practices

• different forms of worship:

  havan: traditional fire sacrifice - offerings made to the deities and the idea of giving something up for Brahman.
• different forms of worship:

  puja: giving respect to Brahman, this is done through the puja ceremony. Hindus show respect for Brahman by worshipping any of the thousands of different deities.
• different forms of worship:

  Aarti : one of the main ceremonies. During the worship, an aarti lamp is passed around worshippers. Hindus then waft their hands over the flame and then over their heads to gain blessings from God.
• different forms of worship:

  darshan: to be seen by God, and in this ceremony Hindus touch the feet of their preferred deity to show honour and respect. 
• shaivism: Hindus who prefer to worship Shiva are called Shaivites. Shaivites worship while focusing on the importance of Shiva and practise raja yoga. 
• vaishnavism: Hindus who follow Vishnu and want to show Vishnu that he is the most special deity. They focus their worship on the ten incarnations of Vishnu, which include Rama and Krishna.
• sayings called mantras are chanted using prayer beads, also called malas. Mantras are special words that are repeated over and over again. They show the importance of the chosen deity to the worshipper.
• Worshippers also sing hymns, which Hindus called bhajans.
• Diwali:

  commemorates light over dark

  celebrates Rama and sites return (guided by lights)

  fireworks, flower garlands, sand patterns, light displays
• holi:

  celebrates the arrival of spring, festival of colour, shiva over brahma, destruction of evil

  paint thrown, bonfires, prayer to shiva
• the 4 yogas:

  karma - selfless action and service

  indirectly serving god by serving others

  'living creatures are nourished by food, nourished by rain, which is water of life which comes from selfless worship and service' bhagvad Gita
• the 4 yogas:

  juana - knowledge

  4 pillars that are the step towards achieving liberation

  practising will reduce suffering and dissatisfaction of life:

  viveka - discrimination between real and not real

  vairagya - detachment from objects

  shatsampat - 6 virtues

  mumukshuiva - desire to achieve the liberation from suffering
• the 4 yogas:

  Bhakti - devotion

  might be done through prayer to an image of a deity in the shrine at home. Hindus want to make it clear to Brahman that the most important being is Brahman. Bhakti yoga is about showing this through worship.
• the 4 yogas:

  raja/ astanga- mind and meditation

  focused on antaryami, which means Brahman within humans. It is a meditation yoga that is mainly used by Hindu holy men, who complete mantras to focus on Brahman.
• pilgrimage: a group of worshippers make a journey to a sacred place to please their gods and achieve moksha
• varanasi

  left=donkey

  right=moksha