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Different forms of worship

In Hinduism, there are many different types of , which are all performed for different purposes. However, the main theme of worship is to show bhakti, which means loving devotion to God. There are four main types of worship that can be done in the home and temple. These are puja, aarti, darshan and havan.

Puja worship involves giving respect to , and this is done through the puja ceremony. Hindus can show respect for Brahman by worshipping any of the thousands of different in Hinduism. However, a Hindu will most likely worship one or two specific deities that are important to them and their family.

Aarti worship is one of the main ceremonies. During the worship, an aarti lamp is passed around in front of worshippers. Hindus then waft their hands over the flame and then over their heads to gain blessings from God.

Darshan means to be seen by God, and in this ceremony Hindus touch the feet of their preferred deity to show honour and respect. Worshippers hope that they will be blessed by the god. During this form of worship, special sayings called are chanted using prayer beads, also called malas. Mantras are special words that are repeated over and over again. They show the importance of the chosen deity to the worshipper. Worshippers also sing hymns, which Hindus called .

Havan is a traditional fire sacrifice that used to be made to the god Agni. Ritual animal sacrifice used to take place. However, this no longer happens. Havan symbolises offerings made to the deities and the idea of giving something up for Brahman. Havan is used during Hindu weddings today, where couples walk seven steps around a fire.