On Friday as a part of the Hinduism/Buddhism class we took a little trip to a local temple to learn about religious customs. The temple was ornately decorated, as most Hindu temples are in south India; with incredible colours and sculptures of various deities. There was a smaller structure that was Ganesha's Temple (Elephant God). He was sitting on a lotus with temple guardians sitting on every side. In front of the structure was a little metal sculpture of a mouse (Ganesha's vehicle).
There were colourful lotus flowers carved into the ceiling and various symbols carved into the stone pillars. There were snakes, horses, mythical creatures, peacocks as well as symbols representing various Gods.
The priest performed puja, which is the lighting of incense and giving a gift or offering to the resident deity (Ganesha). It is always interesting to see other religious customs and cultures. When I get back to Canada I will make an effort to attend the many churches, temples, mosques and other religious institutions. Opening your eyes to other cultures and their beliefs makes on more tolerant and overstanding ofthe people you meet , which is a very useful asset to have in this increasingly multicultural world.
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