countless expressions hinduism

Hinduism is an ancient religion; its origins go back even further. 4000 yearsand scholars generally believe that it originated in the Indus Valley between 2300 BC and 1500 BC. Due to the religion’s vast collection of ancient texts and the regional diversity of the Indian subcontinent, its festivals are inspired by numerous myths. Maha Shivaratri is no exception.

“Hindu festivals are characterized and celebrated in diverse ways across India’s different languages ​​and cultures, as well as in diaspora contexts,” he explains. Amy AlloccoProfessor of Religious Studies, Elon University In North Carolina. The way festivals like Maha Shivaratri are celebrated also differs depending on the region and sources. “These variations can be observed in different aspects of festival performance, such as storytelling, rituals, and culinary practices.”

What these religious festivals have in common is that An act of devotion directed to one or more Hindu gods. During Maha Shivaratri, participants can take a ritual bath and offer offerings such as jujube fruits and Bilwa leaves to the deity. “Devotion to God helps to subordinate the ego to a power greater than ourselves. Worship not only strengthens this, but also creates a sense of God’s real presence in life,” he says. jeffrey D. LongProfessor of Religious Studies at Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania; the study The focus is on Indian religion and philosophy.

Regardless of its origins, the holiday of Maha Shivaratri is fundamentally linked to the creation of the universe in Hindu culture.