World Religions & Traditions

Question: What religion practices nonviolence?

Answer: Jainism, a religion with many adherents in India, observes the principle of ahimsa, which means "without taking life."

Question: What is the Korean festival of the winter solstice?

Answer: Dongji is the Korean winter solstice festival. It is marked by eating patjuk, a red-bean porridge that is believed to bring good luck.

Question: What holiday ends Ramadan?

Answer: Eid al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking, marks the end of the month of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal. Families gather for festive meals, and people gather to pray at their mosque.

Question: What is the largest religious structure in the world?

Answer: A temple dating back to the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia. It is the world’s largest religious structure.

Question: What religion do more than two-thirds of the people of India practice?

Answer: More than 70 percent of the people in India are Hindu. Muslims, or followers of Islam, are the next largest religious group.

Question: To whom is the Cambodian temple Angkor Wat dedicated?

Answer: Angkor Wat is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Its carvings depict scenes from the Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Question: Who is honored with the holiday Ganesha Chaturthi?

Answer: In late summer Hindus celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi, a 10-day festival celebrating the birth of Ganesha, the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune.