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.

🇮🇳 Lucknow, India and 1 moreKathak A north Indian classical dance of stories, footwork and spins, from temples and courtsPerformance

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreKolamகோலம் A rice-flour floor drawing made at South Indian doorsteps before sunriseCraft

🇮🇳 Puri, IndiaOdissiଓଡ଼ିଶୀ A classical dance of Odisha, told through bends, gestures and sung poetryPerformance

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreKoothu Tamil street theatre with dance, music and epic stories, staged at temple festivals.Performance

🇮🇳 Trivandrum, IndiaKathakaliകഥകളി A classical dance-drama from Kerala featuring elaborate makeup and costumes to tell epic stories.Performance

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBindi A dot worn between the eyebrows, red for marriage and devotion, worn daily by many womenDress

🇮🇳 Delhi, IndiaLingamliṅga The pillar-shaped image of Shiva, kept in temples and home shrinesSpiritual

🇮🇳 Kuchipudi, IndiaKuchipudi A classical dance-drama from Andhra Pradesh, with roots in temple and bhakti performance.Performance

🇮🇳 Palani, IndiaPanchamritaपञ्चामृत (Sanskrit); பஞ்சாமிர்தம் (Tamil) Five sacred foods mixed and poured over temple images in Hindu and Jain worshipSpiritual · Sweets given and shared

🇮🇳 India and 3 moreBhajanभजनम् (bhajanam) Devotional songs of South Asia, sung alone or together with drums and cymbalsPerformance

🇮🇳 IndiaMohiniyattam A gentle solo dance from Kerala, once a temple art and now taught in dance schoolsPerformance

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

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreSindoorसिंदूर A red powder worn in the hair parting by many married Hindu womenDress

🇮🇳 Imphal, India and 1 moreManipuri danceJagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi A classical dance from Manipur, danced as an offering to Radha and KrishnaPerformance

🇮🇳 IndiaSattriya A classical dance from Assam, kept in monasteries and performed on stages worldwidePerformance

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

🇮🇳 IndiaSvayamvaraस्वयंवर An ancient Indian noble assembly where a bride chose her husband among suitorsRite of passage

🇮🇳 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

🇮🇳 Varanasi, IndiaHead shaving in Hinduism Ritual tonsure for spiritual renewal, life transitions, and devotion in HinduismSpiritual

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

🇮🇳 IndiaGuru-shishya traditionपरम्परा The lineage system passing spiritual and artistic knowledge from master to discipleSpiritual

🇮🇳 IndiaPumsavanaपुंसवन (Puṁsavana) A Hindu rite of passage held in the third or fourth month of pregnancy to celebrate fetal development.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaVidyarambhamविद्यारम्भ A Hindu rite of passage introducing young children to reading, writing and the artsRite of passage

🇮🇳 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

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

🇮🇳 IndiaNirjala Ekadashiनिर्जला एकादशी A rigorous, waterless Hindu fast observed in early summer to honour the god Vishnu.Spiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreBengali Hindu weddingবাঙালি হিন্দু বিবাহ A Bengali Hindu wedding ceremony spanning days of turmeric rites, sacred vows, and welcoming rituals.Rite of passage · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRemoval of footwear indoors The widespread custom of leaving outdoor shoes at the door for cleanliness and respectEtiquette

🇮🇳 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 🇮🇳 IndiaRitu Kala SamskaramRitushuddhi A South Indian Hindu coming-of-age ceremony for girls after their first period.Rite of passage

🇮🇳 IndiaPushpanjaliपुष्पाञ्जलि A Hindu ritual of offering flowers with cupped hands, used in worship and as an opening dance.Spiritual

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

🇳🇵 NepalJatjatin Dance A Mithila folk dance performed by couples to seek rain and express the sorrow of parting.Performance

🇮🇳 IndiaKathaकथा (Hindi/Sanskrit), கதை (Tamil) A traditional Indian practice of religious storytelling and scriptural commentary, kept across Hindu and Sikh communitieSpiritual

🇮🇳 Mathura, IndiaKrishna legends in Kathak The enactment of Krishna's sacred stories in Indian classical dancePerformance 🇮🇳 Goa, IndiaVeerabhadra A ritual dance of a fierce figure performed in Goa during the Shigmo festival and on Chaitra Poornima.Performance

🇮🇳 IndiaIndian wedding invitationनिमन्त्रण पत्र/पत्रिका Decorative ceremonial cards sent to announce marriages and invite guests across IndiaRite of passage

🇮🇳 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

🇮🇳 Chabbi (Chebbi), IndiaChabbi Ganapathi A three-day Ganesha festival kept by seven households in a Karnataka village since 1827Festival 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChampa Chandan Vrataচাঁপা চন্দন ব্রত A month-long vow kept by unmarried Bengali girls, asking for a husband like ShivaSpiritual

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreMadhushravaniमधुश्रावणी A fifteen-day Mithila festival of fasting, worship and song for newly married bridesSpiritual 🇮🇳 IndiaSahasra Purna Chandrodayamसहस्र-(पूर्ण)चन्द्र-दर्शन A Hindu rite marking a person's thousandth full moon, celebrated around age eighty-one.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaJiuntia An autumn festival of western Odisha, kept in two forms by mothers and by sistersSpiritual 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreMahalakshmia jo Sagroمَھالڪشميءَ جو سڳڙو / महालक्ष्मीअ जो सॻड़ो A sixteen-day Hindu fast and prayer dedicated to the goddess of wealthSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 Delhi, IndiaSacred groves of India Communal forest sanctuaries across India where religious belief protects biodiversity and local resources.Spiritual 🇮🇳 IndiaOran lands Sacred groves and community-conserved pastures in Rajasthan dedicated to local deities.Spiritual

🇮🇳 IndiaKalampattu A Kerala temple offering where a five-colour floor picture is sung over and danced aroundSpiritual

Photo credits on this page

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

Pushpanjali: Yosarian, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Krishna legends in Kathak: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0, source
Bengali Hindu wedding: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Raslila: https://www.flickr.com/photos/matsukin/, CC BY 2.0, source
Guru-shishya tradition: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Katha: Tirlochan Singh, Public domain, source
Kathak: Shinjinikulkarni, CC BY 4.0, source
Kolam: mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0, source
Odissi: Melolagnia28192, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kathakali: Paul Varuni, CC BY 2.0, source
Bindi: Vinay Sahay, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kavadi Aattam: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Sattriya: User: Sattriyadance, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Sindoor: Masum-al-hasan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Removal of footwear indoors: Sarang, Public domain, source
Mohiniyattam: Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bhajan: Bootervijay at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kalampattu: Ranjith A v, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kuchipudi: Augustus Binu / facebook, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lingam: शिव साहिल, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Puthandu: Amila Tennakoon, CC BY 2.0, source
Jur Sital: PCNWorld at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Svayamvara: Nandalal Bose, Public domain, source
Pooram: Augustus Binu : flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Head shaving in Hinduism: Napoleon is back, CC0, source
Pumsavana: Amolnaik3k, Public domain, source
Nirjala Ekadashi: Unknown author, Public domain, source
First haircut: https://www.flickr.com/people/69061470@N05, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mayian: Rakzika, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Jatjatin Dance: Ramesh Lalwani, CC BY 2.0, source
Youth Day: Andrey Butko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Yajna: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Sacred groves of India: James Forbes, Public domain, source
Indian wedding invitation: Onef9day, CC BY 3.0, source
Bada Mangal: Prabhat1729, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Chabbi Ganapathi: Reema Jalihal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Madhushravani: Monika Jha, CC0, source
Panchamrita: Skubydoo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Koothu: Unknown author, CC0, source