituals. Oman, a scholar and educator who spent years in colonial India, documents with meticulous detail the diverse belief systems—from mainstream Hinduism and Islam to localized tribal deities, ghost worship, and occult practices—that define the subcontinent’s spiritual landscape.
Blending ethnographic observation with historical context, the book explores ceremonies, festivals, and superstitions, revealing how myth and daily life intertwine. Oman’s writing, though reflective of its colonial era, offers a valuable window into pre-modern Indian culture, capturing customs that were already fading under urbanization and globalization. The 1972 reprint preserves this archival insight, making it a compelling resource for historians, anthropologists, and anyone intrigued by the enduring power of tradition.
A product of its time yet rich in detail, Cults, Customs and Superstitions of India remains a noteworthy, if occasionally dated, contribution to the study of South Asian heritage—a snapshot of a world where the sacred and the supernatural walk hand in hand.
