Hinduism
Mysticism
but no miracles, no prophecies

Festivals and Pilgrimages

Yes, I was here, in Hardwar
 

Mysticism... but no miracles... no prophecies:

    Mysticism is the direct spiritual or religious experience of union with God, , with the Ultimate reality in in Hinduism.

    The quest of India for centuries has been "how to become divine while still on earth"... The human soul (atman) is divine and yearns for union with Brahman. This Brahman-atman unity produces an illuminating, mystical experience; the self or ego is dissolved, extinguished by the oneness of God.

    It is a glorious Mysticism relentlessly tried with the 4 kinds of yoga, puja (prayer), meditation (using "mantras", usually the name of a god, repeated hundreds or thousands of times per day)... and a thousand and one good works and sacrifices, even to walk nude in life and die of starvation... and most of the Hindus agree that this union may take thousands of reincarnations...

    Mysticism, but no "Prophecies": No incarnation of a Hindu god has ever been prophesied, unlike Jesus who was prophesied for 2,000 years before his birth, with 300 prophecies fulfilled to the letter in Jesus Christ..

    ... And no "miracles": The many Hindu gods can not heal a leper, nor take away the bad deeds of this life... they are idols, good for nothing gods, just an invention of the devil (Psalm 96:5).

    They are very important and as many as gods!... Hinduism has been described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals. They provide a reminder of religious values as well as occasions for great joy and celebration, some of them attended by millions. Look at  Hindu Festivals -  Hinduism Festivals and Calendar - Hindu Festivals -2031

     In modern India, there are sixteen officially recognized holidays (when businesses close), although there are many more holidays than that. Most festivals are annual, but some happen on a longer cycle. The festival of Kumbha Mela, when millions of Hindus gather at the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna rivers takes place once every twelve years.

Of the annual festivals, the two-day rites of Holi mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This celebration is linked to Krishna whose exploits with the gopis are reenacted. It is a time of gaiety, joy, and hope for nature's rebirth.

In late summer, Krishna's birthday is celebrated at the Janmashtami.

Shortly afterwards, Ganesha is honored with the festival of Ganesha Charurti.

Sometime festivals that happen on the same day will be given different interpretations depending on whether the worshippers follow Shiva,
    - In late September or early October, for instance, Shaivites and Saktites will celebrate the Durga Puja, while Vaishnavites will take part in the Dussehra, which celebrates Vishnu and his exploits as Rama in the Ramayana (and don't forget Hanuman!).
    - Similarly, the Divali, which is the festival of lights, is celebrated either as the return of Rama from exile or as the puja of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune.

    There are Feasts and Pilgrimages for every god:

    There are temples to visit, offerings to deposit (money, flowers, fruit), and pilgrimages to make.
    Every devout Hindu hopes at least once in his life to visit the "holy city" (Benares), or the sacred source of the Ganges at Gaumukh.

    The river Ganges is the most sacred natural object to be found in India, "Mother Ganges"; to bath in the Ganges and to drink its water is to experience the highest form of worship... to have the body of a deceased relative cremated on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi is a guarantee that the soul, released from the body by fire, will go to heaven (Remember that the "Puranas" talk about a heaven).

    Varanasi ( the former Benares), is the most holy city for the Indian people.

    Allahabad, where the rivers Ganges and Yumana meet, is for some the most sacred spot in India; the winter solstice is celebrated there...

    Many sections of the Himalayas are eulogized in the Puranas for their sacredness and solitude...

    Gaumukh, Hardwar, and Behubanesevar in the Ganges... Kanci, Avantica... Kuruksetra...