An introduction to religious and spiritual experience

Festivals and Religious Ceremonies
Festivals are held to celebrate specific events in the religious calendar 
and are an outward form of worship which often involves the whole 
community. Christmas is not only observed by devout Christians but has 

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Religious Triggers
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become an annual celebration for many. In multi-religious, multicultural 
lands the year is punctuated by the different festivals for the different reli-
gions. In Singapore, for example, there is never a time of year when some 
festival is not either being planned or celebrated, from Chinese New Year 
to the Hindu Thaipusam (when bodies are pierced and structures called 
kavadis
are carried in honour of Lord Murugan, son of Shiva and Par-
vati), Muslim Hari Raya Puasa (Eid-al-Fitr, the end of the month of the 
Ramadan fast), Buddhist Vesak Day (celebrating the Buddha’s birth, 
Enlightenment and death) and ending with Christmas (marking the birth 
of Christ). Whether members of the traditions or not, all can enjoy the 
festivities, and also learn about the religion involved.
Jews celebrate many festivals within the family at home. Shabbat (the 
Sabbath) is kept holy in Jewish families. Preparations are made the 
day before so that no work is done on the Saturday in remembrance 
that after the Creation, God rested on the seventh day. As a Jewish woman 
explains,
On the Shabbat I feel a different person. I feel more alive, more bright, 
more cheerful, the house seems to be a different place. In fact when one 
keeps the laws according to the Shabbat, it is like being in a 
different world. . . . On Shabbat we sing, on Shabbat we dance, on 
Shabbat we have time to study without any interruption. We have time 
to pray.
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At times of national importance leaders of different faiths join in 
worship, reflecting different approaches to the divine in mutual respect. 
Many festivals these days may be shared by members of different faiths. 
Here a Christian, enjoying a Shinto Waterfall ceremony in Japan in 1993 
had a wonderful experience,
We were celebrating the Year of Interreligious Understanding and came 
to Japan from Bangalore before going on to Chicago. We visited the 
Tsubaki Grand Shrine and joined in some Shinto ceremonies. We took