1. Festivals and Milestones
Hinduism
Festivals and Milestones

2. Diwali Festival of lights Celebrated over 5 days (October/November)
Set off fireworks, decorate their houses with lights, give gifts and wear new clothes
Celebrate the triumph of good and knowledge over the dark forces of evil and ignorance
Eat lavish vegetarian dinner and perform puja
Honours Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and good fortune, and Vishnu.
Also, commemorates Rama’s return after Ravana, the evil king abducted his wife Sita.

3. Diwali

4. Holi
Spring festival
Night before, worshippers light a bonfire that signifies the burning of evil
Squirt coloured water on friends and family members
Distribute and eat sweets and other foods
Legend has it that Prahalad, a pious and God-fearing young man, was resented by his aunt. She took him away and tried to burn him in a fire… instead she was burned to ashes.

5. Holi

6. Mahashivaratri Happens on the day before the new moon during February.
Not a festival or a feast, it is a special event dedicated to the devotion of Shiva.
Worship him, keep vigil and fast for 24 hours.
Between midnight and sunrise, repeat his name and place flowers and grains on his image

7. Mahashivaratri

8. Navaratri Nine nights festival held in spring and autumn
First 3 nights, worship Durga, a manifestation of Parvati, who washes away laziness and evil thoughts.
Next 3 nights, they offer puja to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and good fortune
Final three nights are directed toward Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and learning
Tenth day observe Vijayadasami, the Day of Victory.

9. Milestones

10. Milestones: A Life of Steps
For Hindus, life is a series of steps
Each step is a rite of passage, known as samskara
There are forty rites of passage, but sixteen of those are considered central to Hinduism
Few Hindus observe all the steps
Priests officiate at all the rites
Some of the more important ones include…

11. Milestones: Naming a Child
Child is named ten days after birth by priest
For most Hindus today this is a symbolic gesture (names can be chosen even before birth)
Birth is considered a blessing

12. Milestones: Child’s First Outing
First time child steps outside the home, he/she is exposed to environment and neighbours
Depends on climate and weather
Parents and child take a bath, wear new clothes
Parents apply a dab of soot to the baby’s forehead for protection from evil eye
Then, with infant in their arms, mother and father go out for a short walk

13. Milestones: First Solid Food
Takes place 7-8 months after birth
Parents recite special prayer asking the gods to bring good health/long life to the child
Father then begins feeding child with rice mixed with ghee and honey

14. Milestones: First Haircut
Takes place between 6-8 months
Hair of baby boy is cut by local barber
Head is completely shaved except for a small tuft at the front

16. Milestones: Thread Initiation Ceremony (Upanayana)
Performed by boys of the Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya castes
Takes place between 8-12 years of age
Marks transition to student stage of life
Boy begins studies of sacred texts
Boy wears sacred thread over left shoulder and chants a mantra

17. Milestones: Marriage
Grihasta stage of life begins with marriage (the householder stage)
Parents make sure the other family of the bride/groom are socially, culturally, and financially compatible
When parents agree on marriage, the father of the groom asks for the woman’s hand in marriage to his son (engagement stage)
Then wedding date is set

19. Milestones: Marriage Continued
Wedding ceremony lasts three hours
Performed by priest
Can contain as many as 15 rituals, including
-giving away of bride by the father
-clasping of hands by the couple
-couple taking 7 steps around sacred fire
Wedding is followed by grand feast, including dancing, drumming, fireworks, singing

20. Milestones: Death and Cremation
Under direction of a priest, family members bathe and dress the body in new, but traditional, clothing, leaving face uncovered
Light and flowers are offered to the spirit of the deceased before the procession to the crematorium takes place
Name of Lord Rama is chanted, and hymns, or holy songs, are sung
Priest recites passages from the holy scriptures to sanctify the fire
Oldest son or male member of the family lights the pyre
Family collects the ashes in an urn and scatters them in the holy rivers of India or any other body of water
On tenth and thirteenth days after the funeral, relatives, friends, and neighbours gather for a special prayer and feast

22. Milestones: Death Anniversary (Shraddha)
Priest performs religious rites
Family members, friends, and other guests are invited to witness ceremony and share in a meal together