World religions
By Rajesh Nallamottu
Hinduism
a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from Vedic religion. Polytheistic
Their major gods include
Shiva-the destroyer/transformer
Vishnu-the preserver
Brahma-the creator
Their major goddesses include
Saraswati- goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts
Lakshmi- goddess of wealth and prosperity
Parvati- the divine mother
Religious book
The Vedas
The Upanishads
The Mahabharata
The Ramayana
Major festivals likely to be observed by most Hindus are:
1. Holi - festival of colors and spring (February-March)
2. Mahashivaratri (Shiva Ratri) - night sacred to Shiva (February-March)
3. Rama Navami - birthday of Lord Rama (April)
4. Krishna jayante- birthday of Lord Krishna (July-August)
5. Raksābandhana - renewing bonds between brothers and sisters (July-August)
6. Kumbh Mela - pilgrimage every 12 years to four cities in India (July-August; last one 2003)
7. Ganesha-Chaturthi (Ganesha Utsava) - festival of Ganesh (August-September)
8. Dassera - victory of Rama over demon king Ravana (September-October)
9. Navaratri - festival of Shakti (in Bengal) or Rama's victory over Ravana (South India) (September-October)
10. Diwali - festival of lights and Laksmi (September-October)
Highly practiced rituals
Idol worship
Worshiping cow and plant tulasi
Wearing tiluk
Ceremonies during birth, marriage
Special rituals during death and funeral.
Buddhism
Main god
Buddha- portrayed as teacher of the gods
Religious book
There is no religious book
Celebrations
Wesak
Vassa
Hana Matsuri
Festival of the sacred tooth
Rituals and practices
Meditation
Mantras
Mudras
Prayer wheels
Monasticism
Pilgrimage
Venerations of Buddhas and Deities
Judaism
Main gods
Tetragrammaton
Elohim
El shaddai
Adonai
Elyon
Avinu
Religious book
The Hebrew bible
Festivals
Rosh hashanah
Yom Kippur
Passover of Pesach
The Hagaddah
Hanukkah
Bar and Bat mitzvah
The Shabbat
Highly practiced rituals
The mitzvot
The 613 commandments
The rabbinic law
The synagogue
Jewish worship and prayer
Keeping Kosher
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fAJ6dBXbIvs
Christianity
Main god
Jesus
Religious book
The holy bible
Holidays
Lent
Advent
Mardi Gras
All Saint's Day
Palm Sunday
Assumption Day
Reformation Day
Ash Wednesday
St. Andrews day
Highly practiced rituals
Attending church
Baptizing
Communion
Sacramentals
Islam
Main god
Allah
Religious books
Koran
Celebrations
Id ul-Fitr
Hajj
Id ul-Adha
Id Ul-Ghadir
Milad an-Nabi
Lailat al-Qadr