Hindu Catholic Dialogue Commemorative Brochure 20150523

Author(s): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Publisher: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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Worship can also be purely in the mind, with primary emphasis on the use of sacred mantras without any external ritual.
E2. Is worship mainly communal or private? For a Hindu, worship of God is primarily a private affair. It can be performed daily in one's own mind or using rituals at a modest altar at home. A Hindu may visit a temple occasionally, regularly, frequently, or never. A Hindu may observe holy days both by special ceremonies at home and also by going to temples.
E3. What are the main religious symbols and what do they signify? The main religious symbols include:
(OM), which represents the Supreme Being, Brahman. It signifies all aspects of human experience. This symbol is shown on the cover page of this note, as it is often used at the start of texts, both scriptures and personal letters.
The swastika means "well-being.” It signifies the goals of life and is used very widely as a sacred symbol to overcome obstacles and invoke prosperity, auspiciousness, and happiness.
The six-pointed star depicts two interlocking triangles. The upward-pointing triangle represents human effort and the downward-pointing triangle represents divine grace.
E4. What are the main holy days? The most popular Hindu festival is Dussehra-Diwali, which occurs in October/November. (Holy days are set by the lunar calendar.) Known as the "festival of light," it celebrates the victory of good over evil and, in some regions of India, marks the New Year. It includes a month of prayer and festivities related to the Divine Mother. Other major holy days are the birthdays of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, Maha-shiva-ratri (in honor of Lord Shiva), Ganesha Caturthi (in honor of Lord Ganesha), and many more.
E5. What are the major sites for pilgrimage? There are major pilgrimage sites all over India, ranging from Kashmir in the north and Varanasi/Kashi in the center to Rameswaram at the southern tip. One of the most sacred sites is Mount Kailas in Tibet. Strongly encouraged by the scriptures, pilgrimage is popular even among the not-so-rich and not-so-devout. The "maha-kumbh-mela" at Prayagraj was estimated to have drawn 80 million pilgrims in one month in 2001, the largest gathering of human beings ever.
COMMEMORATIVE BROCHURE
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