Importance Of Hindu Festival

Festivals are an important tradition, in the Hindu religion. They are a way for the people to celebrate Gods, Goddesses, and their way of life. Each festival has a specific meaning, and brings rituals, food, and traditional activities. The first festival that is talked about is Navarati. In southern India this is a festival for Devi, and her battle against Mahisha. During this festival, there are altars for the Goddess. In the first three days, people worship Devi in her display as Durga (p. 135). Eventually they worship her as Lakshmi, and then in the last three days she is worshipped as Sarasvati. This festival includes street processions, and the last day, or the “victorious tenth day”, is celebrated by all. This last day is about Rama’s final victory.

The next festival learned about was Diwali. This is a five-day festival called the “Festival of Lights” (pg. 135). This festival is celebrated primarily to worship the goddess Lakshmi. To celebrate this festival, oil lamps are set on peoples’ doorsteps, floating lamps are placed in rivers as offerings, and fireworks are set off on the night of the new moon to worship Lakshmi. On the third day of this festival a Puja ritual is performed for Lakshmi. During this Puja ritual new clothing is worn, and people exchange gifts. Holi, the third festival learned, is the festival of Krishna, and colors. This

There are four rites of passage in this religion, and each one has its own significance. The first rite of passage is a boy’s initiation. During this rite of passage, the thread ceremony occurs. The thread ceremony happens when a boy reaches the age of eight. Once they reach this age they now have the right or permission to perform religious functions (pg. 131). At the beginning of this passage a fire sacrifice occurs, which means this boy is now “twice born”. They are then given a thread that represents an umbilical cord, which links the boy to the