The Diwali festival of lights is celebrated to honor Rama-Chandra, the seventh avatar(incarnation of the god Vishnu).
Diwali festival is a celebration of the victory of good over evil,light over dark,and knowledge over ignorance. It is principally a Hindu,Jain, and Sikh festival.
The largest Diwali celebrations outside India take place in Leicester, where about 35,000 people gather along Belgrave Road for the switching-on of the lights.
The Diwali festival is the most popular of all festivals from South Asia.
The Diwali festival extends over 5 days and is favorite with children because of all the sweets and fireworks.
The religious life of many Hindus is focused on devotion to God (perceived as Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti) which are some of many Gods.
Hindu Religious Stages
- Brahmacharga, which takes place during the school years, is focused on acquiring knowledge and developing character;
- Grastha, the middle years, is focused on worldly pursuits and pleasures such as marriage, family and career;
- Vanaprastha, when one's children reach adulthood, is a time of increased focus on spiritual things; and
- Sanngasu, in the last years of life, one may abandon the world entirely for a life of contemplation
Hindu Religious Practices
1. Temples and Temple Rituals
2. Puja(Pooja)-Puja is a religious ritual which some Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. Puja is seen as a way of relating humans to the domain and actions of the divine, and can be performed for anything considered divine, from Vishnu to a holy tree.
3.Namaste greeting-The gesture (or mudra) of namaste is a simple act made by bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart, and lightly bowing the head. In the simplest of terms it is accepted as a humble greeting straight from the heart and reciprocated accordingly.
There are many more practices to be named but here are just 3.