The Lotus Temple in Delhi, known for its distinctive flower like architecture, is a house of worship belonging to which religion?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Bahai religion

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Lotus Temple in Delhi is one of the most recognisable modern landmarks of India. Tourists often visit it for its striking lotus flower shaped design, but exam questions focus on its religious affiliation. Although many people think of temples mainly in Hindu or Buddhist terms, this particular building is a house of worship for a different faith tradition. The question tests whether you can correctly identify that the Lotus Temple belongs to the Bahai religion.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The structure in question is the Lotus Temple located in Delhi.
  • It is described as a house of worship, not simply as a monument.
  • Options list Buddhism, Bahai religion, Zoroastrianism, Islam and Jainism.
  • We rely on commonly known facts from general knowledge resources.


Concept / Approach:
The Lotus Temple is one of the continental Bahai Houses of Worship. Bahai teachings emphasise the unity of all religions and humanity, and their houses of worship are open to people of all faiths for silent prayer and meditation. The lotus flower was chosen as a symbol that would be familiar and meaningful in the Indian context. While the word temple is used for many Hindu structures, in this case it refers specifically to a Bahai house of worship. The correct approach is to connect Lotus Temple with Bahai rather than assuming it is a Hindu or Buddhist temple because of the word temple in its name.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the Lotus Temple as the white marble, lotus shaped structure in Delhi often shown in general knowledge books. Step 2: Recall that it is officially a Bahai House of Worship. Step 3: Remember that Bahai is a distinct religious tradition founded in nineteenth century Persia, separate from Buddhism, Islam or Hinduism. Step 4: Note that no other major religion in the options is associated with this specific building as its official house of worship. Step 5: Select Bahai religion as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
Tourism brochures, encyclopaedia entries and exam guides all describe the Lotus Temple as a Bahai house of worship. They mention features such as nine doors, a central prayer hall and the lack of ritualistic ceremonies. The design symbolises purity and harmony, reflecting Bahai values. Because this association is consistent across many reliable sources and there is no competing claim from other religions, we can confidently confirm that the Bahai religion is correct.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option A: Buddhism has many famous stupas and temples in India, but the Lotus Temple is not a Buddhist monument.
  • Option C: Zoroastrianism followers in India are mainly Parsis, whose places of worship are called fire temples, not the Lotus Temple.
  • Option D: Islam places its main worship in mosques; the Lotus Temple is not a mosque and does not follow Islamic architectural norms.
  • Option E: Jain temples have distinct styles and iconography, different from the modern lotus shaped Bahai structure.


Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates quickly associate the word temple with Hindu or Buddhist traditions without recalling the specific facts about this structure. The unique modern architecture also leads some to think of it merely as a tourist attraction rather than a functioning house of worship. To avoid errors, link each famous building with its religious context: for example, Golden Temple with Sikhism, Jama Masjid with Islam and Lotus Temple with Bahai religion. Creating such pairs in your notes will greatly help in general knowledge exams.


Final Answer:
The correct answer is Bahai religion.

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