Hindus

Hindus are people who identify with or practice Hindu traditions, a diverse family of religious and philosophical traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent.

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Hinduism: A diverse family of religious and philosophical traditions with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The wider tradition with which Hindus identify or whose practices they follow.
Puja: A ritual act of honoring a deity or revered presence through offerings, gestures, and prayers. It is a widespread form of Hindu worship at home and in temples.
Vaishnavism: A major Hindu tradition centered on devotion to Vishnu and his avatars. Many Hindus belong to communities shaped by devotion to Vishnu.
Hindu diaspora: Hindu communities formed outside South Asia through migration and subsequent generations. Diaspora communities adapt inherited practices to new social settings.
Dharma: A concept encompassing duty, conduct, law, and the sustaining order of life in Indian traditions. It shapes ideas of ethical conduct and responsibility in many Hindu communities.
Hindu temple: A Hindu place of worship organized around the presence and veneration of deities. Temples serve as centers of worship, pilgrimage, and community life.
Shaivism: A major Hindu tradition centered on Shiva as supreme deity or ultimate reality. It is one of Hinduism’s major devotional and philosophical traditions.
Hindutva: A political ideology that defines Indian national identity through Hindu cultural belonging. It is a political project, not a synonym for Hindu religious identity.
Karma: The principle that actions have consequences, often across lifetimes, in Indian religious traditions. It informs many Hindu accounts of moral consequence and future birth.
Diwali: A festival of lights observed in varied ways by Hindu communities and other South Asian religious groups. Its diverse observances show how shared festivals carry local meanings.