Burdensome cost of religious ceremonies

Festivals, holidays, weddings, funerals involve a high cost to poor families or communities, they also cause a reduction in working days and loss of productivity.

The disparity between the cost of religious ceremonies and the standard of living of those who pay is most marked in developing countries, such as India. The problem also exists among the working classes and poor of industrialized countries. Religious influence of this kind causes conflict with development programmes.