The Encyclopedia of World Religions

Hinduism S 199

October–November, is the festival of lights. Wor shippers observe it by placing a multitude of lamps outdoors in the evening. Holi (the full moon of March–April) is a north Indian ritual that allows for excessive play. Worshippers spatter one another with colored powders or, if they are mischievous, dirt and muck. South Indians honor sacred cobras on Naga-pancami (the fifth day of the bright fort night of August–September). In Rakshabandhana (the full moon of August–September) sisters sym bolically protect their brothers by tying colored threads around their wrists. In western India Makarasamkranti (in mid-January according to the position of the sun) is a day for competitive kite flying. Competitors coat the strings of their kites with sharp materials such as powdered glass. Then they try to fly their own kites in such a way as to cut the strings of the other kites. Not all Hindu festivals are observed every year. Four times in the course of a 12-year cycle Hindus observe Kumbh Mela. This is a PILGRIMAGE festival held in succession at spots where, it is said, drops of the elixir of immortality once dripped on the Earth: Prayaga (Allahabad), Hard-war, Ujjain, and Nasik. Recent celebrations have drawn literally millions of worshippers. Those who celebrate acquire merit and are cleansed of defilements through a ritual bath. Hinduism A set of religions that arose and are especially practiced in India. Hinduism is some thing of an umbrella term. It includes any Indian religious practice that does not claim to belong to another religion. Nevertheless, most of these religions share certain characteristics, such as acknowledging the authority of the sacred texts known as the V EDA . HISTORY The first religious practices on the Indian subcon tinent that we have any distinct knowledge of are those of the Indus Valley civilization (fl. 3500–1500 B . C . E .) ( see I NDUS V ALLEY RELIGION ). Our knowledge of these practices is, however, limited to physical artifacts that are difficult to interpret. These arti facts include seals that seem to show a person in

Indian dancers practice in traditional dress as they prepare for the upcoming Hindu festival of Navratri, or Nine Nights, in Ahmadabad, India. (AP Photo/Siddharth Darshan Kumar)

R AMA ’s victory over Ravana. Sivaratri occurs on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of February–March. It is particularly sacred to worshippers of S IVA . They observe it by ritually anointing a consecrated lingam, a symbol of the god. Krishnajayanti, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of August– September, celebrates K RISHNA ’s birth at the hour of midnight. Ramanavami, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of April–May, honors the birth of Rama. There are many other popular festivals. Divali or Dipavali, on the 14th of the dark fortnight of