Hinduism

Hinduism
Family	Indian / Dharmic
Origin region	Indian subcontinent
Founding period	Ancient; Vedic traditions from the second millennium BCE and later developments
Estimated adherents	More than 1 billion globally.

Hinduism is A diverse family of Indian religious traditions involving dharma, ritual, devotion, philosophy, karma, and liberation.

Overview

Hinduism is not a single centralized church but a large constellation of practices, texts, philosophies, temple traditions, and local cultures. It includes devotional, ritual, philosophical, and yogic paths, with varied understandings of the divine and ultimate reality.

Key beliefs

Dharma as religious, ethical, and social order
Karma and samsara, the cycle of action and rebirth
Moksha or liberation as a central goal in many schools
Many forms of devotion to deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesha, and others

Practices

Puja
Mantra
Yoga and meditation
Pilgrimage
Temple worship
Festivals
Rites of passage

Places of worship

Mandir / temple
Home shrine
Pilgrimage sites

Sacred texts

Vedas
Upanishads
Bhagavad Gita
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Puranas
Agamas

Holidays and observances

Diwali
Holi
Navaratri
Maha Shivaratri
Janmashtami
Rama Navami

Branches and related traditions

Vaishnavism - Traditions centered on Vishnu and his avatars, especially Krishna and Rama.
Shaivism - Traditions centered on Shiva as supreme, often connected with yoga, temple ritual, and philosophical schools.
Shaktism - Traditions centered on Devi or Shakti, the divine feminine power.
Smartism - A tradition often associated with Advaita Vedanta and worship of several deities as manifestations of one reality.