Holi is a spring festival connected with stories of Holika and Krishna.

Divali is the new year and festival of light connected with the Ramayana and Lakshmi.

Navaratri is an autumn festival associated with Durga and is celebrated in the mandir.

This is an autumn festival celebrating the feminine aspect of Shakti.
Devotion continues for 9 nights (Navaratri means ‘nine days’) and on day 10 the victory of Rama over Ravanna the demon is celebrated.

The goddess is worshipped in various forms – as spiritual force (Durga), giver or spiritual wealth (Lakshmi) and goddess of wisdom (Saraswati).

Women congregate in the mandir and dance to remember the gopis who danced all night with Krishna. The special dances at the festival are called garba and danga ras.

Holi is a springtime festival and is very joyful.

It is associated with the stories of Holika and Prahlad (which teaches us how important it is to be loyal to God) and Krishna (which celebrates his love for Radha and her surrender to Krishna, in the same way as we should surrender to God.)

Fires are burnt and offerings of grains, popcorn and coconut are thrown onto the fire.

Water and coloured powders are thrown over people. Everyone is included, whatever their caste.

In Britain, where big gatherings are harder, Hindu communities gather and hold a party, often with a bonfire.

Divali is the Hindu new year and the festival of lights. The name means ‘cluster of lights’.

The festival is associated with the story of the Ramayana. Rama and Sita needed lights to guide them home after they had defeated the demon Ravanna.

Lakshmi is worshipped, as the goddess of wealth it is hoped that she will bring wealth to people in the new year, so houses are lit with Diva lamps to mark Lakshmi’s route to the house. The goddess often visits to bring presents for children.

Family is important in relation to Ashramas and dharma. Marriage is viewed as being for life. Divorce is rare and frowned upon, but increasing. The 7 steps are the most important part of a marriage ceremony. There are expectations for both parents and children in Hinduism.

Hinduism disapproves of divorce.

It can be considered as a stigma socially and the more traditional a Hindu the less likely they are to divorce or re-marry.

One of the Laws of Manu teaches that a wife must respect even an unfaithful husband.

Despite this the number of divorces both in India and in Hindu communities in the UK is increasing.

However, divorce is permissible if there is cruelty or if after 15 years of marriage no children have been produced.

As with all aspects of Hinduism, marriages can be diverse.

All Hindu weddings are carried out by a priest.

The bridegroom and his family come to the bride’s house and are welcomed.

A silk cloth is held between the couple by the priest and various songs of blessing are sung as the guests throw rice over the couple.

The father gives his daughter to the groom asking him to live a good life in dharma (his moral duty), artha (the earning of money) and kama (the enjoyment of life).

The groom’s mother gives a gift to the bride.

Marriage is viewed as a Gift from God which serves the following purposes.

- To allow the couple to have sex.

- To join two families together.

- To allow the couple to share love & each other’s company.

- To produce children.

- To enable fulfillment of the householder stage of life.

Marriage marks the transition between two stages of life that of the student and the householder.

Marriage is viewed as being for life and as being a religious or spiritual event.

Traditionally couples have been of the same varna and marriages arranged, often through consulting horoscopes.

It is increasingly common (especially in UK) for couples to find their own partner.

‘Let man and woman, united in marriage, constantly exert themselves, that they may not be disunited and may not violate their mutual fidelity.’ (Laws of Manu, 9:102)

Good parents will

- Provide for their children

- Perform daily puja

- Teach their children about puja, Hinduism and what is right & wrong.

- Ensure boys have the sacred thread ceremony.

Encourage their children to attend the Mandir

Good children will

- Obey their parents

- Respect their parents

- Care for their parents when they are old.