Hindu traditions

Hindu traditions fill the calendar of South Asia and the many places where Hindus have settled, from Bali and Mauritius to Fiji, Trinidad and Britain.

Hindu traditions fill the calendar of South Asia and the many places where Hindus have settled, from Bali and Mauritius to Fiji, Trinidad and Britain. They include daily puja, the festivals of Diwali, Holi, Navratri and Pongal, pilgrimages to the Ganges and Tirupati, the sixteen samskaras that mark life from birth to death and a great many regional and village customs. Hinduism has no single founder or text, and practice varies by family, region and community. These pages describe the traditions as those who keep them do.

Home and temple

Worship begins at home, with a shrine, a lamp and a morning prayer, and continues at the temple, where a priest offers the deity water, flowers, food and light on behalf of devotees. Visitors take darshan, receive prasad and walk around the shrine. Festivals bring the whole street into the temple or the pandal, with processions, music and communal meals, and the cycle of the year is marked by fasts and feasts.

Rites of life

The samskaras include the naming, the first rice, the sacred thread, marriage and the funeral. The wedding, with its seven steps round the fire, is the best known, while funerals involve cremation and offerings to the ancestors. Every region adds its own customs, such as the kolam in Tamil Nadu, the rakhi in the north and the Durga Puja of Bengal. The diversity is part of the tradition.

About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background on Hindu (faith). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 3 moreHosay An Indo-Caribbean Muharram commemoration with ornate floats, drumming and processionsSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 Mumbai, IndiaDahi Handi A Hindu festival sport where teams build human towers to break suspended curd potsFestival

🇮🇳 Haridwar, IndiaKumbh MelaKumbha Mēlā A major Hindu riverside pilgrimage held across four rotating holy cities in IndiaSpiritual

🇮🇳 Ahobilam, IndiaNarasimha Jayantiनरसिंहजयंती A one-day Hindu festival marking Vishnu's man-lion avatar and the rescue of PrahladaSpiritual

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 1 moreHenna ceremonyليلة الحناء A night of henna patterns on a bride's hands and feet, kept before the weddingRite of passage

🇮🇳 IndiaAhoi Ashtami A day of fasting by Hindu mothers before Diwali, for their children's wellbeingFestival · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇨🇳 China and 6 moreRed envelope紅包 / 红包 (hóngbāo) Money in a red packet, given at Lunar New Year, weddings and other big daysEtiquette

🇨🇳 Hong Kong, China and 5 moreLunar New Year New year festivals dated by the moon, kept from East Asia to the Middle EastFestival

🇮🇳 Baripada, IndiaChhau dance A masked dance of eastern India, blending martial steps with epic storiesPerformance

🇮🇳 Krishnanagar, IndiaJagaddhatri Puja A Hindu festival for the world-bearing goddess, kept in West Bengal each autumnSpiritual

🇮🇳 India and 2 morePandal Temporary decorated pavilions and arches built for festivals and gatheringsFestival

🇱🇰 Anuradhapura, Sri LankaSinhala New Yearඅලුත් අවුරුද්ද The April solar New Year and harvest festival celebrated across Sri LankaSeasonal

🇮🇳 Pushkar, IndiaPushkar FairKartik Mela An annual camel and livestock fair with lake pilgrimage rites in Rajasthan, IndiaFestival

🇮🇳 IndiaPushkaram A river worship festival rotating across twelve sacred Indian rivers over twelve yearsSpiritual

🇮🇳 IndiaVat PurnimaVaṭapūrṇimā An annual Hindu festival where married women fast and pray around a banyan treeSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 Hyderabad, India and 3 moreBonalu An annual festival of thanksgiving to Goddess Mahakali across Telangana, IndiaFestival · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇳 Madurai, IndiaMeenakshi TirukalyanamChithirai Thiruvizha A two-week festival in Madurai celebrating the divine wedding of Meenakshi and Shiva.Festival

🇮🇳 Ujjain, India and 1 moreVikram Samvatविक्रमसंवत् A lunisolar Hindu calendar of Nepal and India, its years counted 57 ahead of the GregorianSeasonal

🇳🇵 NepalMha Pujaम्हपुजा A Newar New Year ritual of self-worship, mandalas and renewal in NepalSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇳 Varanasi, India and 5 moreRamlilaरामलीला Open-air community plays staged across autumn nights, recounting the journey of Rama.Performance

🇵🇭 PhilippinesFilipino wedding customsKasalan A blend of indigenous rituals and Christian traditions marking the union of two families in the Philippines.Rite of passage

🇮🇳 IndiaSadyaസദ്യ A vegetarian feast from Kerala, served on a banana leaf at Onam, Vishu and weddingsTable custom · Lunch

🇮🇳 Palani, India and 5 moreKavadi Aattamகாவடி ஆட்டம் Tamil devotees of Murugan carry burdens as a vow during ThaipusamSpiritual

🇺🇸 Spokane, United States and 5 moreFather's Day A day to honour fathers and fatherhood, kept on many different dates worldwideFestival

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreYajnaयज्ञ A Hindu ritual of offering items into a sacred fire to honor deities and ancestors.Spiritual

🇷🇺 Russia and 3 moreOld New YearСтарый Новый год (Russian), Стара Нова година (Macedonian), Српска Нова година (Serbian), Hen Galan (Welsh) An informal holiday marking the start of the Julian calendar year, celebrated on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar.Festival · Dinner

