Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. It also practiced among significant numbers of people outside of India and has over 900 million followers around the world.
   At least some aspects of Hinduism make it the oldest living religion, and elements within it go back many thousands of years. Yet, Hinduism is not easy to define due to the many variations of practices and beliefs found within it. It is also closely associated with the other Indian religions of Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
   Maybe a little confusingly, Hinduism has no single founder or scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. Writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather than a single religion.
So what is Hinduism?
    Sindhu is a Sanskrit word used by the Aryans in the second millennium BCE. The term 'Hindu' does not date before the 15th century when it was used by people to differentiate themselves from followers of other traditions.
    Hinduism has been described as being polytheistic with many different gods, but many followers claim to be monotheists who follow only one god.
  Although it is not easy to define Hinduism, it can be said it is rooted in India, most Hindus revere a body of texts as sacred scripture known as the Veda, and that most Hindus share a common system of values known as dharma.
  • Hinduism originated in the region of the Indus Valley close to the River Indus which can now be found Pakistan.
  • About 80% of the Indians think of themselves as Hindu.
  • Most Hindus believe in a God, whose qualities and forms are represented by a multitude of deities which emanate from him.
  • Hindus believe in a form of reincarnation and that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.
  • Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and each incarnation is dependent on how the previous life was lived by the individual.
  • The most important Hindu texts are the Vedas. Veda is a Sanskrit word meaning 'knowledge'. These scriptures discuss dharma, which can be thought of as 'code of conduct', 'law', or 'duty'
  • Hindus celebrate many holy days, but the Festival of Lights, Diwali is the best known.