World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 25 of 96 – Where the Mother Goddess is worshipped. There are two principle locations, Kalighat and Kamakhya. 3.4 Festivals Hindu festivals occur throughout the year and are symbolic rituals that illustrate the individual and social life to dharma. Festivals are usually held at the change of the seasons. The festival is also dependent on the location in India. The three main festivals are Holi , Divali , and Dussehra. Holi This festival is celebrated in the spring and is dedicated to Krishna. It was originally a fertility ceremony. Divali This is a festival of lights that welcomes in the Hindu New Year. A pilgrimage can be made to the holy sites of Lakshmi and Kali to help bring prosperity and good fortune. Dussehra Celebrates the god Rama’s fight and victory against evil. In some areas, there is a joint celebration with a larger holiday of Durga Puja, where the goddess Durga defeated a buffalo demon. Gurus Gurus are the religious leaders in Hinduism. They are the teachers who show individuals the path to enlightenment. A student treats the guru with service; for example, the student touches the feet of the guru with great respect. The goal of being a student is to become as wise as the guru. A guru serves as a spiritual master, avatar, and advisor. However, a book can provide the same service as a guru. Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is not mandatory for Hindus, but many Hindus undertake them. There are different sites a Hindu can visit and all are equally respected. Char Dham (The Famous Four Pilgrimage sites). The four holy sites are Puri , Rameswaram , Dwarka , and Badrinath . Alternatively, they are the Himalayan towns of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, and they compose the Char Dham ( four abodes ) pilgrimage circuit. Kumbh Mela is the pitcher festival and is held every 12 years. It is the holiest of the Hindu pilgrimages, and the location is rotated between Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Old Holy cities as per Puranic Texts Major Temple Cities . Puri hosts a major Vaishnava Jagannath Temple and Rath Yatra celebration. Three relatively new temples of fame and major pilgrimage are: Shirdi, home to Sai Baba of Shirdi; Tirupati , home to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple; and Sabarimala, where Swami Ayyappan is worshipped. Shakti Peethas