CLOTHING: Women wear a traditional dress is known as a sari or a salwarkameez. In India you will still see a lot of women wearing the sari. It consists of two parts: a tunic (kameez) that covers loose trousers (salwar). During worship or other appropriate times, women will cover their heads. In today’s society, the bindi no longer represents marriage but has become fashionable among young girls who wear it in different colors. Men will typically wear a chadder that is very light or thick depending on the climate and will also wear a dot on there forehead representing there faith.
FOOD: Most Hindus follow a vegetarian type of diet, eating vegetables fruit rice and other foods that are not meats. Many Hindus have an altar at home and offer their food before eating. Meat, fish, poultry, and eggs are foods that most Hindus ignore or rarely ever eat. Almost all Hindus avoid beef and pork out of respect for the cow.
HOLIDAYS: Holi: (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna or (Early March.
Diwali:, from the Sanskrit , meaning "row of lights" is a Hindu festival of lights lasting five days. For many Hindus, Diwali is also New Year's Eve.
SPECIAL DAYS: (two main ones) Raksābandhana - renewing bonds between brothers and sisters (July-August)
Navaratri - festival of Shakti (or goddess of power). Also, it is interpreted as 'nine nights' and is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or 'shakti'. Celebrates usually from September-November.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
River Ganges: The river Ganges is the holiest river for Hindus.
Varanasi: It is said to be the home of Lord Shiva. A Hindu who dies at Varanasi and has their ashes scattered on the Ganges is said to have experienced the best death possible.
Worship at home: The majority of Hindu homes have a shrine where offerings are made and prayers are said.
Temple worship: At a Hindu temple, different parts of the building have a different spiritual or symbolic meaning.
FOOD: Most Hindus follow a vegetarian type of diet, eating vegetables fruit rice and other foods that are not meats. Many Hindus have an altar at home and offer their food before eating. Meat, fish, poultry, and eggs are foods that most Hindus ignore or rarely ever eat. Almost all Hindus avoid beef and pork out of respect for the cow.
HOLIDAYS: Holi: (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna or (Early March.
Diwali:, from the Sanskrit , meaning "row of lights" is a Hindu festival of lights lasting five days. For many Hindus, Diwali is also New Year's Eve.
SPECIAL DAYS: (two main ones) Raksābandhana - renewing bonds between brothers and sisters (July-August)
Navaratri - festival of Shakti (or goddess of power). Also, it is interpreted as 'nine nights' and is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or 'shakti'. Celebrates usually from September-November.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:
River Ganges: The river Ganges is the holiest river for Hindus.
Varanasi: It is said to be the home of Lord Shiva. A Hindu who dies at Varanasi and has their ashes scattered on the Ganges is said to have experienced the best death possible.
Worship at home: The majority of Hindu homes have a shrine where offerings are made and prayers are said.
Temple worship: At a Hindu temple, different parts of the building have a different spiritual or symbolic meaning.