🇮🇳 Madurai, India and 4 morePuthanduபுத்தாண்டு (Puttāṇṭu) The first day of the Tamil solar calendar, celebrated by Tamils with family feasts and auspicious trays.Festival · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreYouth Day A commemorative holiday honoring young people and youth movements worldwideCeremony

🇹🇭 Bangkok, ThailandSongkranสงกรานต์ The Thai solar New Year marked by temple rites, elder blessings and water throwingSeasonal 🇮🇳 IndiaVidyarambhamविद्यारम्भ A Hindu rite of passage introducing young children to reading, writing and the artsRite of passage

🇮🇳 Thrissur, IndiaPooram An annual Kerala temple festival with percussion orchestras, elephants and fireworksFestival

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreJur Sitalजुड़ शीतल The first day of the Maithil year, kept with a rice meal, gifts and water blessingsSeasonal · Feasts and festival meals

🇬🇷 Thebes, GreeceDaphnephoria A nine-year festival in ancient Thebes featuring a laurel-bearer procession for Apollo.Festival 🇦🇱 Gjirokastër, Albania and 5 moreDodola and Perperuna A rainmaking ritual kept across Southeast Europe, where children dressed in greenery lead processions to call for summerSpiritual

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFirst haircut A rite of passage marking a child's first shave or trim across many cultures and faiths.Rite of passage

🇷🇴 Bucharest, Romania and 2 moreCaloian A Romanian rainmaking and fertility ritual centered on the creation, funeral, and rebirth of a clay effigy.Festival

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreMayian A pre-wedding cleansing ritual in Punjabi traditions, using turmeric paste to prepare the couple for marriage.Rite of passage

🇮🇳 Palani, India and 1 moreSurasamharamSūrasaṃhāram A temple performance of Murugan's victory, ending the week-long Kanda Shashti fastSpiritual 🇮🇳 IndiaJiuntia An autumn festival of western Odisha, kept in two forms by mothers and by sistersSpiritual

🇮🇳 Lucknow, IndiaBada Mangal A Tuesday festival in Lucknow dedicated to Hanuman, known for communal feasts and interfaith participation.Festival · Feasts and festival meals 🇮🇳 Khatushyam, IndiaPhalguna Mela A temple fair before Holi, kept with flags, bhajans and shared foodSpiritual

🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreTsiknopemptiΤσικνοπέμπτη A Greek Carnival feast of grilled meats held on the second to last Thursday before Lent.Festival · Dinner

🇮🇳 IndiaIndian wedding clothes Traditional attire worn by couples and guests during Indian wedding ceremonies across various regions.Dress

🇮🇳 India and 1 morePunjabi wedding traditions The multi-day marriage customs and rituals of Hindu and Sikh Punjabi familiesRite of passage · Sweets given and shared

🇮🇳 IndiaPrathamastami An Odia ritual blessing the firstborn child for long life and good fortuneRite of passage

🇮🇳 Mumbai, IndiaWeddings in India Marriage rites and festive gatherings celebrated across the diverse communities of India.Rite of passage

🇮🇳 IndiaKaradaiyan Nonbuகாரடையான் நோன்பு A Tamil Hindu festival where women fast and pray for the long life of their husbands.Festival · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 Thiruvananthapuram, IndiaAttukal Pongala A ten-day Hindu festival in Kerala where millions of women cook rice offerings in earthen pots for the goddess.Festival

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sadya: Augustus Binu / facebook, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Jagaddhatri Puja: শরদিন্দু ভট্টাচার্য্য, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kumbh Mela: Yosarian, CC BY 3.0, source
Dahi Handi: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Hosay: Julius Eduard Muller, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Narasimha Jayanti: anonymous, Public domain, source
Henna ceremony: No author provided, CC0, source
Ahoi Ashtami: आशीष भटनागर, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Red envelope: Oldie~commonswiki, Public domain, source
Lunar New Year: Flying Pharmacist, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Chhau dance: Skasish, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kavadi Aattam: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Puthandu: Amila Tennakoon, CC BY 2.0, source
Jur Sital: PCNWorld at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Father's Day: Jjsarto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Old New Year: ceridwen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Pooram: Augustus Binu : flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Songkran: Khunmoohan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Daphnephoria: Frederic Leighton, Public domain, source
First haircut: https://www.flickr.com/people/69061470@N05, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Caloian: Costică Acsinte Archive, No restrictions, source
Mayian: Rakzika, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Attukal Pongala: Maheshsudhakar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Weddings in India: Jaisingh Rathore, CC BY 2.5, source
Prathamastami: Swetabiswal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Punjabi wedding traditions: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Indian wedding clothes: Lee Jordan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Tsiknopempti: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Youth Day: Andrey Butko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Yajna: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Pandal: SHUBHAM KR SONI, CC0, source
Sinhala New Year: Anna Anichkova, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Pushkar Fair: sheetal saini, CC BY 2.0, source
Pushkaram: Adityamadhav83, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Vat Purnima: Kiran Gopi, CC BY-SA 2.5 in, source
Bonalu: Randhirreddy at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Meenakshi Tirukalyanam: எஸ். பி. கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Vikram Samvat: Westindischer Maler um 1400, Public domain, source
Mha Puja: Karrattul, Public domain, source
Ramlila: Ankit Gupta, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Filipino wedding customs: John Ryan Cordova, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Bada Mangal: Prabhat1729, CC BY-SA 4.0, source