CatholicNews ■ Sunday June 10, 2007 11

through certain religious rites is celebrated from Jan 13-16.

or sacraments. A rite at the birth Harvest rice is cooked with milk
of a baby is performed for its and brown sugar, offered to the
longevity, good health and good sun god, and then consumed.
intellect. Marriage, considered Thaipusam (which falls in
cardinal among the sacraments, is January or February) is a day of
sacred and a lifelong commitment
which should never be broken
through separation. Divorces are
thus very rare among Hindus.

Hindu festivals are days where

Hindus are expected to devote
more time for prayer and spiritual
practice. In Singapore the major
festivals celebrated include
Deepavali, the Tamil New Year,
Pongal, Thaipusam and Timithi
(Fire Walking Festival).
Deepavali (which falls
usually in October or November)
is known as the Festival of
Lights as it celebrates the
victory of good over evil, light
over darkness, knowledge over
ignorance. This is symbolized
by the lighting of oil lamps in
homes.
The Tamil New Year usually
falls on Apr 13 or 14 and on this
day families pray in the temple
and go on a strict vegetarian diet.
Pongal or the Harvest Festival
thanksgiving to Lord Murugan
(photo above), a son of Shiva, for
fulfilling the prayers of devotees.
It is a festival of faith, endurance
and penance. Devotees fast and
eat only vegetarian meals for up
to 45 days before carrying the
milk pot on their heads or the
kavadi in procession. The kavadi
is a garlanded wooden or metal
arch carried by devotees who
have their tongue pierced with
skewers and their body pierced
with spikes.
Thimithi or the Fire Walking
Festival honours Princess
Draupadai, a goddess. Devotees
walk over beds of burning coal to
express their religious faith and
fulfil promises made to the gods. ■

HINDUISM ACCEPTS THE concepts of sin and virtue,

good and evil. Life in the world is seen as interconnected and
interdependent. Hindus are instructed by scriptures to observe
non-violence (Ahimsa) and respect for all life because God is
believed to permeate all.
In accordance with Ahimsa, most Hindus embrace
vegetarianism. Those who do eat meat usually abstain from beef
as the cow is considered a sacred animal in Hindu society.
The universal virtues of honesty, charity, humility, kindness
and compassion are upheld in Hinduism.
Other Hindu principles:
– Do not hurt or harm anyone whether in thought or action.
– Follow truth in thought, deed and word.
– Observe purity and cleanliness of body and mind.
– Be contented; do not be greedy; and be cheerful.
– Do not accept from others anything more than that which is
absolutely necessary.
– Regard all life as sacred, to be loved and revered.
– Study the scriptures and say your prayers.
– Surrender the fruits of action to God and the self to God.
– Do not claim Hinduism is superior to other religions.
– Respect all religions which believe in God.
– One who criticizes the religion of others harms his own.

Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) advocated

monotheism and denounced rituals which he deemed to
be meaningless and giving rise to superstitions. He is
most famous for his efforts to abolish the practice of sati,
a Hindu funeral custom in which the widow sacrifices
herself on her husbandʼs funeral pyre.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886) was
a Hindu religious teacher who emphasized devotion
to God, the oneness of existence, and the harmony of
religions. He combined popular Hinduism (with its many
images) with belief in a loving Almighty God who can be
seen in many forms.
Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), was the chief
disciple of Paramahamsa and was responsible for
promoting Hinduism in the West. He taught that the
divine is in everything and promoted the Ramakrishna
Mission, well known for its social work.