Rituals like meditating, worshiping the gods and celebrating annual festivals are also a large part of Hinduism. Worshipping the gods can be done at home through prayer rituals, called poojas, or by going to a temple.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit a few Hindu temples to learn more about the traditions associated with Hinduism. Many rituals were involved while visiting the temple, but one in particular was constantly repeated. First, a priest would wave a lamp in front of a statue of the god. Then, everyone worshiping the god would wave their hand three times over the lamp's flame. They'd then touch their eyes, their head and their heart. They did this ritual, called an aarti, throughout the temple at every new alter.
Hinduism is thought to be the combination of many different Indian cultures and traditions. There isn’t one specific founder of the religion, but it has developed gradually over time from the communities in India. The diversity of beliefs and practices in Hinduism is likely a result of the religion developing from such diverse roots.
Rituals like the aarti are a symbol of worship for many Hindus. Often, they are a way of offering prayers and respect to the gods. Th aarti in particular is done towards the end of every pooja. The lamp is first circled in front of the god to show devotion and offer prayers. Then, those present wave their hand over the flame and touch their eyes, head and heart as a way to receive the god's blessing. This ritual can be done towards gods, towards elders and even towards machines. The meaning varies based on who the aarti is directed towards, but this tradition has developed into a way to show respect and devotion.
