HINDUISM A Hindu pilgrimage

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Do Now Activity

Draw a random picture or choose any shape and try and link it to

the topic of Hinduism. What could the picture represent?

A pilgrimage

• A journey to a holy place is called a pilgrimage. A person who makes such a journey is a pilgrim. Pilgrimages have been a part of the world’s major religions since ancient times.

• People go on pilgrimages for many reasons. Some religions require or encourage believers to make a pilgrimage as an expression of faith. People may also journey to a shrine because they want a favour, such as a cure for an illness, from a saint or divine being. Others give thanks or ask to be forgiven for a wrong they have done.

Extra information: https://kids.kiddle.co/Pilgrimage

Hindu pilgrimages

The most famous Hindu pilgrimage is the Kumbh Mela, which takes place at the River Ganges in India. Up to 40 million people come to purify themselves in the water, the biggest gathering of people on Earth. There are many different places for Hindus to go on pilgrimage. Rivers, mountains and temples linked to different gods and goddesses are all popular places to visit. Hindus try to do at least one pilgrimage in their lifetime.

14-year-old British girl Simran and her friends describe their own spiritual and emotional experiences on pilgrimage, saying it made them grateful to God, and increased their spiritual awareness and compassion for others.

This is from the series: My Life, My Religion - Hinduism

Pilgrimage forms an important part of Hinduism. Hindus go on pilgrimage to a range of sites including temples and mountains.

Watch this video on Hindu pilgrimages: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/religious-studies-ks2-my-life-my-religion-hinduism-pilgrimage-hinduism/z4ghf4j

Hinduism and Pilgrimage

Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati

Mount Kailash

Photos courtesy of Ondřej Žváček and Arian Zwegers @flickr.com - granted under creative commons licence

Hinduism and PilgrimageRiver Ganges

•The River Ganges is the holiest river for Hindus.

•It is in India.

•It is very special for Hindus.

•40 million Hindus travel to the Ganges on a pilgrimage every year.

•Hindus believe that performing special rituals for the dead in the Ganges will end the cycle of birth, death and

rebirth.

•Hindus offer gifts of flowers, petals and special floating candles to the river to say thank you.

Kumbh MelaOnce every 12 years, millions of people share in ritual bathing at the Kumbh Mela festival where the waters of the Ganges and Yamuna combine.

Photo courtesy of Marcin Białek (@wikimediacommons.com) granted under creative commons licence - attribution

River Ganges and Varanasi

• Varanasi is on the banks of the sacred River Ganges.

• People travel to the river to bathe in it.

• It is believed that washing in the river cleans a person’s sins.

• Varanasi is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva, a Hindu god.

• Varanasi is a city on the banks of the River Ganges.

• Varanasi is said to have been founded by Shiva.

• Hindus believe that is a very holy site.

• There are 23,000 Hindu temples in Varanasi.

• Hindus bathe in the waters of the Ganges on the banks of Varanasi.

Create a poster about pilgrimage. Include information about a pilgrimage and explain why

Hindu’s take a pilgrimage.

Extension: Evaluate your poster. What do you think is good about it? What do you think you could do to improve it?

Exit ticket

Pilgrimage is the answer. Now write three questions to match that answer.

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