Hinduism for kids at Primary School

What is Hinduism?

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It began in India more than 5,000 years ago, and today it is followed by over a billion people, making it the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam.

Unlike some other religions, Hinduism has no single founder. For example, Christians follow the teachings of Jesus, and Muslims follow the Prophet Muhammad, but Hinduism grew slowly over thousands of years. It developed from the traditions, stories, songs, and teachings of the people living in ancient India. These were passed down from generation to generation, often spoken aloud long before they were written down.

Because of this, Hinduism is very rich and diverse. Different groups of Hindus may worship in slightly different ways, celebrate different festivals, or tell different stories, but they are all part of the Hindu faith.

Bitesize: What is Hinduism
Find out what Hinduism is, worship and holy books.

What is the symbol of Hinduism?

The most well-known symbol of Hinduism is the Om (or Aum) symbol. It looks a little like the number 3 with a tail and a dot above it. Om is a very special sound in Hinduism – many Hindus chant it when they pray or meditate. It is said to be the first sound of the universe and represents God, creation, and everything that exists.

The sound has three main parts:

“A” stands for the beginning (like creation and birth).
“U” stands for the middle (life and living).
“M” stands for the end (death and rest).

Together, these sounds remind Hindus of the circle of life – birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Scientists have discovered that the sound “Om” creates calming vibrations in the body, which can help people feel peaceful and focused – which is why many Hindus (and even non-Hindus) use it when meditating.

Hindu beliefs

Hindus believe that every person has a soul, called the atman, which is a part of God and lasts forever. When a person dies, their soul is reborn into a new body. This cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is called reincarnation.

How someone lives their life affects what happens in the next one. This is called karma. If you live kindly, help others, and do good things, your soul will have good karma and be reborn into a happier life. But if someone is unkind or does wrong, they may be reborn into a more difficult life.

The ultimate goal for Hindus is to escape the cycle of rebirth and join with God forever. This is called moksha.

Because Hindus believe the soul is in all living things, they show respect for people, animals, and nature. This is why many Hindus choose to be vegetarian and not eat meat. Cows, in particular, are seen as very special and are often treated with great care.

Many Hindus greet each other by pressing their hands together and saying “Namaste”, which means “I bow to the divine in you.” It’s a reminder that God is inside everyone.

How do Hindu's worship?

Hindus believe that worship, called puja, is a way of showing love and devotion to God. Worship can happen every day at home and also in a temple, called a mandir.

Worship at home

Most Hindu families have a shrine in their house – a special place for prayer. A shrine might be a small shelf, a table, or even a whole room. It usually has pictures or statues of gods and goddesses, along with candles, flowers, and incense sticks.

Hindus often worship at home in the morning before the day begins. During puja, they use all of the five senses:

Sight – looking at pictures or statues of the gods.
Sound – singing hymns or chanting prayers.
Smell – lighting incense sticks to make the air smell sweet.
Taste – offering food like fruit, sweets, or rice to the gods.
Touch – bowing, clapping, or making hand gestures (called mudras) in prayer.

Worship in the Temple (Mandir)

Hindus also worship in a mandir, which is the Hindu temple. Temples are often beautifully decorated and are seen as the home of the gods on earth.

When Hindus arrive at a temple, they usually ring a bell to tell God that they have come. Inside, there are shrines with colourful statues of different gods and goddesses. Worshippers bring offerings such as fruit, flowers, or money.

During temple worship, called arati, a priest waves a lamp with several flames in front of the statue of the god. People place their hands near the flame and then touch their foreheads to show that God’s light and blessing has touched them.

Hindus may also receive a red or orange mark on their forehead called a tilak (or bindi if worn by women). This shows that they have taken part in worship and received God’s blessing.

After food is offered to the gods, it is shared and eaten by the family. This food is called prasada, which means “blessed food.”
In some temples, music, singing, and even dancing are part of worship, making it a very joyful celebration.

United Religions Initiative
Hinduism: Sacred spaces and places. Read about temples or mandirs.

Diwali - The Festival of Lights

Diwali is the most important festival in the Hindu calendar. It is sometimes called the Festival of Lights because people decorate their homes with small oil lamps called diyas.

Diwali celebrates the story of Rama and Sita, who returned home after 14 years in the forest. To guide them back safely, the people of their kingdom lit rows of lamps to light the way. Diwali also welcomes Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck, into Hindu homes.

At the start of Diwali, many families make beautiful rangoli patterns on their doorsteps using coloured rice, powder, flour, or flowers to invite Lakshmi inside. People clean their homes, exchange gifts of fruit, sweets, and money, and enjoy fireworks to mark the celebration.

Holi - The Festivals of Colours

Holi is a joyful festival that marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. It comes from the story of the wicked Holika, who tried to harm her nephew, Prince Prahlad, because he worshipped God. However, Holika was defeated, and Prahlad’s faith was rewarded.

Today, Hindus celebrate Holi by throwing brightly coloured powders and water over each other in the streets, making it one of the most fun and messy festivals in the world! The colours remind Hindus of Krishna, who loved to play tricks by splashing water and colours on his friends in springtime.

Navratri - The Festival of Nine Nights

Navratri means “nine nights” in Sanskrit. This festival lasts for nine days and nights, and it honours Shakti, the goddess of power, in her many forms (such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati).

Each night, Hindus gather for music, prayers, and traditional dancing, especially a lively circle dance called garba. In some regions of India, colourful sticks called dandiya are used in the dancing, making it very energetic and joyful.

The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, especially the story of the goddess Durga defeating a powerful demon.